Objective To characterize the immunogenicity in gene immunization of the conserved regions of hepatitis C virus(HCV) based on different delivery strategies. Methods We first constructed a novel DNA vaccine encoding a fusion gene(from partial NS3 and Core) of HCV. Then we compared different protocols based on naked DNA injection twice or DNA injection with gene electrotransfer(GET) in BALB/c mice. The immune response was measured by antibody ELISA and by IFN-gamma ELISPOT. Results Our data showed that a protocol based on intradermally injection of DNA with optimal GET induced the strongest humoral and cellular immunity, and DNA with GET induced a substantially higher anti-NS3/Core T cell re-spoase than naked DNA injection. Conclusion Our data suggest that DNA vaccines encoding NS3/Core fu-sion protein of HCV immunized by the present strategy could merit further study in the context of future prophylactic and therapeutic HCV T cell based vaccines.

OBJECTIVETo study the effects of four kinds of traditional Chinese herbal compound, Sini powder, Banxiahoupu soup, Ganmaidazao soup and Guizhigancaolonggumuli soup, on the experimental acute stress behaviors and the hypothalamus-pituitary-adrenal gland axis.

METHODRats were divide into 7 groups: normal group, model 1 and 2 groups, Sini powder group, Banxiahoupu soup group, Ganmaidazao soup group, and Guizhigancaolonggumuli soup group. The behaviors of the rats and their CRH of the hypothalamus, ACTH of plasma and CORT of serum (by the means of radio-immunity) were detected.

RESULTSini powder could reduce the crossing times of open-field test( P < 0.01) and the contents of CRH and CORT (P < 0.01, P < 0.05); Banxiahoupu soup could extent the still time of tail-hanging test ( P < 0.05) and the content of CRH (P < 0.05); Ganmaidazao soup could prolong the still time (P < 0.05) and reduce the struggle times (P < 0.01) of tail-hanging test and reduce the contents of CRH, ACTH and CORT (P < 0.01, P < 0.05); Guizhigancaolonggumuli soup could reduce the crossing times of open-field test (P < 0.01) , extent the still time (P < 0.05) and reduce the struggle times ( P < 0.01) of tail-hanging test of tail-hanging test, also reduce the contents of CRH, ACTH and CORT (P < 0.01, P < 0.05).

CONCLUSIONThe four kinds of traditional Chinese herbal compound can increase the ability of anti stress by affect the different taches of the hypothalamus-pituitary-adrenal gland axle and change the stress behaviors, which are based on their respective functions of regulating Qi, dispersing phlegm, tonifying Qi and warming Yang.

Adrenocorticotropic Hormone ; blood ; Animals ; Behavior, Animal ; drug effects ; Corticosterone ; blood ; Corticotropin-Releasing Hormone ; metabolism ; Drug Combinations ; Drugs, Chinese Herbal ; isolation & purification ; pharmacology ; Female ; Hypothalamo-Hypophyseal System ; drug effects ; Hypothalamus ; metabolism ; Male ; Materia Medica ; isolation & purification ; pharmacology ; Medicine, Chinese Traditional ; Ostreidae ; chemistry ; Plants, Medicinal ; Random Allocation ; Rats ; Rats, Sprague-Dawley ; Stress, Physiological ; physiopathology

There is growing interest in the whole saliva as a diagnostic fluid because of the relatively simple and non-invasive collection.Research on salivary proteomic and genomic has greatly facilitated the diagnosis and therapy of oral diseases,also revealed the molecular mechanism of the diseases.Saliva-derived exosome as a new source,with various molecular constituents of their cells of origin,including proteins,mRNA and miRNA might serve as potential biomarker.This article reviews the biological properties of saliva exosome,its separation and other aspects associated with disease.

OBJECTIVETo explore an ideal skin substitute with its appearance and texture similar to normal skin, to repair wounds with full-thickness skin defect.

METHODSComposite skin (CS) in question was composed of allo/xenogeneic acellular dermal matrix (ADM) and razor thin autoskin. One step skin grafting was employed in the experimental study and clinical trial. Razor thin autoskin alone was used as the control in the study. Changes in the antigenicity of ADM and the reformation of basement membrane (BM) structure at epidermis-dermis junction (EDJ) of ADMs were studied at designated time points after the grafting with biochemical and immunohistochemical methods. Fifty-three patients with full thickness skin defects due to various causes, including scar excision were grafted with CS, and survival rate and long-term result were observed.

RESULTSThe grafted CS survived satisfactory. The reformation of the basement membrane structure was clearly observed at the 28th post-graft week. The basement membrane cells grew with polarization in an undulating arrangement. There was reformation of dermal papillae and ridges. The antigenicity of allo-ADM was obviously lower than that of xeno-ADM. Sixty-five out of 70 pieces of CS grafting (92.9%) survived totally, two of them survived partially, and three failed due to infection. The longest follow-up period was 8 and a half years. The grafted CS appeared similar to the normal skin in regard to the texture and color, especially allo-ADM, and no evident rejection reaction was seen.

CONCLUSIONADM possessed very low antigenicity, thus serving a lasting framework after grafting. In addition, it could serve as a "dermal template" for the induction of tissue regeneration.

Animals ; Burns ; surgery ; Dermis ; transplantation ; Follow-Up Studies ; Graft Survival ; Humans ; Male ; Rabbits ; Skin Transplantation ; methods ; Swine ; Transplantation, Autologous ; Transplantation, Heterologous ; Transplantation, Homologous ; Treatment Outcome ; Wound Healing

OBJECTIVETo study the variation of specific antibody among convalescent of severe acute respiratory syndrome (SARS) patients through a three-year program.

METHODSSera samples were collected from SARS cases in the 5th, 20th and 35th month after onset of the illness. The SARS-CoV specific antibody was detected for all of them by ELISA and neutralized test simultaneously. The titer of neutralizing antibodies was calculated using Reed-Muench method, and the comparison between different time groups was analyzed regarding the variance of data on repeated measures after logarithm conversion.

RESULTS13, 17 and 13 sera samples were collected in the 5th, 20th and 35th month after onset. Results showed that despite the fact that the positive rates of ELISA antibody were 100%, 82.4% and 84.6% respectively,the neutralizing antibody was still positive for all the samples. The average neutralizing antibody titers were 1:43 (1:16-1:203), 1:36 (1:17-1:59) and 1:21 (1:10-1:39) on the 5th, 20th and 35th month after onset, and the differences were statistically significant (F = 60.419, P < 0.001). On the 35th month after the onset, 30.8% (4/13) of the patients were still having the neutralizing antibody level of above 1:36, but the neutralizing antibody level in another 30.8% (4/13) of the patients had decreased to as low as 1:10, when the cut-off level was set as 1:8.

CONCLUSIONResults of the study indicated that the neutralizing antibody of SARS cases could last for at least three years, but the sera specific antibody in SARS cases decreased gradually when time went by. However, neutralizing antibody in some of the cases decreased to a lower level on the 35th month. Further follow-up study was worthwhile to observe the long-lasting profile of antibody existence on SARS cases.

Antibodies, Neutralizing ; analysis ; Enzyme-Linked Immunosorbent Assay ; Follow-Up Studies ; Humans ; Severe Acute Respiratory Syndrome ; immunology

Objective To investigate the prevalence rate of hyperlipidemia in the middle-aged and elderly in Guangxi Hei Yi Zhuang population. Methods A total of 657 people of Hei Yi Zhuang nationality aged 40 years and over were surveyed. Blood pressure, body height, body weight, serum lipid and apolipoprotein levels were measured, and both body surface areas and body mass index were calculated. The results were compared with those in 520 people of Han nationality who also live in that district. Results The prevalence of hypercholesterolemia, hypertriglyceridemia, and hyperlipidemia in Hei Yi Zhuang vs. Han population were 28.9% vs. 35.8%(P0.05), and 36.2% vs. 42.3%(P0.05) respectively. Conclusions Prevalence of hyperlipidemia of Hei Yi Zhuang is lower than that of Han ethnic group, which might results from different dietary habit, life style, physical activity, and even genetic background.

Objective To compare the effect of different ways of nursing that might relieve the complications related with eventuation after gynecologic celioscope operation. Methods 207 patients after gynecologic operation were selected and divided randomly into: massage group, instrument group, and ordinary group. Each group consists of 69 cases. For massage group, artificial massages at the points were given to the patients. For instrument group, microwave devices were used to heal the patients. And for ordinary group, regular cares of post-operation were conducted. We observed and compared the effects of the three methods, including relieving pains irrelevant to incision, preventing nausea and vomit, facilitating gastrointestinal tract recovery, and promoting emiction, etc. Results The degrees of shoulder pains, nausea and vomit, and the duration thereof, in the ordinary group were more serious than that of the massage group and the instrument group with a statistical significance ( P < 0.01 ). The average time for first emiction of the patients in the instrument group and the massage group was shorter than the ordinary group. Degree of satisfaction of the patients in the instrument group and the massage group was higher than the ordinary group ( P < 0.05 ). Conclusions Adopting the point-massage, microwave and relevant physiotherapy after gynecologic celioscope operation can effectively prevent from and relieve the complications of post operation.

OBJECTIVETo investigate the levels of blood pressure and serum lipids, and examine the relationship between hypertension and hyperlipidemia in Hei Yi Zhuang Chinese living in Guangxi.

METHODSA total of 1056 people of Hei Yi Zhuang ethnicity were studied. Blood pressure, body height, body weight, and serum levels of lipids and apolipoprotein were measured. The data were compared with those in 925 people of Han ethnicity, who live in the same region.

RESULTSSystolic blood pressure and pulse pressure were significantly higher in Hei Yi Zhuang than Han Chinese (P < 0.001). The prevalence of isolated systolic hypertension and hypertension was also significantly higher in Hei Yi Zhuang than Han Chinese (P < 0.001). Serum concentrations of total cholesterol, triglycerides, low-density lipoprotein cholesterol, and apolipoprotein (Apo) B, and the prevalence of hypercholesterolemia and hyperlipidemia were significantly lower in Hei Yi Zhuang than Han Chinese (P < 0.05). Serum concentrations of high-density lipoprotein cholesterol and the Apo A1 to Apo B ratio were significantly higher in Hei Yi Zhuang than Han Chinese (P < 0.001). The prevalence of hypertension in Hei Yi Zhuang Chinese was positively associated with triglycerides (r = 0.425, P < 0.05), whereas the prevalence of hypertension in Han Chinese was positively correlated with total cholesterol (r = 0.623, P < 0.001).

CONCLUSIONThe present study revealed a significant difference in blood pressure and serum lipids between Hei Yi Zhuang and Han ethnic groups, and an association between hypertension and hyperlipidemia.

Adult ; Aged ; Asian Continental Ancestry Group ; ethnology ; Blood Pressure ; China ; epidemiology ; Female ; Humans ; Hyperlipidemias ; epidemiology ; ethnology ; Hypertension ; epidemiology ; ethnology ; Lipids ; blood ; Male ; Middle Aged ; Prevalence ; Sampling Studies ; Young Adult

OBJECTIVETo determine the hepatitis B immunoprophylactic failure rate in infants born to hepatitis B virus (HBV) infected mothers and to characterize HBV genes.

METHODSHBV-serological testing was conducted for pregnant women and infants. The complete genomes of 30 HBV isolates were sequenced, and genetic characteristics were analyzed using MEGA 5 software.

RESULTSThe immunoprophylactic failure rate for infants who had completed the scheduled hepatitis B vaccination program was 5.76% (32/556). High sequence homology (99.8%-100%) was observed in 8 of the 10 mother-infant pairs. We identified 19 subgenotype C2 strains, 9 subgenotype B2 strains, and 2 subgenotype C1 strains. Three serotypes were detected: adr (19/30), adw (9/30), and ayw (2/30). The frequency of amino acid mutation of the 'a' determinant region was 16.67% (5/30), including that of Q129H, F134Y, S136Y, and G145E. We detected 67 amino acid mutations in the basal core promoter, precore, and core regions of the genome.

CONCLUSIONThe immunoprophylactic failure rate in infants born to HBV-infected mothers is low in the regions of China examined during this study. Moreover, HBV mutation in the 'a' determinant region could not account for immunoprophylactic failure for all infants.

Adult ; Animals ; CHO Cells ; China ; epidemiology ; Cricetinae ; Cricetulus ; Female ; Hepatitis B ; congenital ; epidemiology ; prevention & control ; transmission ; Hepatitis B Vaccines ; therapeutic use ; Hepatitis B virus ; genetics ; Humans ; Infant, Newborn ; Infectious Disease Transmission, Vertical ; Mutation ; Phylogeny ; Pregnancy ; Treatment Failure ; Young Adult