The envelope protein(Env) of lentiviruses such as HIV,SIV,FIV and EIAV is larger than that of other retroviruses.The Chinese EIAV attenuated vaccine is based on Env and has helped to successfully control this virus,demonstrating that envelope is crucial for vaccine.We compared Env variation of the four kinds of lentiviruses.Phylogenetic analysis showed that the evolutionary relationship of Env between HIV and SIV was the closest and they appeared to descend from a common ancestor,and the relationship of HIV and EIAV was the furthest.EIAV had the shortest Env length and the least number of potential N-linked glycosylation sites(PNGS) as well as glycosylation density compared to various immunodeficiency viruses.However,HIV had the longest Env length and the most PNGS.Moreover,the alignment of HIV and SIV showed that PNGS were primarily distributed within extracellular membrane protein gp120 rather than transmembrane gp41.It implies that the size difference among these viruses is associated with a lentivirus specific function and also the diversity of env.There are low levels of modification of glycosylation sites of Env and selection of optimal protective epitopes might be useful for development of an effective vaccine against HIV/AIDS.

OBJECTIVETo compare the effects of Buyang Huanwu Decoction (BYHWD) and its active regions combination on brain heat shock protein 70 (HSP70) expression.

METHODSCerebral ischemia model gerbils produced by ligating bilateral common carotid artery were injected intraperitoneally by BYHWD and its active regions combination separately. HSP70 mRNA expression was determined by Northern blot test and protein expression determined by Western blot test 48 hrs after ischemia for 15 min and reperfusion.

RESULTSThe level of HSP70 mRNA and protein expression in ischemic/reperfusion brain tissue increased significantly. BYHWD and its active regions combination could decrease the HSP70 mRNA expression obviously, the inhibition effect of BYHWD was more significant than that of its active regions combination, but neither of them showed any effect on HSP70 protein expression.

CONCLUSIONBYHWD and its active regions combination might down-regulate HSP70 mRNA expression in ischemic brain tissue through its anti-ischemic effect.

Animals ; Brain ; metabolism ; Brain Ischemia ; metabolism ; Drugs, Chinese Herbal ; pharmacology ; Female ; Gerbillinae ; HSP70 Heat-Shock Proteins ; biosynthesis ; genetics ; Male ; RNA, Messenger ; biosynthesis ; genetics ; Random Allocation ; Rats ; Reperfusion Injury ; metabolism

Calcinosis ; complications ; Decalcification Technique ; Humans ; Meningeal Neoplasms ; complications ; Meningioma ; complications ; Specimen Handling ; methods ; Ultrasonics

Objective To investigate the neural circuit of inhibitory control in late-onset depressed patients(LOD) by functional magnetic resonance imaging(fMRI). Methods Fourteen late-onset depressed patients (LOD group) and thirteen elderly healthy subjects( control group) were recruited. The two groups were age, gender, and education matched. All the subjects performed a visual Go/Nogo task during the fMRI scan. Erect or inverted isosceles triangular figures were used for stimuli. The two groups were instructed to press a button as quickly and correctly as possible when the erect triangular figures(Go) were presented, but not to response when the inverted triangular figures(Nogo) were presented. The differences of brain activation between the two groups were compared. Results ( 1 ) During Go trials, there were no significant differences in reaction time and hit rate between the two groups (P ＞ 0.05 ). During Nogo trials, however, the late-onset depressed patients showed much higher false alarm rate(0.09 ±0.06) compared with control group(0.04 ±0.02) (P＜0.05＝. (2) During Go trials , LOD group showed significantly greater activity in left postcentral gyrus, left inferior parietal lobule, right precentral gyrus, left paracentral lobule, right inferior parietal lobule, right anterior cingulate cortex, left middle frontal gyrus, right middle frontal gyrus, right superior frontal gyrus compared with the control group. Whereas during Nogo trials, LOD group exhibited greater activity in left inferior parietal lobule and left middle frontal gyrus compared with the control group. Conclusion This study suggests that inhibitory control dysfunction in late-onset depressed patients may be closely related to frontostriatal circuit impairment. Over activation in left middle frontal gyrus, right middle frontal gyrus and right anterior cingulate cortex may contribute to the pathogenesis of late-onset depression.

Objective To investigate the clinical characteristics and chronological change of ulcerative colitis(UC) in the Chinese PLA General Hospital in near 16 years. Methods Patients diagnosed with UC during the period from 1994 to 2009 in the Chinese PLA General Hospital were registered and their clinical profiles were analyzed. Results From 1994 to 2009, of 525 patients diagnosed with UC, with a median onset age of 42 years. The predominant form of UC was extensive colitis, which affected almost 33.3% (175/525), left-sided colitis was present in 21.3% (112/525) and rectum was present in 12.4%(65/525). The chronic relapsing type of UC was the most common (69.0%, 362/525 ), followed by the initial onset type (18. 1%, 95/525 ), chronic continuous type with intermittent exacerbations (9.7%,51/525), and acute fulminant type (3. 2%, 17/525 ). Two hundred and twenty-one patients (42. 1%,221/525) were graded as mild, 162 (30.9% , 162/525) as moderate, and 142(27.0%, 142/525) as severe UC. The proportion of mild colitis and rectum was significantly higher in patients with an onset age of over 60 years, compared with those with an onset age of less than 30 years( P ＜0. 05 ). The proportion of UC patients with old age onset ( P ＜ 0. 05 ), male sex ( P ＜ 0. 01 ), mild colitis ( P ＜ 0. 01 ), rectum ( P ＜0. 01 ) , relapse-free type ( P ＜ 0. 01 ) demonstrated a chronological increase from 1994 to 2009.Conclusions The distinctive clinical features and chronological change were seen in UC patients in recent years. Compare to those with an onset at less than 30 years, the proportion of mild colitis and rectum was significantly larger in patients with an onset at over 60 years of age, and the proportion of UC patients with old age onset, male sex, mild colitis, rectum, relapse type were less.

Objective To establish the mathematical models of stature estimation for Sichuan Han female with measurement of lumbar vertebrae by X-ray to provide essential data for forensic anthropology re-search. Methods The samples, 206 Sichuan Han females, were divided into three groups including group A, B and C according to the ages. Group A(206 samples) consisted of all ages, group B(116 samples) were 20-45 years old and 90 samples over 45 years old were group C. All the samples were examined lumbar vertebrae through C Rtechnology, including the parameters of five centrums (L1-L5) as anterior border, posterior border and central heights (x1-x15), total central height of lumbar spine (x16), and the real height of every sample.The linear regression analysis was produced using the parameters to establish the mathematical models of stature estimation. Sixty-two trained subjects were tested to verify the accuracy of the mathematical models. Results The established mathematical models by hypothesis test of linear regression equation model were statistically significant (P<0.05).The standard errors of the equation were 2.982-5.004 cm, while correlation coefficients were 0.370-0.779 and multiple correlation coefficients were 0.533-0.834.The return tests of the highest correlation coefficient and multiple correlation coefficient of each group showed that the highest accuracy of the multiple regression equation, y=100.33+1.489 x3-0.548 x6+0.772 x9+0.058 x12+0.645 x15, in group Awere 80.6% (±1SE ) and 100% (±2SE ). Conclusion The established mathematical models in this study could be applied for the stature estimation for Sichuan Han females.

Objective To observe the changes of soluble L-selectin(sL-selectin) concentrations in children with viral encephalitis(VE) and probe its significance in pathogenesy and clinic.Methods Selecting 30 children with VE,including 14 mild case and 16 severe case.Collecting their venous blood and cerebrospinal fluid(CSF) in acute and recovery stage.Using double antibody sandwich enzyme-linked immunosorbent assay(ELISA) method to measure sL-selectin concentrations of serum and CSF and comparing with control group,respectively.Results SL-selectin concentrations from serum and CSF in the acute stage were significantly higher than those of control group(all P0.05).Conclusions L-selectin may participate in the pathologic course in VE.The concentrations of sL-selectin from serum and CSF are related with the patients′ condition and it has important reference value in judging patients′ condition,assessing their prognose and guiding clinical treatment.

Objective To explore the associations between microsatellites in gonadal receptor genes and dysfunctional attitudes in adolescent with major depressive disorder(MDD).Methods Polymerase chain reaction(PCR),capillary electrophoresis and genetic scanning were performed in testing the length of microsatellites in first-onset adolescent depressive patients.Dysfunctional attitudes scale(DAS) was used in rating the dysfunctional cognition of adolescent depressive sample.These results were tested by correlative analysis and comparison analysis.Results 1.There existed significantly negative correlation between microsatellite′s length in estrogen receptor ?(ER?) gene and total score of DAS in female adolescent patients with first-onset depressive disorder.2.DAS′ total score of shorter alleles′ group was significantly higher than that of longer alleles′ group on female′ estrogen receptor ?(ER?) Gene.Conclusion The microsatellite′s length of ER? and ER? gene may have associations with dysfunctional attitudes of female adolescent with MDD.

The epitope-G1 gene of Bovine ephemeral fever virus (BEFV) glycoprotein was synthesised by PCR and cloned into expression vector pPIC9K to construct recombinant plasmid pPIC9K-G1. Then the pPIC9K-G1 was linearized and transformed into Pichia pastoris GS 115. The recombinant P. pastoris strains were selected by a G418 transformation screen and confirmed by PCR. After being induced with methanol, an expressed protein with 26 kDa molecular weight was obtained, which was much bigger than the predicted size (15.54 kDa). Deglycosylation analysis indicated the recombinant G1 was glycosylated. Western blot and ELISA tests, as well as rabbit immunization and specificity experiments indicated that the target protein had both higher reaction activity and higher immunocompetence and specificity. The recombinant G1 protein could be used as a coating antigen to develop an ELISA kit for bovine ephemeral fever diagnosis.

Spleen kidney Yang deficiency (SKYD) diarrhea is a common syndrome in tranditional Chinese medicine (TCM). Until now, there is not an ideal SKYD diarrhea rat model for the research. In this study, we compared single factor way (method I, injecting hydrocortisone and gavaging Sennae Folium) with compound factors way(method II, gavaging adenine, improper diet, exhaustion, and gavaging Sennae Folium) on establishing SKYD diarrhea rat model. After modelling, diarrhea index, D-xylose excretory rate, NOS/cGMP signal transduction system, organ index and histopathology examination were used to evaluate the two ways. The results showed that, compared with health group, all the assessment criterias of method I and method II had significant differences (P < 0.01, 0.05). In addition, the index such as diarrhea index, NOS/cGMP signal transduction system, organ index (kidney, testis and thymus) and histopathology examination had significant differences (P < 0.01, 0.05) between method I and method II. In conclusion, the compound factors modelling method better conforms to the symptom of diarrhoea model caused by SKYD. This new modelling method provides a basis for studying on TCM astringents warming and tonifying the spleen and kidney, relieving diarrhea.
Animals ; Diarrhea ; metabolism ; pathology ; physiopathology ; Disease Models, Animal ; Humans ; Kidney ; pathology ; physiopathology ; Male ; Rats ; Rats, Sprague-Dawley ; Spleen ; pathology ; physiopathology ; Xylose ; metabolism ; Yang Deficiency ; metabolism ; pathology ; physiopathology