Phylogenetic methods have been widely used to detect the evolution of influenza viruses.However, previous phylogenetic studies of influenza viruses do not make full use of the genetic information at the protein level and therefore cannot distinguish the subtle differences among viral genes. Proteotyping is a new approach to study influenza virus evolution. It aimed at mining the potential genetic information of the viral gene at the protein level by visualizing unique amino acid signatures (proteotypes). Neuraminidase gene fragments of some H5N1 avian influenza viruses were used as an example to illustrate how the proteotyping method worked. Bayesian analysis confirmed that the NA gene tree was mainly divided into three lineages. The NA proteotype analysis further suggested there might be multiple proteotypes within these three lineages and even within single genotypes. At the same time, some proteotypes might even involve more than one genotype. In particular, it also discovered some amino acids of viruses of some genotypes might co-reassort. All these results proved this approach could provide additional information in contrast to results from standard phylogenetic tree analysis.

Previous studies have shown that ginsenoside Rb1 (Rb1), one of active components in ginseng, can activate insulin signaling pathway and promote translocation of glucose transporters (GLUTs) to increase glucose uptake in adipocytes. However, the effect of Rb1 on the expressions of GLUTs remains unknown. In this study, the effects of Rb1 on GLUT1 and GLUT4 were observed in 3T3-L1 adipocytes and epididymal adipose tissue of db/db obese diabetic mice. Male db/db mice were treated with Rb1 by intraperitoneal injection at the dosage of 20 mg x kg(-1) for 14 d. Rb1 reduced HOMA-IR significantly (P < 0.05, n = 5), and FBG and FINS sowed declining trend after treatment with Rb1. Rb1 recovered the expressions of GLUT1 and GLUT4 and phosphorylation of AKT in adipose tissue of db/db mice. In vitro, glucose consumption in 3T3-L1 adipocytes treated with 10 micromol x L(-1) Rb1 for 24 h was elevated (P < 0.05, n=3), and mRNA of GLUT1 and GLUT4 were up-regulated (P < 0.05, n=3) and proteins of GLUT1 and GLUT4 were also increased. AKT was activated in adipocytes treated with Rb1 for 3 h. It can be concluded that ginsenoside Rb1 can up-regulate the expression of GLUTs in adipose tissue, in addition to activate insulin signalling pathway, which may partially account for its insulin sensitizing activity and regulating effect of glucose metabolism.
3T3 Cells ; Adipocytes ; drug effects ; Animals ; Cell Line ; Diabetes Mellitus, Experimental ; metabolism ; Ginsenosides ; pharmacology ; Glucose ; metabolism ; Glucose Transport Proteins, Facilitative ; metabolism ; Male ; Mice ; Mice, Inbred C57BL ; Mice, Inbred NOD ; Up-Regulation ; drug effects

AIMTo find new peroxisome proliferator-activated y agonists with high activity and low toxicity.

METHODSBased on JTT-501 and JTT-20993, new isoxazolidine-3,5-dione and noncyclic 1,3-dicarbonyl compounds were designed and synthesized. Their insulin-sensitizing activities were evaluated.

RESULTSEight new compounds were obtained. The structures of synthesized compounds were characterized by NMR, MS and IR. Four compounds (1A-4A) showed insulin-sensitizing activities.

CONCLUSIONCompounds (1A and 3A) showed excellent insulin-sensitizing activities and should be worth further investigation.

3T3-L1 Cells ; Animals ; Glucose ; metabolism ; Hypoglycemic Agents ; agonists ; chemical synthesis ; pharmacology ; Insulin ; pharmacology ; Isoxazoles ; chemical synthesis ; pharmacology ; Mice ; PPAR gamma ; agonists ; chemical synthesis ; pharmacology

OBJECTIVETo explore the functional brain localization with magnetic resonance imaging (MRI) after acupuncturing the Yuan-Source and He-Sea acupoints of Stomach Meridian of Foot-Yangming (ST).

METHODSThe study was performed in 30 healthy volunteers who underwent acupuncture at Yuan-Source acupoint (Chongyang, ST42) and He-Sea acupoint (Zusanli, ST36) (ST group). Ten of these were also underwent acupuncture at the non-acupoints as the control group. Blood oxygenation level dependent functional MRI was performed.

RESULTSIn the ST group, signal increasing areas were demonstrated in bilateral superior temporal gyri (Broadmann 22), bilateral supramarginal gyri (Broadmann 40), bilateral cerebellar hemispheres, bilateral cingulate gyri and isthmus of cingulate gyri (Broadmann 32, 30), bilateral superior parietal lobules (Broadmann 7); signal decreasing areas were shown in bilateral orbital gyri (Broadmann 11), bilateral temporal pole (Broadmann 38), right inferior frontal gyrus (Broadmann 47) and right medial occipitotemporal gyrus (Broadmann 36). In the control group, signal increases areas were demonstrated in superior temporal gyri, precentral gyri, cingulate gyri, thalamus, insula and cerebellum. The size, signal intensity and number of increasing areas in control group are less than in ST group.

CONCLUSIONCombined acupuncture of Yuan-Source and He-Sea acupoints of ST can activate and decrease the multiple brain regions of "splanchnic brain" and thus reach a new functional balance to relieve pain.

Acupuncture Points ; Adult ; Brain ; physiology ; Electroacupuncture ; Female ; Humans ; Magnetic Resonance Imaging ; Male ; Meridians ; Young Adult

Objective To evaluate the feasibility of reconstructing horizontal periodontal bone defects by tissue engineering based on bone marrow stromal cells(BMSCs)as seed cells and enamel matrix proteins(EMPs)as growth factors. Methods Two healthy rhesus monkeys were selected, and BMSCs were isolated from iliac marrow and serial subcultivation was conducted. The cells of induced BMSCs at passage 3 were harvested and mixed with Bio-oss collagen. The models of horizontal periodontal bone defects were established surgically in each buccal side of the posterior teeth, and were divided into four groups (blank control group, material group, cells/material group and cells/material/EMPs group). The histological and Micro-CT observation were carried out 8 weeks later. Results In the blank control group, the defects were filled with fibrous connective tissue. There was newly-formed alveolar bone in the material group. In the cells/material group, periodontal regeneration could be observed, while the newly-formed cementum was irregular and less in quantity. In the cells/material/EMPs group, the amount of newly-formed alveolar bone was larger, and the newly-formed cementum was continuous and regular. Conclusion The tissue engineering technique of BMSCs as seed cells in combination with EMPs induction can significantly promote the regeneration of periodontal tissue.

AIMTo observed the expression of estrogen receptor (ER alpha and ER beta) in the heart of Gekko swinhonis.

METHODSThe immunohistochemical technique for the estrogen receptor was used.

RESULTSThe positive ER alpha and beta cells existed in cardiac myocytes and fibroblasts of the atria and the ventricles of Gekko swinhonis and had no sexual difference. The difference of ER alpha between the atria (11.56 +/- 1.67) and ventricles (6.68 +/- 1.88) was observed in both sexes (P < 0.01).

CONCLUSIONThe atria are probably the main target tissue of estrogen through ER alpha pathway while some functions of whole heart will be regulated by estrogen through ER beta pathway. The sexual differences aren' t related to the content of ER. It may be involved in the state of activity and function of ER under the physiological conditions.

Animals ; Estrogen Receptor alpha ; metabolism ; Estrogen Receptor beta ; metabolism ; Female ; Immunohistochemistry ; Lizards ; physiology ; Male ; Myocardium ; metabolism

OBJECTIVETo prove the existence of functional area of Back-shu and provide a new thinking for clinical practice.

METHODSThe consistency between the Back-shu points and Jiaji points at the same level of spinal column was discussed from the origin and development, mechanisms and clinical application of Back-shu and Jiaji points.

CONCLUSIONThe points at the same level of spinal column has same origin of development, mechanisms and clinical functions, so as to prove the existence of functional area of Back-shu.

Acupuncture Points ; Humans

To construct a scFv library by phage display technique from the spleen cells of mice immunized with B3HM cells. Three mice were immunized with B3HM cells, and their spleen cells were harvested. The genes of VH and Vk were amplified by RT-PCR from the cDNA of the immunized spleen cells and a scFv-phage display antibody library was constructed. The capacity of library was measured,and the variety of the library was analyzed by digesting with restriction endonuclease BstNI.ScFv phage clones were randomly picked and identified phage-scFv clone by binding B3HM cells using immunofluorescein.A scFv library containing 5?106 individual clones which showed different patterns after digested with restriction endonuclease BstNI was produced. Individnal phage-scFv clone showed B3HM cells positive using immunofluorescein. A scFv library of anti-B3HM cell surface molecules has been constructed. It will be useful for finding out some novel genes of causing leukemia, and establishs the infarctate foundation of clarifying the pathogenesis of leukemiagenesis.

Objective To analyze the treatment outcome and related influencing factors of Tibet- an nationality new smear-positive pulmonary tuberculosis patients in Qinghai Province，so as to provide evidence for tuberculosis control and treatment among Tibetan population． Methods Statistical analysis was conducted on 5 564 Tibetan nationality new smear-positive pulmonary tuberculosis cases in Qinghai province who were reported in the China Tuberculosis Information Management System and approved to receive treatment from 2008 to 2017． The main influencing factors were detected by unconditional Logistic regression model analysis，dependent variable was successful treatment or not，independent variables were other factors related to the treatment outcome． Ｒesults The treatment success rate of Tibetan nationality new smear-positive pulmonary tuberculosis cases was 87. 1% ( 4 848 /5 564) ，and the adverse outcome rate was 12. 9% ( 716 /5 564) ． Unconditional Logistic regression model analysis indicated that non-full- course supervision management，living in agricultural and pastoral area，having severe disease，floating population，and age older than 60 years were risk factors of adverse outcome． The odds ratio( OＲ) 95% confidence interval( CI) of the above risk factors were 13. 044( 10. 671-15. 944) ，2. 305( 1. 703-3. 119) ， 2. 090( 1. 346-3. 243) ，1. 967( 1. 443-2. 682) ，and 1. 909( 1. 410-2. 586) ． Clinical consultation，farmers and herdsmen were protective factors． The OＲ( 95% CI) were 0. 451( 0. 375-0. 543) ，and 0. 786( 0. 627- 0. 985) ． Conclusions Treatment success rate of Tibetan nationality new smear positive pulmonary tuberculosis cases was low． Therefore，the directly observed treatment short-course ( DOTS) strategy should be strictly implemented and the full-course supervision management should be strengthened to improve the treatment success rate． More attention should be paid to the elderly，severe，floating，agricultural and pastoral populations among the Tibetan population．

OBJECTIVETo evaluate quality of surveillance and emendate rates of birth and death of population of the Three Gorges area.

METHODSData on the two samples collected were designed based on principle of capture-recapture method. An investigation of missing report of birth and death was conducted in 7061 families selected through stratified random sampling method. We collected and registered the data of birth and death in every family investigated and checked with correlative records reported in disease surveillance system of the Three Gorges area. The missing report rates and the 95% confidence intervals of birth rate and death rate were calculated.

RESULTSThe underreporting rates of birth and death were 13.91% and 15.60% and death of infant was 33.33%. The emended birth rate was 8.92 per thousandth and the 95% confidence interval of birth rate was 8.38 per thousandth-9.45 per thousandth. The emended report rate of death was 6.88 per thousandth and the collectivity 95% confidence interval was 6.37%-7.38 per thousandth.

CONCLUSIONResults showed that the quality of birth and death in the disease surveillance reporting system of Three Gorges area was competent to the quality level of the standard set for national disease surveillance system. The birth and death rates of population in the Three Gorges area were under 10.00 per thousandth.

Adolescent ; Adult ; Aged ; Birth Rate ; Child ; Child, Preschool ; China ; epidemiology ; Female ; Humans ; Infant ; Infant Mortality ; Infant, Newborn ; Male ; Middle Aged ; Mortality ; Population Surveillance ; methods