Recent studies have found that peptide therapies tar-geting specific epitopes can avoid nonspecific immune suppres-sion induced by traditional medicines for the treatment of autoim-mune diseases, and have shown great therapeutic effect in ani-mal models of autoimmune diseases and clinical trials. The pa-per summaries the research progress and trends of peptide drugs for the treatment of autoimmune diseases from candidate peptide sources and their suppression mechanisms, which can provide a theoretical basis for the in-depth understanding of immune toler-ance and allow for discovery of new treatment for autoimmune diseases.

Objective To confirm the transmission of Toxoplasma gondii by semen and to investigate the impact of vaginal status on the transmission of T. gondii in female rabbits. Methods Sixteen male rabbits were infected with T. gondii by intraperitoneal injection each with 1 ×105 RH tachyzoites. Eight rabbits died in 8-14 d after infection.Artificial vagina was used to collect semen from male rabbits weekly before and after infection for 8 weeks. If more than 2 portions of semen from 8 survived male rabbits were collected after infection, the collected semen was mixed weekly for later use. Twenty-seven female rabbits were divided into 4 groups: group 1 with normal vagina (7 rabbits), group 2with wounded vagina (7), group 3 with trichomonas vaginitis (7) and group 4 with colpomycosis infection (6). Tachyzoites were found in mixed semen digested by trypsinase, and were used for endovaginal artificial insemination to female rabbits by uterine cavity tube once a week for 8 consecutive weeks. 2-3 d after every insemination, 2 ml blood was collected from helix vein of each rabbit, and stored at -40 ℃ for use. Anti-T. gondii antibody was examined by ELISA and the B1 gene of T. gondii was detected by PCR. Results Anti-T. gondii antibody was detected in some rabbits (2, 3, 1, and 1 rabbits from each of the groups respectively) on the 16th day after the first insemination. The positive rate of ELISA was 25.9%. The amplification of B1 gene (200 bp) by PCR appeared positive from the blood samples on the 3rd day after the first insemination and the last positive one was proved on the 51th day after the first insemination.Number of positive samples was 2, 1, 3 and 1 in the 4 groups respectively, with an overall PCR positive rate of 18.5%.Only 3 of the 27 rabbits were positive by both ELISA and PCR. Conclusions T. gondii can be transmitted by semen and the health status of vagina shows no impact on it.

Objective To evaluate the significance of ST/TP relative value in electrocardiogram in diagnosis of hypocalcemia.Methods ST/TP relative value in electrocardiogram in 61 children with hypocalcemia and 31 normal children were detected by NIHOH KOHDEN CardiofaxQ ECG-9130P electrocardiogram machine designed by Japanese futian company.Calcium ion was checked out by clinic electrolyte equipment.Results There was significant difference of ST/TP relative value between patients with hypocalcemia and normal children(P

Background Conventional chemical method to fix the entire eyeball results in the edema of retinal nerve fiber layer and therefore influent the evaluation of tissue structure.Research showed that microwave irradiation can avoid this phenomenon. Objective This study was to investigate the appropriate energy and time duration of microwave irradiation for fixation of rabbit eyes specimen and compare the influence of different fixation methods on retinal structure. Methods Twenty-two New Zealand white rabbits were sacrificed by using venous air embolism.The eyeballs were enucleated from the rabbits and immersed in chemical reagents with glacial acetic acid,methyl aldehyde and chloroform for 2 days as the control group.The eyeballs were immersed in 400 ml physiological balance solution immediately,and then were fixed by microwave irradiation for 80,160,240 and 320 seconds under the lower power as the microwave irradiation groups.In the microwave irradiation+chemical fixation group,the specimens were immersed in chemical reagents for 1-2 hours after the microwave radiation.The morphology of retinal structure was examined and area of retinal detachment was calculated by hemotoxylin and eosin staining under the light microscope. Results A better fixation effect was obtained in the retinal section of microwave radiation for 240 seconds in comparison with that of the traditional chemical reagent fixation method for 2 days.The retina detachment ratio was 16.3%±11.5% for simple microwave method,50.0%±24.5% for chemical method,and 6.7%±7.8% for microwave+chemical method.showing a significant difference among 3 groups(F=32.43,P=0.000).Retinal staining was clear and retinal structure was almost normal in the specimens of microwave+chemical fixation group with 200-240 seeonds microwave irradiation and 1-2 hours chemical fixation. Conclusion Microwave irradiation method is a more ideal way for the fixation of retina because of taking short duration,lower toxicity and better staining.The combination of microwave radiation and chemical reagents can acquire an excellent quality of retinal section.

Adolescent ; Adult ; Child ; Child, Preschool ; Electrocoagulation ; methods ; Female ; Humans ; Hypothermia, Induced ; Male ; Middle Aged ; Prospective Studies ; Tonsillectomy ; methods ; Young Adult

Objective To investigate the expression of microRNA-224 in HepG2 cells and analyze its target genes to reveal its role in the carcinogenesis of hepatoma. Methods The genes with differential expression in HepG2 cells and LO2 cells were obtained by gene expression microarray analysis. The up-regulated target genes of microRNA-224 were predicted by bioinformatics method, and their functions were analyzed. Results Compared with LO2 cells, microRNA-224 was highly expressed in HepG2 cells. A total of 264 target genes of microRNA-224 were predicted, including genes involved in cell cycle, signal transduction, cell differentiation, proliferation and apoptosis. Conclusions MicroRNA-224 is highly expressed in HepG2 cells. MicroRNA-224 plays an important role in the carcinogenesis of hepatoma via regulating the expression of its target genes directly or indirectly.

BACKGROUND:The main treatment of lumbar isthmic spondylolisthesis is the surgery, in a broader attempt to decompression, reduction, fixation and fusion of the lesioned segments. The golden standard of the treatment is biological fusion, while internal fixation is a reliable assistance for fusion therapy. ＜br> OBJECTIVE:To discuss the clinical value and curative effect of intervertebral fusion cage combined with pedicle screw systems for the treatment of lumbar isthmic spondylolisthesis. ＜br> METHODS:From March 2010 to March 2013, 21 cases of isthmic spondylolisthesis were treated with intervertebral fusion cage combined with pedicle screw systems, including 18 cases of spondylolisthesis of degree II and 3 cases of spondylolisthesis of degree III. Al patients were fol owed up regularly, taking JOA lumbago score and visual analog scale score as the objective evaluation criteria of pain in postoperative fol ow-ups. The curative effect was assessed by Macrab standard, and the functional recovery was evaluated based on indicators such as Prolo, and the spinal fusion rate was assessed according to Lenke criteria. Changes of slippage rate, slippage angle, sacral inclination angle and intervertebral space post height in preoperative and postoperative periods were evaluated by iconography data. ＜br> RESULTS AND CONCLUSION:Al the 21 patients with isthmic spondylolisthesis were fol owed up for 12-16 months. JOA lumbago score and vasual analog scale score of al patients were improved after treatment, and the difference was statistical y significant compared with before treatment (P=0.000). According to Macrab evaluation criteria, there were 17 excellent cases and 4 good cases. Each indicator evaluated by preoperative Prolo activities and symptom grading showed significant differences in preoperative and postoperative periods (P=0.003). Postoperative lumbar spondylolisthesis was basical y reset, the slippage angle was significantly reduced, the sacral inclination angle was increased, and the height of the intervertebral space was recovered basical y. Intervertebral fusion cage combined with pedicle screw systems was one of the effective strategies to treat lumbar isthmic spondylolisthesis.

Objective:To investigate the therapeutic effect of carbon dioxide laser tonsillectomy.Method:In this prospective,randomized study, One hundred and two patients were divided into laser group or control group. Patients of laser group were cured with carbon dioxide laser tonsillectom,and the control group was cured with routine method. All operations are executed by one person. Observation index included operation time, hemorrhage in operation, ache after operation, inflammatory reaction of raw surface, repair time of raw surface, rehaemorrhagia and scar.Result:Laser group had advantages of less operation time, less hemorrhage, less ache and less inflammatory reaction of raw surface. Laser group have hemorrhage in operation (7.2±2.1)ml, while control group have hemorrhage in operation (92.0±35.0)ml. Laser group have pseudomembrane early but desquamate late.Conclusion:Carbon dioxide laser tonsillectomy is effective to relieve pain, inflammatory reaction and with less time ,it's an safe , efficient and mini-trauma operation.

OBJECTIVETo economically obtain the Abeta peptide for Alzheimer's disease (AD) research by expressing the Abeta peptide fused with the maltose binding protein (MBP) possessing high solubility in E.coli.

METHODSThe cDNA-coding sequence of Abeta peptide was modified by the addition of a BamH I site at the 5' end and a Hind III site at the 3' end using PCR. The modified sequence was ligated into the maltose-binding protein (MBP) fusion expression vector pMAL-c2 containing an thrombin cleavage site, which was transformed into competent E.coli DH5alpha cells. After identification of the single clones by PCR and DNA sequencing, the recombinant plasmid was transformed into E.coli TB1 and induced to express MBP-Abeta fusion protein. The expressed fusion protein was purified using amylose resin column and identified by SDS-PAGE and Western blotting.

RESULTSThe result of DNA sequencing verified the consistency between the inserted sequence and Abeta (1-42) sequence. SDS-PAGE electrophoresis showed that MBP-Abeta fusion protein was highly expressed in E.coli TB1, and Western blotting demonstrated that the purified fusion protein and the separated Abeta peptide could be recognized by specific anti-Abeta (22-35) antibody.

CONCLUSIONMBP-Abeta fusion protein highly expressed in E. coli TB1 cells with enhanced solubility and the separated Abeta peptide with good immunogenicity obtained may lend support to AD research.

Alzheimer Disease ; genetics ; Amyloid beta-Peptides ; biosynthesis ; genetics ; Escherichia coli ; genetics ; metabolism ; Genetic Vectors ; genetics ; Humans ; Maltose-Binding Proteins ; biosynthesis ; genetics ; Recombinant Fusion Proteins ; biosynthesis ; genetics ; isolation & purification

Craniocerebral Trauma ; Earthquakes ; Head ; Humans