This paper reviews the common approaches for B cell epitopes and T cell epitopes study in recent years, and its application in foot-and-mouth disease virus (FMDV)’s antigen epitope study. The development of antigen epitopes of FMDV are also summarized.

Biodegradable PLGA [poly(lactide-co-glycolide acid)] have shown significant potential for sustained and targeted delivery of several pharmaceutical agents, including DNA. We reviewed the formulating approaches of PLGA nanoparticles/microspheres as DNA carriers and utilization for gene therapy and vaccine adjuvant.

Objective To compare the cervical intervertebral movements produced by posteroanterior cervical mobilization and posteroanterior cervical mobilization combined with cervical traction by using the radiographic measurement.Methods The study recruited 12 normal volunteers (6 men,6 women),aged 18 to 25 years (22.9±4.7 years),heighted (164± 7)cm and weighed (54.7 ± 7.6)kg.All the subjects were administered with posteroanterior cervical mobilization followed by posteroanterior cervical mobilization while having cervical traction,or vice versa,with an interval of 2 days in between.The X-ray films were collected before and after the treatment,using 4 static cervical lateral views.The axial displacement of posterior and anterior intervertebral separation (IVS),and the shear displacement of vertebral body as well as the rotation and displacement rate of the motion segments in the sagittal plane before and after the treatment were measured on the radiographic images and compared.Results It was shown that the posteroanterior cervical mobilization produced greater C2-C7 rotation range of motion in the sagittal plane,as compared to that by the posteroanterior mobilization while having cervical traction (P ＜ 0.05).The posteroanterior mobilization produced a significantly greater increase of anterior IVS of the C5 segment and the summation of C2-C7 posterior IVS than those by posteroanterior mobilization while having cervical traction (P ＜ 0.05).However,the posterior IVS and the posterior zygapophysial joints separation of C2-C7 produced by the posteroanterior mobilization during traction were more prominent (P ＜ 0.05).There was no statistical difference between anteroposterior displacements of the vertebral body produced by the two interventions.Comparing with the baseline,the posteroanterior mobilization caused posterior movement of the vertebral bodies of C5 to C2,while the posteroanterior cervical mobilization during traction produced posterior movement of C5 to C2 vertebral bodies and anterior movement of C6 body.Conclusion The cervical posteroanterior mobilization significantly increased the lordosis from C3 to C7,and reduced posterior IVS and zygapophysial joints separation.However,the posteroanterior mobilization during traction changed the intervertebral movements.

Objective To investigate strain and strain rate of right ventricular(RV)based on twodimensional image by velocity vector imaging in normal subjects.Methods Thirty-two healthy adults were rolled in this study.Echocardiographic images in 4 chamber view were analyzed by conventional manual tracing for volumes and ejection fractions,which were also measured by velocity vector imaging.Myocardial velocity,strain rate,and strain were determined at the basal,mid,and apical segments of the RV free wall and ventricular septum by velocity vector imaging.Results RV ejection fractions obtained with manual tracing correlated strongly with the same indexes obtained by velocity vector imaging method in all subjects(r=0.91,P＜0.01).The strain and strain rate value of middle segment and basal segment in RV free wall were higher than those of apical segment.There were same trend in ventricular septal.The strain and strain rate of middle segment and basal segment in RV free wall were higher than those of homologous segments in ventricular septal,but the indexes of apical segment in free wail and septal had no difference.The strain and strain rate in RV were not correlated with age.Conclusions Velocity vector imaging could accurately and quantitatively assess the strain and strain rate of RV.

Objective: The purpose of this tudy was to dynamicly observe the weight and the bone mineral density (BMD) of the unsexed rabbits with a few self-made standardized phantoms. Methods:The eighteen healthy adult female rabbits were measured for their weight and BMD in preunsexed and postunsexed 5 months, 10 months with quantitative CT(QCT). Results:There were 61.1% of rabbits whose weight and BMD decreased after 5 months of the postunsexed and 100% of rabbits whose weight and BMD decreased after 10 months of the operation. Conclusion:QCT can be used to dynamicly observe curative effect of drugs in various periods as well,and it is a good method to study osteoporosis.

The high molecular weight glutenin subunits (HMW-GS) are the main components of storage proteins of wheat,and play a critical role in determining the visco-elastic properties of gluten. There are both quantitative and qualitative effects of HMW-GS on the processing properties of wheat. Current knowledge of the molecular structures,compositions and properties of the gluten proteins of wheat is summarized in details,and the role of the HMW-GS in determining the quality of the grain for breadmaking and how their amount and composition can be manipulated leading to changes in dough mixing properties is also discussed systematically.

The effect of amygdalin joint hydroxysafflor yellow A (HSYA) on the endplate chondrocytes derived from intervertebral discs of rats induced by IL-1beta and the possible mechanism were studied and explored. Chondrocytes were obtained from endplate of one-month SD rat intervertebral discs and cultured primary endplate chondrocytes. After identification, they were divided into normal group, induced group, amygdalin group, HSYA group and combined group. CCK-8 kit was adopted to detect the proliferation of the endplate chondrocytes. FCM was measured to detect the apoptosis. Real-time PCR method was adopted to observe the mRNA expression of Aggrecan, Col 2 alpha1, Col 10 alpha1, MMP-13 and the inflammatory cytokines IL-1beta. The protein expression of Col II, Col X was tested through immunofluorescence. Compared with the normal group, the proliferation of the endplate chondrocytes decreased while the apoptosis increased (P < 0.05). With down regulation of the mRNA expressions of Aggrecan, Col 2 alpha1 and up regulation of the mRNA expressions of Col 10 alpha1, MMP-13, IL-1beta (P < 0.05), the protein expression of Col II decreased while the protein expression of Col X increased. Compared with the induced group, amygdalin group, HSYA group, the combined group could inhibit the apoptosis and promote the proliferation (P < 0.05). They could increase the mRNA expressions of Aggrecan and Col 2 alpha1 while decrease the mRNA expressions of Col 10 alpha1, MMP-13 and IL-1beta (P < 0.05). They could also enhance the protein expression of Col II while reduce the protein expression of Col X. The effect of the combined group was significantly better than that of amygdalin and HSYA. Amygdalin joint HSYA could inhibit the degeneration of the endplate chondrocytes derived from intervertebral discs of rats induced by IL-1beta and better than the single use of amygdalin or HSYA.
Amygdalin ; pharmacology ; Animals ; Apoptosis ; Cells, Cultured ; Chalcone ; analogs & derivatives ; pharmacology ; Chondrocytes ; drug effects ; Collagen ; metabolism ; Drug Synergism ; Interleukin-1beta ; Intervertebral Disc ; cytology ; Quinones ; pharmacology ; Rats

OBJECTIVETo improve the method for monitoring sleep state and respiratory rhythm of SD rats, providing a solution for rats' chewing on the wires, signal loss and instability problems in the animal model of sleep apnea syndrome (SAS).

METHODSWe improved monitoring electrodes of both electrocorticogram (ECoG) and electromyogram (EMG), signal circuit and animal operation.

RESULTSOperation time was shortened and wound exposure time was reduced, which made it easier for postoperative recovery. The ECoG and EMG signals were more stable with sharp image, and signal circuit lines had better conductivity and material durability, achieving continuous monitoring for a long time and high success rate. We could precisely distinguish the sleep wake state and the sleep apnea events in rats according to these signals.

CONCLUSIONThe improved method is more reliable and practical to test the small animal model of SAS, and is more easily to operate and the signals are more stable.

Animals ; Electroencephalography ; methods ; Electromyography ; methods ; Models, Animal ; Monitoring, Physiologic ; methods ; Rats ; Respiration ; Sleep ; Sleep Apnea Syndromes ; diagnosis

BACKGROUND: Hypothermia is associated with poor outcome in trauma patients; however, hemorrhagic shock (HS) model with anesthetized swine was different from that of clinical reality. To identify the effects of environmental hypothermia on HS, we investigated hemodynamics and oxygen dynamics in an unanesthetized swine model of HS under simulating hypothermia environment.METHODS: Totally 16 Bama pigs were randomly divided into ambient temperature group (group A) and low temperature group (group B), 8 pigs in each group. Venous blood (30 mL/kg) was continuously withdrawn for more than 15 minutes in conscious swine to establish a hemorrhagic shock model. Pulmonary arterial temperature (Tp), heart rate (HR), mean arterial pressure (MAP), pulmonary arterial pressure (PAP), pulmonary arterial wedge pressure (PAWP), central venous pressure (CVP), cardiac output (CO), hemoglobin (Hb), saturation of mixed venous blood (SvO2) and blood gas analysis were recorded at the baseline and different hemorrhagic shock time (HST). The whole body oxygen delivery indices, DO2I and VO2I, and the O2 extraction ratio (O2ER) were calculated.RESULTS: Core body temperature in group A decreased slightly after the hemorrhagic shock model was established, and environmental hypothermia decreased in core body temperature. The mortality rate was significantly higher in group B (50％) than in group A (0％). DO2I and VO2I decreased significantly after hemorrhage. No difference was found in hemodynamics, DO2I and VO2I between group A and group B, but the difference in pH, lactic acid and O2ER was significant between the two groups.CONCLUSION: Environmental hypothermia aggravated the disorder of oxygen metabolism after hemorrhagic shock, which was associated with poor prognosis.

Objective There is little population-based data on the prevalence and the environmental or genetic determinants of left ventricular hypertrophy (LVH) in China. The purpose of this paper is to study LVH in relation to systolic blood pressure and the angiotensin converting enzyme (ACE) insertion/deletion(I/D) polymorphism in Chinese. Methods We recorded 12-lead ECG (CardioSoft, v4.2) in 1365 residents in the Jingning County, Zhejiang Province, China. LVH was defined according to the gender-specific Sokolow-Lyon and Comell product ECG criteria. Results Regardless of whether the Sokolow-Lyon or Comell product ECG criteria was used, the prevalence of LVH (20.7% and 4.8%, respectively) significantly (P<0.0001) increased with male gender (odds ratio [OR] 2.33 and 7.15) and systolic blood pressure (per 10 mm Hg increase, OR 1.46 and 1.33). If the Sokolow-Lyon criteria was used, the prevalence of LVH was also influenced by alcohol intake (OR 1.44, P=0.03) and body mass index (OR 0.83, P=0.0005). The association between the Sokolow-Lyon voltage amplitude and the ACE I/D polymorphism was dependent on antihypertensive therapy (P=0.01). In 1262 untreated subjects, but not 103 patients on antihypertensive medication, the ACE DD compared with Ⅱ subjects had significantly higher Sokolow-Lyon voltage amplitudes (29.8±0.6 vs. 28.0±20.5 mV, P=0.02) and higher risk of LVH (OR 1.74, 95% CI: 1. 12-2.69, P=0.01). Conclusion LVH is prevalent in Chinese, and is associated with systolic blood pressure and the ACE D allele. The genetic association might be modulated by antihypertensive therapy.