Spirometra erinaceieuropaei casein kinase I (SeCKI) was analyzed using bioinformatical methods to predict its structure and function based on the deduced amino acid sequence from full length cDNA sequence of SeCKI gene with online sites and software programs. The longest open reading frame contains 448 amino acids, 50 kDa and theoretical pI of 4.73, with a complete tubulin domain, a SMART tubulin_C domain and a low complexity region. SeCKI has no signal sequence and no transmembrane domain, but is predicted to be located extracellularly. The secondary structure of SeCKI contains 12 α-helixes, 11 β-strands and 22 coils. SeCKI had 19 potential antigenic epitopes and 25 HLA-I restricted epitopes. Based on phylogenetic analysis of SeCKI sequence, S. erinaceieuropaei has the closest evolutionary status with Hymenolepis microstoma. Information from this study could provide important insights into the identification of diagnostic antigens and molecular targets of antisparganum drugs.

We have previously reported that the recombinant T. spiralis aminopeptidase (rTsAP) could induce a partial protective immunity against T. spiralis infection in mice. The aim of this study was to predict the structures and functions of TsAP protein by using the full length cDNA sequence of TsAP gene. TsAP sequence was 1515 bp length with a 1515 bp biggest ORF encoding 504-amino acid protein. The molecular weight and isoelectric point of TsAP were 54.7 kDa and 6.69, respectively. TsAP structure domains contained a Peptidase_M17_N and a Peptidase_M17 domain, which has the function of catalysis of the hydrolysis of N-terminal amino acid residues. TsAP had no signal peptide site and transmembrane domain, and located in cytoplasm. The secondary structure of TsAP contained 16 α-helix, 14 β-strand and 29 coils. The TsAP had 11 and 21 potential antigenic epitopes of T cell and B cell, respectively. Based on the phylogenetic analyses of TsAP, T. spiralis have the closest relationship with Plasmodium falciparum. TsAP was a kind of proteolytic enzyme with a variety of biological functions and its antigenic epitopes could provide important insights on the diagnostic antigens and target molecular of anti-Trichinella drugs

Butanedioic acid was isolated from the ethyl alcohol extract of Hedysarum polybotrys. The methylated carboxylic acid was identified by GC-MS method.
Carboxylic Acids ; chemistry ; isolation & purification ; Drugs, Chinese Herbal ; chemistry ; Succinates ; chemistry ; isolation & purification

Previous studies showed that crude antigens from Trichinella spiralis adult worms (AW) can be recognized by mouse infection sera at 8 days post infection. The aim of this study was to identify the early diagnostic antigenic bands in soluble proteins from T. spiralis AW by Western blot using early infection sera. The affecting factors of adult recovery were firstly observed in this study, and the results showed that the maximum number of adults was collected from small intestine when the female BALB/c mice were orally infected with 4000 ML and sacrificed at 3 days post infection. The results of Western blot analysis showed that seven protein bands (31, 35.1, 39, 40.6, 41.9, 47 and 50.6 kDa) could be recognized by early infection sera as early as at 8-10 days post infection, and were strongly reacted with mouse infection sera at 11-12 days post infection. Our results suggested that the seven protein bands of T. spiralis AW soluble proteins might be the early expressed antigens during the intestinal stage of Trichinella infection and therefore have potential value for the early diagnosis of trichinellosis.

Background & Objective: No clinical study of any interferon beta therapy has yet been successfully conducted in Chinese multiple sclerosis patients, probably due to the low incidence of this disease in China. The primary objective of this study was to demonstrate that treating multiple sclerosis patients of Chinese origin with interferon beta-1b has a beneficial effect on disease course, as measured by the decrease of newly active lesions on magnetic resonance imaging. Methods: Chinese patients diagnosed with relapsing-remitting or secondary-progressive multiple sclerosis were enrolled in this multicenter, open label, single-arm study. Following a 3-month pre-treatment phase, patients were treated with 250 µg interferon beta-1b subcutaneously every other day for 6 months. Patients had regular assessments for treatment safety and efficacy of the treatment. Results: Thirty seven patients completed the trial. Significant decreases in the number of newly active lesions were observed in the 6-month treatment period compared with the pre-treatment period (median decrease 1.5 lesions, p<0.001). Most adverse events were mild and transient and no serious ones were observed. Conclusions: Treatment with interferon beta-1b significantly reduced the occurrence of new lesions and was well tolerated in this Chinese population. These findings support the use of interferon beta- 1b for treating Chinese MS patients.

The objectives of this study were to (1) determine the distribution and synthesis of pericellular matrix (PCM) molecules (collagen Ⅵ, collagen Ⅳ and laminin) in rat temporomandibular joint (TMJ) and (2) investigate the effects of PCM molecules on chondrocytes against inflammation in osteoarthritis. Four zones (fibrous, proliferating, mature and hypertrophic) of condylar cartilage and three bands (anterior, intermediate and posterior) of disc were analysed by immunohistochemistry for the presence of PCM molecules in rat TMJs. Isolated chondrocytes were pre-treated with PCM molecules before being subjected to interleukin (IL)-1β treatment to stimulate inflammation. The responses of the chondrocytes were analysed using gene expression, nitric oxide release and matrix metalloproteinase (MMP)-13 production measures. Histomorphometric analyses revealed that the highest areal deposition of collagen Ⅵ (67.4%), collagen Ⅳ (45.7%) and laminin (52.4%) was in the proliferating zone of TMJ condylar cartilage. No significant difference in the distribution of PCM molecules was noted among the three bands of the TMJ disc. All three PCM molecules were expressed intracellularly by chondrocytes cultured in the monolayer. Among the PCM molecules, pre-treatment with collagen Ⅵ enhanced cellular proliferation, ameliorated IL-1β-induced MMP-3, MMP-9, MMP-13 and inducible nitric oxide synthase gene expression, and attenuated the downregulation of cartilage matrix genes, including collagen Ⅰ, aggrecan and cartilage oligomeric matrix protein (COMP). Concurrently, collagen Ⅵ pretreatment inhibited nitric oxide and MMP-13 production. Our study demonstrates for the first time the distribution and role of PCM molecules, particularly collagen Ⅵ, in the protection of chondrocytes against inflammation.

OBJECTIVE To observe the inhibitory effects of Liuwei Dihuang Pills(LWDHP) on macrophages activation in CCl4-induced liver fibrosis in mice.METHODS C57BL/6 mice were induced liver fibrosis by CCl4 exposure and administered with LWDHP for 6 weeks simultaneously.Liver tissue was investigated by HE and Sirius red staining.α-SMA was analyzed by immunofluorescence,qPCR and Western blot.Liver macrophages were observed by immunohistochemistry of CD68.The pro-inflammatory cytokines and chemokine such as TNF-α,IL-1β,CXCR3 and MCP1 were detected by qPCR or Western blot analysis.RESULTS After 6 weeks of CCl4 administration,the expression ofα-SMA significantly increased,and LWDHP po-tently inhibited the α-SMA expression.Immunohistochemistry showed that the expression of CD68 was very weak in normal group,CD68 was distributed mainly between fibrotic septa with strong positive expression in CCl4 model group;Real-time quantitative PCR showed that TNF-α,IL-1β,MCP1 and CXCR3 expression significantly increased in model group compared with normal group.Compared with the model group,LWDHP significantly reduced the expression of CD68,inflammatory fac-tors and chemotactic factors.CONCLUSION LWDHP shows a potent inhibition of macrophage activation in CCl4-induced liv-er fibrosis.

Alanine Transaminase ; Animals ; Carbon Tetrachloride ; Gastrointestinal Microbiome ; Liver/pathology* ; Liver Cirrhosis/pathology* ; Male ; Mice ; Mice, Inbred C57BL ; Quinazolines

Objective: To analyze the characteristics of super-antigen (SAg) of group A Streptococcus pyogenes (GAS), isolated from patients with scarlet fever or pharyngeal infections in Beijing between 2015-2017. Methods: Throat swab specimens from patients with scarlet fever or pharyngeal infections were collected and tested for GAS. Eleven currently known SAg genes including SpeA, speC, speG, speH, speI, speJ, speK, speL, speM, smeZ and ssa were tested by real-time PCR while M protein genes (emm genes) were amplified and sequenced by PCR. Results: A total of 377 GAS were isolated from 6 801 throat swab specimens, with the positive rate as 5.5%. There were obvious changes noticed among speC, speG, speH and speK in three years. A total of 45 SAg genes profiles were observed, according to the SAgs inclusion. There were significant differences appeared in the frequencies among two of the highest SAg genes profiles between emm1 and emm12 strains (χ(2)=38.196, P<0.001; χ(2)=72.310, P<0.001). There also appeared significant differences in the frequencies of speA, speH, speI and speJ between emm1 and emm12 strains (χ(2)=146.154, P<0.001; χ(2)=52.31, P<0.001; χ(2)=58.43, P<0.001; χ(2)=144.70, P<0.001). Conclusions: Obvious changes were noticed among SAg genes including speC, speG, speH and speK from patients with scarlet fever or pharyngeal infections in Beijing between 2015-2017. SAg genes including speA, speH, speI and speJ appeared to be associated with the emm 1 and emm 12 strains. More kinds of SAg genes profiles were isolated form GAS but with no significant differences seen in the main SAg genes profiles, during the epidemic period.
Antigens, Bacterial/genetics* ; Bacterial Outer Membrane Proteins ; Bacterial Proteins ; Beijing/epidemiology* ; China/epidemiology* ; Exotoxins ; Female ; Humans ; Membrane Proteins ; Pharyngitis/microbiology* ; Pharynx/microbiology* ; Pregnancy ; Pregnancy Complications, Infectious/microbiology* ; Real-Time Polymerase Chain Reaction ; Scarlet Fever/microbiology* ; Streptococcal Infections ; Streptococcus pyogenes/isolation & purification* ; Superantigens/genetics*

OBJECTIVETo investigate the relationship between body weight, body dissatisfaction and depression symptoms among Chinese children.

METHODSThe fasting body weight and height of the third and fourth grade students (n = 3886, aged 9 or 10 years) from 20 schools in Beijing, China, were measured, and the students were asked to choose the figures of body image and to complete the self-reported children's depression inventory (CDI) questionnaire.

RESULTSThe CDI Cronbach's alpha was 0.81. The total CDI score was 9.60 +/- 7.50, 13.2% of children (boys 16.7% vs girls 9.5%) were at risk of developing depression symptoms. Overweight girls, but not boys, had significantly higher total CDI score than their normal weight counteparts. Both obese girls and boys showed a higher negative self-esteem score. More than one fifth underweight girls still wanted to be thinner while more than one third obese boys still wanted to be heavier. Children who wanted to be thinner showed slightly higher scores of ineffectiveness and negative self-esteem. After introducing the body dissatisfaction into the model, overweight was still associated with total CDI score among girls and obesity was still associated with negative self-esteem among both boys and girls.

CONCLUSIONOverweight girls show a significantly higher depression symptom score than their normal weight counterparts, which maybe partially explained by body dissatisfaction. Obese boys and girls are both more likely to suffer from low self-esteem, which is partially explained by body dissatisfaction.

Body Image ; Body Weight ; Child ; China ; epidemiology ; Depression ; epidemiology ; psychology ; Female ; Humans ; Male ; Obesity ; epidemiology ; psychology