Objective To investigate the clinical significance of anticardiolipin antibodies (ACA)in patients with hemorrhagic fever with renal syndrome(HFRS).Methods The serum ACA- IgM and ACA-IgG in 175 cases of renal diseases and 50 healthy cases were detected by enzyme-linked immunosorbent assay(ELISA). The positive rates of ACA were calculated and compared among different groups.Results The positive rates of ACA-IgM and ACA-IgG in control group were both 0 (0/50),while they were 85.2%(46/54)and 24.1%(13/54)respectively in patients with HERS. 25.0%(13/52)and 21.2%(11/52)respectively in patients with lupus nephritis and 13.0%(9/69) and 8.7%(6/69)respectively in patients with nephrotic syndrome.The poshive rate of ACA lgM in patients with HFRS was higher than that in control group,lupus nephritis group and nephritic syn- drome group(P

Objective To evaluate the immunogenicity and immunoprotective effect of heat shock protein 60 kDa (SjHSP60) of Schistosoma japonicum in mice after immunization and challenge infection, and explore the mechanism. Methods B cell/an?tibody?related databases and analysis tools were used to predict B?cell epitopes of SjHSP60. The mice were immunized with the recombinant SjHSP60 and challenged with S. japonicum cercariae. SjHSP60?specific antibodies in serum were detected by ELI?SA. The level of splenocyte proliferation was determined by 3H?TdR incorporation. Ex vivo suppression assay was performed to in?vestigate the effects of CD4 +CD25 + regulatory T cells (Tregs) induced by SjHSP60. Results SjHSP60 possessed multiple pre?dominant regions of B?cell epitopes. SjHSP60 induced a significant increase in both SjHSP60?specific IgG levels (P < 0.01) and splenocyte proliferation (P < 0.01) with a higher IFN?γ production (P < 0.01). However, the immunization with SjHSP60 resulted no significant reduction in adult worms (P > 0.05) and liver?accumulated eggs (P > 0.05) in S. japonicum?infected mice. Ex vivo assay showed that CD4+CD25+ Tregs from SjHSP60?immunized mice enhanced immunosuppressive activity. Conclusion SjH?SP60 has a dual role in host immune system, being involved in the induction of dominant humoral and cellular immune responses as well as in the enhancement of immunosuppression.

MicroRNAs (miRNAs) constitute a novel, extensive class of small RNAs (approximately 21 nucleotides), and play important gene-regulation roles during growth and development in various organisms. Here we conducted a homology search to identify homologs of previously validated miRNAs from silkworm genome. We identified 24 potential miRNA genes, and gave each of them a name according to the common criteria. Interestingly, we found that a great number of newly identified miRNAs were conserved in silkworm and Drosophila, and family alignment revealed that miRNA families might possess single nucleotide polymorphisms. miRNA gene clusters and possible functions of complement miRNA pairs are discussed.
Animals ; Base Sequence ; Bombyx ; Cluster Analysis ; Computational Biology ; methods ; Drosophila melanogaster ; Genetic Complementation Test ; Genome ; MicroRNAs ; metabolism ; Molecular Sequence Data ; Multigene Family ; Polymorphism, Single Nucleotide ; Sequence Homology, Nucleic Acid ; Software ; Thermodynamics

Objective To visualize and analyze the literature related to immunotherapy for prostate cancer published in the past 20 years through bibliometric analysis, and to explore the research progress and cutting-edge trends in this field. Methods The Web of Science core collection database was searched for literature related to immunotherapy for prostate cancer published from 2002 to 2021. CiteSpace and VOSviewer software were used to visualize and analyze the data and map the evolution of hotspots. Results There were 2 326 papers were finally included after excluding irrelevant studies. The field of immunotherapy for prostate cancer is in a rapid development stage; the United States has a great influence and China has a significant latecomer advantage; the National Cancer Institute, Memorial Sloan-Kettering Cancer Center and University of California, San Francisco are the main research institutions; American authors Gulley JL, Schlom J and Japanese author Itoh K have the highest number of publications. Currently, the main research hotspot is immune checkpoint inhibitors, and high-quality clinical trials are continuing to drive this process forward. Conclusion The exploration of novel immune pathways and the combination of different therapies will be the main trend of future research in immunotherapy for prostate cancer.

The uracil in DNA comes from either the misincorporation of dUTP in place of dTTP or deamination of cytosine. In the latter case, it can result in a GC to AT transition mutation if the uracil is not removed before DNA replication. Base excision repair (BER) is a major pathway for removing DNA lesions arising from endogenous processes as well as those induced by exposure to exogenous chemicals or irradiation. BER is initiated by DNA glycosylases that excise aberrant bases from DNA by cleavage of the N-glycosidic bond linking to the base of its deoxyribose sugar. Uracil N-glycosylase (UNG) is the enzyme responsible for the first step in the BER pathway that specifically removes uracil from DNA. The UNG gene undergoes both temporal and spatial regulation mainly at the level of transcription. Normally cancer cells undergo over-proliferation and up-regulate their UNG during tumorigenesis. In this study we examine the correlation between UNG level and carcinogenesis, and explore the possibility of using UNG as a marker for cancer diagnosis. Human UNG gene was amplified from the total RNA of the human choriocarcinoma cell line, JEG-3, by RT-PCR. After purification, the 942bp full-length UNG cDNA coding sequence was digested with EcoR I and Sal I, and cloned into the digested pET-21 to construct a recombinant vector, pUNG. The UNG protein was expressed under the control of T7 promoter in E. coli BL21 (DE3) cells induced with IPTG. After ultrasonic treatment, the cell lysate and precipitate were analyzed by SDS-PAGE and a 39kD band was detected. The plasmid was serially diluted at appropriate concentrations and employed as standards in the subsequent quantification. Total RNAs were extracted from 18 pairs of clinical samples, each pair contains a sample of esophageal squamous cell carcinoma (ESCC) tissue and its surrounding normal esophageal epithelia. The copy numbers of UNG mRNA in these RNA samples were determined by real-time quantitative RT-PCR using a Lightcycler (Roche). UNG was present in 13 cases of ESCC (13/18, n = 18) but absent in all of the normal tissues. The results indicated that there was a correlation between high level of UNG expression and the carcinogenesis of ESCC.
Carcinoma, Squamous Cell ; genetics ; metabolism ; Cell Line, Tumor ; Cloning, Molecular ; Electrophoresis, Polyacrylamide Gel ; Esophageal Neoplasms ; genetics ; metabolism ; Humans ; In Vitro Techniques ; Reverse Transcriptase Polymerase Chain Reaction ; Uracil-DNA Glycosidase ; genetics ; metabolism

Objective To study the expression of MCP-1 and its correlation with SSc.Methods Twenty-seven patients with SSe and 21 healthy control subjects were examined for MCP-1 expressions by ELISA.mRNA and protein of MCP-1 in fibroblast cells from 5 SSc patients and 3 healthy subjects were also measured by RT-PCR and immunohistochemistry.At the same time,the correlation between the expression levels of MCP-1 and SSc was analyzed.Results The plasma level of MCP-1 was significantly higher in pa- tients with SSc than in healthy control subjects(787?393)pg/ml versus(426?266)pg/ml,P

Objective To clarify the clinical features,therapeutic strategy and prognosis of lipid storage myopathy (LSM).Methods The clinical data and therapeutic effects of 42 LSM patients were summarized retrospectively.All patients were followed up to evaluate their prognosis.Results Data of short-term therapeutic results of all the 42 patients were available.Thirty-three cases were placed in low- doses prednisone and 9 cases in riboflavin.All patients showed marked and quick improvement of symptoms within one month.Among thirty-two patients followed up for more than one year,26 cases had a full recovery and 6 remained to have intolerance to heavy exercise.Thirteen patients had relapses of muscle weakness in various degrees and most of which were induced by exertion,exposure to coldness and upper respiratory tract infection.In 5 patients the symptoms were recurred for more than one time.Among 13 cases with relapses, 7 had family history.Conclusions Our data suggest that LSM is a treatable disease and well responsive to low-doses prednisone.The disease tends to recur,especially in patients with family history.Glutaric aciduria type Ⅱ should be considered in LSM patients who are responsive well to riboflavin,indicating drug therapeutic strategy for LSM should be based on the etiology of the disease.

OBJECTIVETo investigate the expression and procoagulant activity of phosphatidylserine (PS) on the normal peripheral blood cells of adults.

METHODSNormal peripheral blood samples were collected from 10 healthy volunteers (5 ml from each volunteer), platelets, neutrophils, lymphocytes and erythrocytes were isolated. The expression and procoagulant activity of PS on normal blood cells were identified by flow cytometry, inhibition test with lactadherin as PS probe and coagulation anticoagulant, respectively.

RESULTSThere was PS expression on a few normal blood cells (9.1%, 5.4%, 3.9% and 3.2% in platelets, neutrophils, lymphocytes and erythrocytes, respectively). The PS on these normal blood cells in vitro showed significant procoagulant activity. The plasma recalcification time was shortened by 47%, 36.5%, 25% and 12.5% by platelets, neutrophils, lymphocytes and erythrocytes, respectively; the formation of factor Xa (through both intrinsic and extrinsic pathways) and thrombin was also increased by 13% - 26% by platelets, neutrophils, lymphocytes and erythrocytes, respectively.

CONCLUSIONThe PS on normal blood cells in vivo may play a crucial role in the coagulation cascade.

Adult ; Blood Cells ; metabolism ; physiology ; Blood Coagulation Tests ; Female ; Flow Cytometry ; Humans ; Male ; Phosphatidylserines ; metabolism

OBJECTIVETo study influenza epidemic and analyze antigenic and genetic characterization of the predominant strains in Wuhan area in 2003.

METHODSEpidemiological data and specimens from influenza patients were collected from surveillance sites weekly. Viruses were isolated from the specimens. Three H3 isolates were chosen to do antigenic analysis by hemagglutination inhibition (HI) test and their HA1 region was sequenced.

RESULTSTotally 58 influenza viruses were isolated from 418 specimens, 57 of them were identified as H3 subtype and 1 of them was B subtype; both monthly positive rate and numbers of influenza like illness had two peaks of winter and summer, the highest peak appeared in July. The 3 new H3 isolates were antigenically different from vaccine strain A/Panama/2007/99, 14 amino acid changes have been found in HA1 domain of these 3 strains compared with A/Panama/2007/99, phylogenetic analysis also confirmed the difference in HA1 domain.

CONCLUSIONSInfluenza epidemic had two peaks in Wuhan area in 2003. The activity of H3 virus was strengthened remarkably. And they are antigenically and genetically different from the vaccine strain.

Amino Acid Sequence ; Antigens, Viral ; immunology ; China ; epidemiology ; Genes, Viral ; Glycosylation ; Hemagglutination Inhibition Tests ; Humans ; Influenza A Virus, H3N2 Subtype ; genetics ; immunology ; isolation & purification ; Influenza, Human ; epidemiology ; virology ; Molecular Sequence Data ; Phylogeny ; Sequence Analysis, Protein

BACKGROUND: Although Becker's nevus (BN) is a relatively common disease, the systematic studies of clinicopathological and immunohistochemical results are poorly reported. OBJECTIVE: To investigate the clinicopathological features and immunohistochemical alterations of keratinocyte proliferation, melanocyte density, smooth muscle hyperplasia and nerve fiber distribution in BN. METHODS: Clinical and pathological data were collected in 60 newly-diagnosed BN cases. Immunohistochemical stain of Ki-67, Melan-A, keratin 15, smooth muscle actin and protein gene product 9.5 was performed in 21 cases. RESULTS: The median diagnostic and onset age was 17 and 12 years, respectively. Skin lesions usually appeared on the upper trunk and upper limbs. The pathological features included the rete ridge elongation and fusion and basal hyperpigmentation. Epidermal Ki-67, Melan-A and keratin 15 expression and dermal nerve fiber length were significantly higher in lesional and perilesional skin than in normal skin (p<0.05~0.01), while smooth muscle actin expression was upregulated only in skin lesion (p<0.05). CONCLUSION: Although the clinical diagnosis of BN is often straightforward, histopathology is helpful to differentiate from other pigmentary disorders. The hyperproliferation of keratinocytes, melanocytes, arrector pili muscle and dermal nerve fibers could be involved in the pathogenesis of BN.
Actins ; Age of Onset ; Diagnosis ; Hyperpigmentation ; Hyperplasia* ; Keratin-15 ; Keratinocytes* ; MART-1 Antigen ; Melanocytes* ; Muscle, Smooth* ; Nerve Fibers* ; Nevus* ; Skin ; Upper Extremity