Recently, drug delivery materials have become the hotspot of medical study. Suitable delivery material plays an important role in constructing an excellent drug delivery system. Silk fibroin is a naturally occurring protein polymer with excellent biocompatibility, remarkable mechanical properties, biodegradability and outstanding processability. Due to its unique properties, silk fibroin has become a favorable carrier material for the incorporation and delivery of a range of therapeutic agents. Based on the structure and characteristics of silk fibroin, this article provides an overview of the recent research progress of silk fibroin used as drug delivery materials.
Biocompatible Materials ; Drug Delivery Systems ; Fibroins ; chemistry

Due to immature development of the immune system, preterm infants are at increased risk of infections from vaccine-preventable diseases. But at the same time, premature vaccination may not induce a good immune response because of the incomplete development of the neonatal immune system, and may cause serious adverse reactions risk due to the poor immune tolerance, thus vaccination of preterm infants at the appropriate time is the key to reducing the risk of infectious disease and obtaining vaccine protection. At present, it is generally recommended that the gestational age and birth weight should be considered in the vaccination of preterm infants. The timing, type and even the immunization schedule of the vaccine should be differ from that of the full term infants. However, there is a lack of research results and data on immunization program in preterm infants in China, and there is still no provided universal guidelines for their vaccine immunization. This article aims to summarize the guidelines and clinical trials of vaccination of preterm infants in foreign countries, and to provide reference for the formulation and implementation of immunization strategies for preterm infants in China.

Objective To investigate the dynamic expression of the drug resistance protein P-glycoprotein (P-gp) within 72 hours in the pentylenetetrazol (PTZ)-induced status epilepticus (SE) model, and to identify the optimal detection time to inhibit P-gp. Methods mRNA and protein expressions of P-gp in rats hippocampal tissue were detected by using immunohistochemistry , RT-qPCR and Western blot at different time points after modeling (0, 3, 6, 12, 24, 48, 72 h). Results The mean density of P-gp protein in the hippocampus of status epilepticus model was 0.325 1 ± 0.008 2 at 24 h, and was 0.396 3 ± 0.016 8 at 48 h, which were consistently higher than those of the control group (P < 0.05, P < 0.01, respectively). Results of qRT-PCR showed that MDR1a expression was significantly upregulated at 24 h and at 48 h (P < 0.05, P < 0.01, respectively). Western blot assay revealed that P-gp protein was also significantly increased at 48 h after seizures (P < 0.05). Conclusions The upregulation of P-gp after SE peaked at 48 h, which maybe the optimal detection time to detect drug resistant after SE.

Intestinal microbiota plays an important role in the development of immune system,es-pecially in the formation of immune response. Immune response to vaccination varies with region and popula-tion,which may be related to the differences in intestinal microbiota. This review focused on the correlation between intestinal microbiota and immune response to vaccination in order to find a new way to enhance vac-cine-induced immune response. It was revealed that intestinal microbiota might be involved in the immune responses to vaccines against rotavirus, typhoid and polio. Although probiotics, prebiotics and synbiotics could not significantly enhance vaccine-induced immune response,they might have a beneficial effect on vac-cine by regulating intestinal microbiota.

Objective: To verify the current cut off points of physical activity intensity for adolescents to assess moderate to vigorous physical activity (MVPA) among overweight or obese adolescents. Methods: The total activity counts, heart rate and steps indicators most commonly used to reflect physical activity intensity were adopted, and a total of 15 MVPA cut off points standards for adolescents were included. Ninety four overweight or obese adolescents were tested for walking and running at 3-7 km/h in a free state, while simultaneously wearing MetaMax 3B gas metabolism analyzer, polar belt and actigraph w-GT3x BT triaxial accelerometer to collect energy consumption and activities count, heart rate and steps. Kappa consistency test and paired χ 2 test were used for statistical analysis. Results: Kappa consistency coefficients (0.27-0.53) <0.60 between all cut off points standards and the "gold standard" and the P <0.01, indicating that the consistency is varied and not strong. In the standard diagnosis of each cut points, low sensitivity (49.11-67.59), high specificity (92.50-97.65), high - LR (0.14-0.52, >0.1) and low DOR (8.26-25.19, <30) indicated high rate of misdiagnosis. Low specificity (36.75-69.41), high sensitivity (84.82-96.36) and low + LR (1.52- 9.83 , <10) indicated a high rate of misdiagnosis; AUC of 0.67-0.80 suggested lower diagnostic performance. Conclusion Existing physical activity intensity cut off points for overweight or obese adolescents were not consistent with MVPA and have low diagnostic capabilities. The following criteria of MVPA for overweight or obese adolescents are supposed.

Objective To investigate clinical significance and application of modified pelvic floor reconstruction developed by Peking Union Medical College Hospital ( MPFR ) in treatment of severe pelvic organ prolapse (POP) by comparing the effectiveness, quality of postoperative sexual life, life satisfaction and risk factors for POP recurrence with the following two surgical procedures: traditional total vaginal hysterectomy with anterior-posterior colporrhaphy (TVH-APC) and total vaginal hysterectomy with lateral colporrhaphy and sacrospinous ligament fixation and vaginal bridge repair and episiotomy (TVH-LC-SSLFVBR-EP). Methods Totally 173 patients with severe POP and at least two compartments defects of pelvic floor underwent surgeries in the study, 86 patients (group A) were treated by MPFR with polypropylene mesh application, 58 (group B) were treated by TVH-APC, and 29 patients (group C) were treated by TVH-LC-SSLF-VBR-EP. Peri-operative data and outcomes of postoperative courses at 6, 12, 18 months were collected and analyzed, in the meantime, the risk factors of recurrence were studied. Results (1) No statistical difference was observed among the above 3 groups in terms of length of operation, amount of blood loss, length of hospital stay, and morbidity after surgery ( P ＞ 0.05). ( 2 ) Cost hospitalization was ( 11 448 ±3049) Yuan in group A, which was significantly higher than (7262 ± 1607) Yuan in group B and (7140 ± 1817 ) Yuan in group C (P ＜ 0.05 ). (3) The length of vaginal cuff of (7.5 ± 1.4) cm in group A and ( 5.6 ± 1.1 ) cm in group C were significantly longer than (7.1±0.6) cm in group B ( P＜0.05). The width of vaginal cuff of (4.3±0.3) cm in group A was larger than (3.4±0.3) cm in group B and (3.3±0.4) cm in group C (P＜0.05). (4) The recurrence rate at 12 months after surgery was 12.8% (11/86)in group A, which was similar with 17.2%(5/29) in group C (P＞0.05) and significantly less than 36.2% (21/58) in group B (P＜0.05). The rate of active sexual life of 16.3% (14/86) in group A was significantly higher than 1.7% (1/58) in group B and 0 in group C ( P ＜ 0. 05 ). The index of life quality improvement at 12 months after surgery was 48±12 in group A, which was no less than 53±16 in group C ( P＞0.05) and higher than 27 ± 9 in group B ( P＜0.05). (5 ) Mesh rejection was observed in 6 patients in group A within 3 months after surgery, while the posterior vaginal wall was exclusively involved. No difference was found in urinary retention or urinary incontinence among three groups (P ＞0. 05 ). (6) The severe degree of POP, type of surgical procedure ( TVT-APC), anterior compartment defect of pelvic floor,and early days of performing pelvic floor reconstruction surgeries were high risk factors for POP recurrence (P＜ 0.05). Conclusions MPFR has a better curative effect and lower recurrence rate on patients with POP. It can help patients regain integrity of anatomical structure and functions of pelvic floor. TVH-LCSSLF-VBR-EP is also effective.

An immunological surrogate endpoints is a vaccine-induced immune response (either humoral or cellular immune) that predicts protection against clinical endpoints (infection or disease), and can be used to evaluate vaccine efficacy in clinical vaccine trials. Compared with field efficacy trials observing clinical endpoints, immunological vaccine trials could reduce the sample size or shorten the duration of a trial, which promote the license and development of new candidate vaccines. For these reasons, establishing immunological surrogate endpoints is one of 14 Grand Challenges of Global Health of the National Institutes of Health (NIH) and the Bill and Melinda Gates Foundation. From two parts of definition and statistical methods for evaluation of surrogate endpoints, this review provides a more comprehensive description.
Biomarkers ; Clinical Trials as Topic ; Data Interpretation, Statistical ; Humans ; Research Design ; Treatment Outcome ; Vaccines ; administration & dosage ; immunology

Objective The objective of this study was to investigate the epidemiological characteristics of disease caused by enterovirus type 71.Methods A total of 10 158 children aged between 6 and 35 months,were recruited from 7 sites where EV71 inactivated vaccine phase 3 clinical trial was carded out.All the subjects were followed up to one year to investigate the epidemiological characteristics of the disease caused by EV71.Results The accumulate incidence density of disease caused by EV71 was 15.17/1 000 person-year.Of all the cases,hand,foot and mouth disease (HFMD),herpangina,respiratory system diseases,digestive system diseases and other diseases accounted for 82.00％,2.67％,13.33％,1.33％ and 0.67％,respectively.The difference of the incidence density between boys and girls showed no statistical significance.Majority of the patients were between 12 and 23 months of age,which accounted for 58.67％ of the total patients.The differences of incidence density between different months of age were statistically significant (x2=7.789,P=0.020).The peak incidence density of disease caused by EV71 occurred from April to June.Nine cases showed severe symptoms or signs that accounted for 6.00％ of all the cases.All severe cases were identified as HFMD,of which 7 were boys and 2 were girls.The number of severe cases in different months of age appeared to be 1,7,and 1,all occurred between April and June.The median courses of HFMD cases and non-HFMD cases were 9 and 6 days,with difference statistically significant (Z=-4.000,P＜0.001).Median of excretion cycle for HFMD and non-HFMD cases were 9 and 11 days respectively.But with no statistically significant difference between the two.Conclusion Majority of the disease that caused by EV71 appeared as HFMD.Most of them were younger children and with seasonal variation.

OBJECTIVETo analyze the dynamic pattern and the distributive characteristics of neutralizing antibody against enterovirus 71 (EV-A71 ) in children aged 6-35 months in Jiangsu province from 2012 to 2014.

METHODSFrom March, 2012 to March, 2014, a total of 1 276 children aged between 6 and 35 months were regularly followed up on day 0, year 1 and year 2 for EV-A71 neutralizing antibody test based on the enterovirus surveillance system, with the method of reporting by their guardian or being visited in Ganyu Sheyang Taixing Donghai Pizhou and Baoying in Jiangsu province. At the same time, samples were taken from the suspected persons infected by enterovirus. The χ(2) test or variance analysis was used to compare the difference of the positive rates and the geometric mean titer(GMT) of EV-A71 neutralizing antibody in different subjects.

RESULTSIn 2 years follow-up, the positive rates of EV-A71 antibody increased as the growth of the age,and the positive rates on day 0, year 1 and year 2 were 22.57% (288/1 276), 37.72%(444/1 177) and 42.84%(422/985), respectively (χ(2) values were 39.33, 56.41, 32.25; P< 0.001).The GMTs were 9.95, 15.37 and 24.05, respectively (F values were 22.90,46.36,41.58;P<0.001). In 2 years, the annually new infection rates were 13.47%(158/1 173) and 20.73%(192/926),respectively, and the annually decay rates of EV-A71 antibody were 2.81%(33/1 173) and 8.10%(75/926).

CONCLUSIONSIn 2012 to 2014, the positive rates and the GMTs of EV-A71 antibody of children increased as the growth of the age in Jiangsu. The higher annually new infection rate was in children aged 3 to 4 years. The EV-A71 neutralizing antibody level could maintain at least two years after natural infection.

Antibodies, Neutralizing ; blood ; Antibodies, Viral ; blood ; Child, Preschool ; China ; epidemiology ; Enterovirus A, Human ; Enterovirus Infections ; blood ; Humans ; Infant ; Seroepidemiologic Studies

Objective To determine the expression of miRNA-148a-3p in CD4+ T lymphocytes in peripheral blood of patients with psoriasis vulgaris,and to explore its role in occurrence of psoriasis vulgaris.Methods Totally,20 patients with psoriasis vulgaris and 20 healthy controls were enrolled from Guangzhou Institute of Dermatology between July 2017 and April 2018.Peripheral venous blood samples were obtained from these subjects,and CD4+ T lymphocytes were isolated from these peripheral blood samples by magnetic cell sorting system.Real-time quantitative PCR (RT-PCR) was performed to determine the expression of miRNA-148a-3p in CD4+ T lymphocytes in the peripheral blood.Potential target genes of miRNA-148a were predicted by using bioinformatics software,and verified by using a dual-luciferase reporter system.Western blot analysis was conducted to determine the protein expression of Bcl-2 interacting mediator of cell death (Bim,the potential target gene of miRNA-148a-3p) in the CD4+ T lymphocytes of the subjects.Statistical analysis was carried out with SPSS 20 software by two sample-t test for comparing the means of normally distributed data,and by Pearson correlation analysis for analyzing the correlation of two variables.If the data were not normally distributed,Mann Whitney U test was used for comparing means between two groups,and Spearman correlation analysis for analyzing the correlation of two variables.Results The miRNA-148a-3p expression in the CD4+ T lymphocytesin the psoriasis vulgaris group (18 cases,5.61 ± 1.66) was significantly higher than that in the healthy control group (12 cases,1.00 ± 0.26;U =12,P ＜ 0.05),and was positively correlated with the psoriasis area severity index (PASI) score (r =0.93,P ＜ 0.001).Bim was predicted to be one of the potential target genes of miRNA-148a-3p by bioinformatics software,which was also verified by using a dual-luciferase reporter system.The protein expression of Bim in the CD4 + T lymphocytes was significantly lower in the psoriasis vulgaris group (11 cases,0.69 ± 0.07) than in the healthy control group (8 cases,0.93 ± 0.06;t =4.38,P ＜ 0.01),and the protein expression of Bim in the patients with psoriasis vulgaris was negatively correlated with PASI score (r =-0.774,P ＜ 0.01).Conclusion miRNA-148a-3p is overexpressed in CD4+ T cells in the peripheral blood of patients with psoriasis vulgaris,which may regulate the protein expression of Bim,leading to abnormal activation of CD4+ T cells,and then participate in the occurrence and development of psoriasis.