Enterovirus 71 (EV71) is a neurotropic pathogen that can induce hand, foot and mouth disease in children. There is an appreciable mortality rate after EV71 infections. The mechanism of action of EV71 replication is not known. Recent work has identified some of cell factors of the host that participate in the synthesis of the RNA and proteins of EV71 (e.g., hnRNP K, reticulon 3 (RTN 3)). In that work, researchers used a competitive assay to show that hnRNP K can interact with EV71 5' UTR, which is required for efficient synthesis of viral RNA. Using a yeast two-hybrid system, other researchers demonstrated that RTN 3 interacts with the N-terminal domain of EV71 2C, which is crucial for replication of viral RNA. Here, we discuss recent work focusing on the molecular mechanisms of hnRNP K and RTN 3 in the synthesis of the RNA and proteins of EV71.
Animals ; Carrier Proteins ; genetics ; metabolism ; Enterovirus A, Human ; genetics ; physiology ; Enterovirus Infections ; genetics ; metabolism ; virology ; Heterogeneous-Nuclear Ribonucleoprotein K ; Host-Pathogen Interactions ; Humans ; Membrane Proteins ; genetics ; metabolism ; Nerve Tissue Proteins ; genetics ; metabolism ; Ribonucleoproteins ; genetics ; metabolism ; Viral Proteins ; genetics ; metabolism ; Virus Replication

Abscess ; surgery ; Humans ; Laparoscopy ; Male ; Middle Aged ; Pancreatic Diseases ; surgery

Objective To detect the Yersinia pestis plasmid and molecular weight along the Qinghai-Tibet Railway.Methods Yersinia pestis plasmids molecular weight detected and analyzed using alkaline lysis,phenol-chloroform extraction of Yersinia pestis plasmid by agarose gel electrophoresis.Results The 18 Yersinia pestis strains of Qinghai-Tibet Railway contained 6×106,45×106,52×106,65×106,92×106plasmid,varing in the range of the 52×106-92×106.Conclusions The Yersinia pestis of Qinghai-Tibet Railway has a standardplasmid graphics,with the biggest Yersinia pestis plasmid changing in a certain regular degree,which providessignificance in the study of plague natural foci of the spatial structure and the genetic.characteristics of Yersiniapestis.

OBJECTIVETo study the relationship between serum HBV DNA levels and hepatic fibrosis markers in chronic hepatitis B.

METHODSOne hundred and fifty-seven patients with chronic hepatitis B were included in the study, 49 patients among them were diagnosed as early cirrhosis by liver biopsy. Serum HBV DNA levels were determined using fluorescent quantitative PCR, and serum hepatic fibrosis markers including hyaluronic acid (HA), laminin (LN), amino terminal propeptide of type III precollagen (P III P) and type IV collagen (IV-C) were determined by radioimmunity assay. The relationship between serum HBV DNA levels and hepatic fibrosis markers were analyzed. Serum HBV DNA levels and hepatic fibrosis markers of 49 patients with early cirrhosis were compared with those of 108 non-cirrhotic patients.

RESULTSThere was no significant relationship between serum HBV DNA levels and hepatic fibrosis markers in chronic hepatitis B (P>0.05). Patients with early cirrhosis had much higher hepatic fibrosis markers together with lower HBV DNA levels than non-cirrhotic patients (P<0.05).

CONCLUSIONSThere were no significant relationship between serum HBV DNA levels and hepatic fibrosis markers in patients with chronic hepatitis B.

Adult ; Biomarkers ; analysis ; DNA, Viral ; blood ; Female ; Hepatitis B virus ; genetics ; isolation & purification ; Hepatitis B, Chronic ; complications ; virology ; Humans ; Liver Cirrhosis ; diagnosis ; virology ; Male ; Middle Aged

Drug Contamination ; Drugs, Chinese Herbal ; analysis ; Fourier Analysis ; Plants, Medicinal ; chemistry ; Spectrum Analysis, Raman ; instrumentation ; methods

AIMTo investigate the roles of serotonergic neurons in dorsal raphe nuclei (DRN) in sleep.

METHODSStereotaxic, microinjection and polysomnography (PSG) were used in the experiment.

RESULTSMicroinjection of L-glutanate (L-Glu) into the DRN decreased slow wave sleep (SWS) and paradoxical sleep (PS), and increased wake (W). Microinjection of kainic acid (KA) and p-chlorophenylalanine (PCPA) respectively into the DRN, SWS and PS were promoted, and W was reduced.

CONCLUSIONSerotonergic neurons in dorsal raphe nuclei involved in the regulation of sleep. Sleep was reduced when the serotonergic neurons were excited, and when the neurons were inhibited. sleep was increased

Action Potentials ; Animals ; Male ; Neurons ; physiology ; Polysomnography ; Raphe Nuclei ; physiology ; Rats ; Rats, Sprague-Dawley ; Serotonin ; physiology ; Sleep ; physiology

Objective To understand the polymorphism of Helicobacter pylori (H. pylori) vacA alleles in China. Methods A total of 119 H. pylori strains were isolated from different gastroduodenal diseases in 7 different geographic regions in China. vacA and its alleles were identified according to the length of PCR products with DNA electrophoresis. The distributions of vacA alleles were statistically analyzed. The core fragment of vacA was sequentially analyzed by software MEGA4.0. Results The alleles in vacA dominantly belonged to sla, m2 and il in the tested strains.The distribution appeared to be 97.5%(116/119) ,68.9%(82/119) and 91.6%(109/119),respectively.The mlb allele appeared to be 26.1% (31/119). slb and mla were not found. The major vacA recombination was between slaim2/il and 62.2% , followed by sla/mlb/il (25.2% , 30/119). No association was found between the distribution of sla allele and the clinical outcome, as well as the geographical regions (P>0.05). However, the distribution of m alleles showed significant difference both among the types of disease and the geographic regions (P<0.01), The present of i alleles did not show significant differences among disease patterns, but had significant differences between different geographic groups (P<0.01). Three clusters were identified among these 119 isolates according to the DNA sequence of vacA. Conclusion sla/m2/il appeared to be the main allele in H. pylori vacA isolates from China in this study. The distribution of m alleles in vacA was correlated both to the regions and the disease patterns. The presence of i allele was associated to the regions but not the disease patterns.

Comments were made on the word-for-word literal translation method used by Mr. Nigel Wiseman in A Practical Dictionary of Chinese Medicine. He believes that only literal translation can reflect Chinese medical concepts accurately. The so-called "word-for-word" translation is actually "English-word-for-Chinese-character" translation. First, he made a list of Single Characters with English Equivalents, and then he replaced each character of Chinese medical terms with the assigned English equivalent. Many English terms thus produced are confusing. The defect of the word-for-word literal translation stems from the erroneous idea that the single character constitutes the basic element of meaning corresponding to the notion of "word" in English, and the meaning of a disyllabic or polysyllabic Chinese word is simply the addition of the meanings of the two or more characters. Another big mistake is the negligence of the polysemy of Chinese characters. One or two English equivalents can by no means cover all the various meanings of a polysemous character as a monosyllabic word. Various examples were cited from this dictionary to illustrate the mistakes.
Medicine, Chinese Traditional ; Terminology as Topic ; Translations

Splenic epidermoid cysts are relatively rare lesions traditionally treated by splenectomy. Concerns about overwhelming postsplenectomy sepsis have led to the development of splenic preservation procedures in the treatment of cystic diseases of the spleen. Better understanding of the splenic segmental anatomy and advances in laparoscopic skills has made laparoscopic partial splenectomy a preferred treatment for splenic cysts while preserving splenic function. We reported a case of a 30-year-old male patient with a large epidermoid splenic cyst managed successfully by laparoscopic partial splenectomy. The patient recovered well after operation and was asymptomatic on a follow-up of 1 year with no recurrence on ultrasonography and a normal platelet count. Laparoscopic partial cystectomy is an acceptable procedure for the treatment of splenic cysts which locate in the pole of spleen. On the one hand, it cures the disease preserving the splenic tissue without risk of bleeding or recurrence; on the other hand, this minimally invasive technique induces a reduced hospital stay and a more rapid recovery.
Adult ; Epidermal Cyst ; surgery ; Humans ; Laparoscopy ; methods ; Male ; Splenic Diseases ; surgery

OBJECTIVETo observe the pathological and clinical characters of nonalcoholic steatohepatitis (NASH).

METHODSLiver biopsy tissues taken from 97 patients negative for common viral detection with serological test and immunohistochemistry as well as in situ hybridization, were observed by routine light microscopic examination. And the clinical data of patients with NASH was analyzed.

RESULTSAmong the chronic hepatitis patients with unknown etiology, the detection rate of NASH was 15.5% (15/97). The characteristic lesions in NASH patients included macrovesicular steatosis in zone 3 of lobules, hepatocytes ballooning degeneration, lobules diffused with acute and chronic inflammation, and perisinusoidal fibrosis. Grading and staging according to Brunt's method, histological lesions could be accounted for G1S1 in 7 patients, G2S2 in 3 patients, G3S1 in 4 patients and G3S2 in 1 patient. There were 14 patients with mild to moderate elevation of transaminase, 10 with hyperlipemia, 8 with diabetes and 9 with fatty liver by ultrasonography.

CONCLUSIONNonalcoholic steatohepatitis is a common form of unknown etiology chronic liver disease with certain clinic-pathological features.

Adult ; Biopsy ; Fatty Liver ; pathology ; Female ; Humans ; Liver ; pathology ; Male ; Middle Aged