Objective To investigate the craniofacial morphologies of Sagliker syndrome.Methods Sixteen patients were selected in this study that was diagnosed by the Department of Nephrology and the Center of Dentistry of China-Japan Friendship Hospital.They were divided into 2 groups:Sagliker syndrome group(SS) including 8 patients,and secondary hyperparathyroidism group (SHPT) including 8 patients.Cephalometric radiographs were taken from all the 16 patients.Results The hard issue measurement results had shown that in ∠SNA,∠ANB,∠NA/PA,∠MP/SN,∠MP/ FH,∠SArGo,and ∠ArGoGn,there were significantly statistical differences between the two groups.The measurements of SS were greater than that of SHPT.The soft issue measurement results had shown that in ∠LL-Bs-Pos,∠AsUL-FH,UL-EP,and ∠AsUL-BsUL,there were also significant differences between the two groups.The measurements of SS were greater than that of SHPT.In ∠BsLL-FH,there were evidently statistical differences between the two groups:the measurements of SS were greater than that of SHPT.Conclusions The facial hard and soft tissue of the patients with Sagliker syndrome have the special changes in morphologies.

Objective To establish a sandwich enzyme-linked immunosorbent (ELISA) method for early diagnosis of hepatitis C. Methods Immunization of Balb/c mice with hepatitis C core antigen were prepared by genetic engineering. Mouse monoclonal antibodies (McAb) to anti-HCV-core Ag were obtained. A sandwich ELISA kit for detecting HCV-core Ag was developed by using four strains of anti-HCV-core Ag McAb. One hundred and twenty five serum specimens with increased ALT but negative for anti-HCV, anti-HIV, and anti-Tp tests were tested. Results Nine of the 125 specimens were positive for HCV-core Ag. Conclusion The double sandwich ELISA kits for detecting HCV-core Ag may be useful for the early diagnosis of hepatitis C .

Objective To assess the value of hemofiltration in the prevention of contrast induced nephropathy(CIN) post percutaneous coronary intervention(PCI) in severe chronic kidney disease stages(CKD) patients. Methods We evaluated 30 CKD patients who underwent PCI followed by bedside hemofiltration. We measured serum creatinine levels before PCI, 24 hours, 72 hours, and one week after PCI, and calculated creatinine clearance(CrCl) according to Cockcroft and Gault equation.We observed the incidence of CIN, and the short term clinical efficacy of hemofiltralion. Results The average age of the 30 patients was (72.87 ± 8.71) years old, with 21 (70%) male patients. The stages of CKD among the patients included CKD 3 (3 patients, 10%), CKD 4 (20 patients, 66.7%) and CKD 5 (7 patients, 23.3%). The average duration of hemofiltration was (7.5±4.1) hours. Serum creatinine before PCI, 24 hours, 72 hours and 1 week after PCI was (498.7±143.7)μmol/L, (353.2±128.0)μmol/L, (450.0±132.2)μmol/L, (488.0±145.7)μmol/L respectively,and CrCl was (20.3±10.2) ml/min, (36.5±14.3) ml/min, (28.3±10.4) ml/min, (21.0±10.3) ml/min respectively. There was no CIN. Mean follow-up was (3.1 ± 2.6) months. There was no new cardiovascular events, and no new patients need to rely on long term hemodialysis. Conclusions For patients with severe renal insufficiency, hemofiltration may reduce the incidence of CIN, It is an alternative preventive measures to prevent CIN.

Molecular glues are a class of small molecules that induce the formation of protein-protein interactions to confer new biological function or therapeutic effects. As a unique pharmacological modality, molecular glues could target proteins without druggable binding pockets. It exhibits a variety of functions, including regulating signal transduction, stabilization or degradation of targeted proteins, through sticking different proteins together. This review will summarize the development and current status of molecular glues derived from natural products and analogs by illustrating the discovery and interaction mechanism. We hope to present a systematic view, provide valuable clues for researchers and encourage them to explore more efficient and rational molecular glue discovery strategies.

Objective: To study the recombinant epitope antigens of hepatitis C virus (HCV), in order to fulfil the requirements of recombinant immunoblot assay kit. Methods: An expressing vector pBVIL1 for expression of recombinant antigens in a fusion manner with IL-1β was constructed. A series of selected genes from the HCV antigens including the C, NS3, NS4 and NS5 were amplified from HCV gene-containing plasmids using PCR and the expression plasmids for these genes were constructed in pBVIL1, respectively. The activity of the purified recombinant antigens were tested against an identified HCV antibody positive and negative panel with ELISA. Results and Conclusions: All the cloned genes of chosen antigen epitopes were highly expressed in pBVIL1 in E.coli. The activity of the C and NS4 antigens were slightly higher than the RIBA3.0 antigens, while the activity of NS3 was slightly lower than the RIBA3.0 antigen. But the total evaluation for the panel was same as RIBA3.0. That means the cloned antigens were suitable for the use in RIBA test kit.

Objective To design a complex hepatitis C vires(HCV)=E1 antigen,and to search its application in HCV vaccine and diagnosis test.Methods Through consulting the database and widely comparison of sequences from HCV E1 of different genotype,the representative immunodominant epitope sequences were selected from all the six genotypes.Their genes were deduced according to the preference codon in E.coli and three fragments were designed to contain the six epitopes.They were chemically synthesized and cloned into pBVIL1 vector separately.The cloned fragments were conjugated together profiting from pBVIL1's property,and then a doubled pan-DR helper T cell epitopes(PADRE)gene was inserted to form a complex expression plasmid.The transformed E.coli cells with this plasmid were cultured and induced to express recombinant protein and the antigenic activity of the product was tested.Results An expressing plasmid containing 8 epitopes from HCV genotype 1a,1b,2a,3a,4a,6a and a doubled PADRE sequences was constructed successfully and the engineering E.coli transformed with this plasmid highly expressed after inducing culture at 42℃ in an inclusion manner.The immunological activity of the purified recombinsnt multi-epitope antigen shows that:(1)It can react with a great part of sera from HCV positive patients by indirect ELISA.(2)It can induce notable specific humoral immunity in injected mice.Conclusion The novel constructed expressing plasmid and its product may be useful in study of a newly HCV vaccine as well as an antigen for HCV immunoassays.

Objective: To observe the clinical efficacy of 'Tong Du Yun Pi' (Governor Vessel-unblocking and spleen-promoting) manipulation in treating infantile diarrhea in autumn. Methods: Eighty-four kids were divided into a control group and an observation group using the random number table method, with 42 cases in each group. The control group was intervened by oral administration of montmorillonite powder, and the observation group was given additional 'Tong Du Yun Pi' pediatric massage (tuina) treatment. After treatment, the traditional Chinese medicine (TCM) symptoms scores, symptom improvement time, clinical efficacy and immune function indicators were compared between the two groups. Results: After treatment, the total effective rate was 95.2％ in the observation group versus 76.2％ in the control group, and the between-group difference was statistically significant (P<0.05); each item score in TCM symptoms was notably lower in the observation group than in the control group (all P<0.05); among the effective cases, the times to restore normal defecation, relieve abdominal bloating, arrest vomiting, and bring down the fever were markedly shorter in the observation group than in the control group, and the between-group differences were statistically significant (all P<0.05); the levels of immunoglobulin (Ig) G, IgM, CD4+ and CD4+/CD8+ were significantly higher and CD8+ was significantly lower in the observation group than in the control group (all P<0.05). Conclusion: In the treatment of infantile diarrhea in autumn, based on oral administration of montmorillonite powder, 'Tong Du Yun Pi' manipulation can notably improve diarrheal symptoms, shorten disease duration, and strengthen the immunity of kids, producing more significant efficacy than oral administration of montmorillonite powder.

OBJECTIVETo study the prevalence and clinical characteristics of the A to G mutation at nucleotide 3243 of the mitochondrial tRNA(Leu(UUR)) gene in familial diabetes in Shanghai, Jiangsu and Zhejiang Province of China.

METHODSThe mt3243 A to G mutation in 770 randomly selected, unrelated probands of diabetic pedigrees were screened by PCR-RFLP technique and PCR-direct sequencing. Genetic and clinical analyses were further performed in the probands and their family members.

RESULTSThirteen diabetic patients (13/770, 1.69%) with mt3243 A to G mutation were detected. Eleven diabetic patients and 8 normal glucose tolerance (NGT) first-degree relatives of these 13 probands were also found bearing the mutation. Seventeen patients were associated with sensory hearing loss. In the 24 patients harboring the mutation, the majority had lower body mass index (BMI), 18 showed typical maternal inheritance, 15 had sensory hearing loss, 13 had insulin resistance and 14 required insulin therapy due to secondary failure to oral hypoglycemic agents.

CONCLUSIONThe mutation of mt3243 A to G in the mitochondrial tRNA(Leu(UUR)) gene is an important cause of diabetes in Shanghai, Jiangsu and Zhejiang Province of China. Mitochondrial gene mutation diabetes (MDM) is clinically characterized by early onset, emaciation, maternal inheritance, sensorineural hearing loss, and lower islet beta cell function, and some have insulin resistance.

Asian Continental Ancestry Group ; genetics ; China ; epidemiology ; DNA, Mitochondrial ; genetics ; Deafness ; genetics ; Diabetes Mellitus ; genetics ; Genetic Testing ; Hearing Loss, Sensorineural ; genetics ; Humans ; Insulin Resistance ; genetics ; Molecular Sequence Data ; Mutation ; Prevalence ; RNA, Transfer, Amino Acyl ; genetics

Objective To evaluate the clinical significance of glycated albumin(GA),a parameter in reflection of recent glycemic control in patients with diabetes mellitus. Methods Four hundred and forty-five patients with type 2 diabetes mellitus who were hospitalized in our hospital from May to November 2006 were enrolled into the study.The fasting plasma glucose(FPG),postprandial 2-hour blood glucose(P2hBG) and glycated hemoglobin(HbA1c) were measured,the enzymatic measurement of GA was conducted and the CGMS was performed.The correlation between GA and the other parameters monitored was analysed. Results The correlation analysis indicated that GA was well correlated with HbA1c(r=0.818,P0.05),respectively for those with HbA1c more than 7.5%,between 6.5% and 7.5%,and less than 6.5%. Conclusion GA is well correlated with HbA1c,especially in those with poor glycemic control for a long time.The correlation between GA and long-term glycemic control is stronger than that between GA and instant plasma glucose or MBG in three days.

Objective To research CpG and Al(OH)3 adjuvants enhancing immunogenicity of hepatitis C virus(HCV) recombinant ptotein combined vaccine(TIE).Methods BALB/c mice were immunized with candidate vaccine TFE using CpG,Al(OH)3,Al(OH) 3 + CpG,or freund's adjuvant(FA) as the adjuvant.Five mice were sacrificed after 10 d of the last immunization.Specific antibodies in sera were tested by enzyme-linked immunosorbent assay(ELISA).Splenic cells were isolated and levels of IFN-γ,IL-4 and cytotoxic T lymphocyte(CTL) cytotoxicity assay were messuredin vitro.The remaining mice were subcutaneouly injected with 1 × 106 SP2/0-NS3 cells on the back to investigate the protective effects.The differences of means between groups were compared by LSD-t test.Results The specific CTL activity of TFE + A1(OH) 3 + CpG group was higher than TFE + FA group and TFE + CpG group(P ＜ 0.05).The level of IFN-γsecreting cells in TFE + Al(OH)3 + CpG group was higher than that in TFE + M(OH)3 group or TFE + CpG group(P ＜ 0.05).Conclusion Combining Al(OH) 3 and CpG could enhance specific cellular immunogenicity of candidate HCV vaccine TFE.TFE + M(OH) 3 + CpG could effetively prevent the attack of tumor cell SP2/0-NS3 expressing nonstructural protein NS3 of HCV.