OBJECTIVETo study the response of specific antibodies against severe acute respiratory syndrome (SARS)-CoV in patients infected with SARS.

METHODSIgM-capture, indirect and antigen-sandwiched enzyme linked immunosorbent assay (ELISA) were used to detect the SARS-CoV specific IgM, IgG and total antibodies in sera of clinical SARS patients or non-SARS individuals.

RESULTSThe positive rates of IgM, IgG and total antibodies to SARS-CoV in 146 sera of SARS patients collected in different phases of the disease were 61.64%, 53.43% and 69.86%, respectively. The earliest detectable days after onset of the disease for IgM and IgG to SRAS-CoV were 7 and 12 days, respectively. The specific IgM disappeared as early as 42 days after the onset of SARS. Of 70 sera from hepatitis A patients, 2 showed false positive results, while 127 sera from other patients were all negative, detected by the 3 methods. Serum from one medical worker who had been close contact to SARS patients was positive for anti-SARS-CoV IgG and total antibodies. These 3 methods used for detection were all not influenced by rheumatoid factor (RF).

CONCLUSIONAll of the three methods were specific and sensitive for the detection of specific antibodies to SARS-CoV, and useful for epidemiological research and clinical diagnosis, but not for early diagnosis of SARS.

Antibodies, Viral ; blood ; Enzyme-Linked Immunosorbent Assay ; Female ; Humans ; Immunoglobulin G ; blood ; Immunoglobulin M ; blood ; Male ; SARS Virus ; immunology ; Sensitivity and Specificity ; Severe Acute Respiratory Syndrome ; immunology ; virology

OBJECTIVETo investigate the mutation characteristics of spastin gene in Chinese patients with hereditary spastic paraplegia (HSP) and thus provide a basis for the gene diagnosis of HSP.

METHODSMutation of spastin gene was screened by polymerase chain reaction-single strand conformation polymorphism (PCR-SSCP) combined with DNA direct sequencing in 31 unrelated affected HSP individuals in China, of whom 22 were from autosomal dominant families and 9 were sporadic HSP patients. Co-segregation analysis was carried out after the finding of abnormal SSCP bands.

RESULTSSix cases were found to have abnormal SCP bands, and among them, two missense mutations (T1258A, A1293G in exon 8) and one deletion mutation (1667delACT or 1668delCTA or 1669delTAC in exon 14) were found and all of them were not reported previously. They were all co-segregated with the disease and were localized within the functional domain of spastin gene. Besides, T1258A was seen in two unrelated families.

CONCLUSIONThe mutation rate (18.2%) in autosomal dominant HSP in Chinese patients is comparatively low. Point mutation is the major mutation type and exon 8 may be the mutation hot spot.

Adenosine Triphosphatases ; genetics ; Asian Continental Ancestry Group ; genetics ; China ; Exons ; Female ; Humans ; Introns ; Male ; Mutation ; Mutation, Missense ; Pedigree ; Spastic Paraplegia, Hereditary ; genetics ; Spastin

Objective To investigate the relationship between serum markers β amyloid (Aβ), tau and thyroid hormone levels and post-stroke cognitive impairment (PSCI) in the acute phase of cerebral infarction. Methods A total of 214 patients with acute cerebral infarction were enrolled. The baseline data and serological indicators were collected and the cognitive function of patients was evaluated. All patients were divided into cognitive impairment group and normal group based on follow-up results. The differences of Aβ1-42, tau protein and thyroxine levels between the two groups and their relationship with disease progression were analyzed. The Cox regression analysis and ROC curve were used to compare the above parameters to predict the development of PSCI. Results The total protein level of Tau (210.6 ±98.9 pg/mL) was higher and Aβ1-42 (426.1 ±123.5 pg/mL) and triiodothyronine (T3) (1.43 ±0.57 nmol/L), free thyroxine (FT4) (13.15±2.23 pmol/L) was significantly lower in the cognitive impairment group than in the normal group (P<0.05). Tau protein (r=-0.457), Aβ1-42 (r=0.348), T3 (r=0.211), and FT4 (r=0.306) were all associated with disease progression (P<0.05). Cox regression analysis showed that Aβ1-42 and T3 were important influencing factors in the occurrence of PSCI. The area under the curve of Aβ1-42 combined with T3 was 0.841. The specificity and the sensitivity were 74.8% and 85.3%, respectively, with a diagnostic cutoff value of 0.572. Conclusion Aβ1-42 and T3 levels in the acute phase of cerebral infarction may predict the progression of PSCI.

Through investigation,it was found that the main disease of leaves was grey mold on Dendrobium officinale in Hubei province,which has a great impact on the yield and quality of D. officinale. The identification of morphological and molecular biological was used to prove that the pathogen was Botrytis cinerea. Through test the effect of 5 plant source fungicides and 4 antibiotic fungicides on mycelial growth of strain HS1,which proved 0. 3% eugenol had the best inhibitory effect,EC50 was 0. 29 mg·L^-1,the second was1% osthol and EC50 was 1. 12 mg·L^-1,the EC50 of 0. 5% matrine was 9. 16 mg·L^-1,the EC50 of the other six fungicides was higher than 10 mg·L^-1. The field control effect test proved that 0. 3% eugenol had the best control effect,reaching 89. 44%,secondly for 1%osthole,which was 77. 17%,0. 5% matrine was in the third place with 62. 37% of effective rate. However,the control effect of the other fungicides was less than 60%. The three plant-derived fungicides were safe for the produce of D. officinale and showed no phytotoxicity. The effect of these fungicides on the growth of D. candidum was tested,and proved that all the fungicides were safe and harmless to D. candidum. This study provides a research basis for the safe and effective prevention and control gray mold of D. officinale.
Alkaloids ; Botrytis/pathogenicity* ; Coumarins ; Dendrobium/microbiology* ; Eugenol ; Fungicides, Industrial ; Plant Diseases/prevention & control* ; Plant Leaves/microbiology* ; Quinolizines ; Matrines

Splenic lymphoma with villous lymphocytes (SLVL) or splenic marginal zone lymphoma with circulating villous lymphocytes is rare, and prolymphocytic transformation of SLVL is rarer. At present, only one case of SLVL with t(8;14)(q24;q32) translocation has been reported. In this study, we report a case of B-lymphoproliferative disorder with villous lymphocytes harboring t(8;14)(q24;q32) chromosome translocation that we inclined to SLVL with a prolymphocytic transformation. A 73-year-old female showed marked hepatosplenomegaly and high lymphocytosis (lymphocytes > 200 × 10/L). The abnormal lymphocytes had short coarse villi and round nuclei with prominent nucleoli. The immunophenotypes showed CD19, CD20, HLA-DR, CD22, CD5, Kappa, CD25, CD71, Lambda, CD7, CD10, CD23, CD34, CD33, CD13, CD14, CD117, CD64, CD103, and CD11c. The karyotype showed complex abnormality: 46XX,+ 3,-10, t(8;14)(q24; q32)[11]/46XX[9]. The cytoplasmic projection, immunological characteristics, and trisomy 3 chromosome abnormality supported the diagnosis of SLVL. However, the presence of prominent nucleoli and high lymphocytosis suggested prolymphocytic transformation, probably as a result of t(8,14) chromosome translocation. In this report, we described an unusual case of B-lymphoproliferative disorder with villous lymphocytes harboring t(8;14)(q24;q32) translocation, which could provide help in the diagnosis and differential diagnosis of B-lymphocytic proliferative diseases.
Aged ; B-Lymphocytes ; pathology ; Female ; Humans ; Immunophenotyping ; Lymphoproliferative Disorders ; genetics ; pathology ; Translocation, Genetic