Arthropods of medical importance such as mosquitoes, ticks and sandflies are one of the key drivers of arthropod-borne diseases outbreak, posing a great threat to global public health security. For further understanding the transmission mechanisms of arthropod-borne diseases and establishing the prevention and control measures, a series of experiments of arthropods infection need to be carried out under laboratory conditions. Besides the regular biosafety requirements, some specific considerations need to be taken into account when performing arthropod infection and the infected arthropod rearing. Except for the physical containment composed of biosafety facilities, a comprehensive assessment of the biosafety risks during operations and corresponding preventive measures are also critical to eliminate or mitigate the biosafety risks. In this paper, we introduce our practice in handling mosquito infection with Risk Group 2 pathogens in Arthropod Containment Level-2 (ACL-2) laboratory, with an aim to provide a reference for researchers in related fields.

Objective To understand and master the situation of residents consumption of iodized salt in Chenzhou city of Hunan province,to identify problems and take appropriate interventions to ensure the residents consumption of qualified iodized salt,and to provide a scientific basis for elimination of iodine deficiency disorders (IDD).Methods According to the National Iodized Salt Monitoring Program (Amendment) and the Evaluation Scheme for Elimination of Iodine Deficiency Disorders at the County Level,the monitoring counties,towns and villages were selected in Chenzhou city from 2008 to 2011,the content of iodine in salt was detected using direct titration.The data was analyzed by SPSS 17.0 and Excel 2003.Results A total of 12700 salt samples were tested from 2008 to 2011.The iodized salt coverage rate,the qualified rate of iodized salt,the consumption rate of qualified iodized salt and the rate of non-iodized salt was 99.19％ (12597/12700),96.33％ (12135/12597),95.55％(12135/12700) and 0.81％ (103/12700),respectively.There were significant differences between each year from 2008 to 2011 (x2 =13.99、42.35、48.45、13.99,P all ＜ 0.01).The coefficient of variation was 21.19％.The median and average of iodine content in salt samples was 32.2 mg/kg and 31.9 mg/kg,respectively.Compared with the median and average of iodized salt content,there was no significant difference between each year from 2008 to 2011 (t =2.941,P ＞ 0.05),while there was significant difference among the 11 counties(t =2.983,P ＜ 0.05).Conclusions The goal of eliminating IDD has realized in the city of Chenzhou since 2010.To consolidate the IDD control results,surveillance should be strengthened in future.

Objective To study the effects of angiotensin converting enzyme inhibitor benazepri1 on apoptosis and the expression of Fas and FasL in the kidney of rats with adriamycin-indued nephritic glomeruosclerosis.Methods After uninephrectomy and the injection of adriamycin induced rats model with glomerulosclerosis, benazapril(6 mg/kg) was delivered daily by gavage to the rats in therapeutic groups for 12 weeks.Apoptosis was examined by means of terminal-deoxynucleotidyl trans ferase mediated d-UTP nick end label ling(TUNEL) and immunohistochemistry was utlized to detect the expression of Fas and FasL.Software of pathological analysis quantitated the level of Fas and FasL.Results Compared with those of the control group, the kidney of model group had moresevere glomerulosclerosis, much more apoptotic cells and higher level of exprssion of Fas and FasL. The degree of glomeruloscleroais, the nuxner of apoptotic cells and the level of expression of Fas and FasL were ameliofated by benazepril treatment.Conclusion Benazepril may suppress the excessive apoptosis of kidney cell by lowering the expression of the protin correlatng apoptosis Fas and FasL,so as to postpone the process of glomeruosclerosis.

Objective To investigate the effect of tea polyphenols (TP) on renal damage in rats model induced by D-galactose. Methods Rats were injected with D-galactose (150 mg/kg?d),ip for 8 w,to induce renal damage. From the 3rd week,TP (150,75,37.5 mg/kg?d),aminoguanidine (150 mg/kg) and vitamin E (150 mg/kg) were administered with D-galactose for 6 w. After treatment,fasting blood glucose and 2 h blood glucose in oral glucose tolerance test were measured. The levels of HbA1C and fructosamine in serum,the activity of aldose reductase and content of advanced glycation end products (AGEs) in plasma and in kidney tissues and the activity of SOD,GSH-Px,and the contents of MDA in kidney tissues were measured,and 24h urinary protein,blood urea nitrogen (BUN) and serum creatinine (Cr) were detected. The apoptosis of renal cells were detected by flow cytometer. Results After treatment of D-galactose for 8 w,2h glucose level in oral glucose talerance test was increased significantly,the activity of aldose reductase and the content of AGES were increased significantly in blood. The levels of AGEs and MDA in renal tissues were also enhanced significantly. However,the activities of SOD and GSH-Px decreased. Additionally,the contents of 24h urine protein,BUN,Cr and the apoptotic rate of renal cells were increased significantly. High and middle dose of TP could can decrease the activity of aldose reductase in red blood cells,and inhibit the formation of glycation products in model rats induced by D-galactose. Also,TP could enhance the antioxidative activities and decrease the contents of AGEs and MDA in renal tissues. Mesnwhile,24h urine protein,BUN and Cr and the apoptotic rate of renal cells were increased significantly. Conclusion TP can inhibit glycation reaction induced by D-galactose and then protect renal from damage caused by glycation.

The crude toxin was extracted from hypha and culture solution of Phyllosticta commelimecola through three different polarity solvent: benzinum, puncificatum ethyl acetate and chloroform. The result indicated that the toxin secreted by Phyllosticta commelimecola not only was in hypha but also in culture solution and the extracting effect of ethyl acetate was the best. The soybean median and PSK media can be respectively used as solid and liquid culture media to produce toxin and grow mycelium. The optimal cultural conditions for producing toxin were temperature 32℃,cultured period 14d, cultured ways shaking of 150r/min.

AIM: To observe the inhibition of c-Met inhibitor on proliferation of lens epithelial cells (LECs).METHODS: Human's LECs were cultured and hepatocyte growth factor (HGF) and K252a were added to second passage of cells supplied with Dulbecco's modified eagle's medium (DMEM). MTT assay was used to examine the proliferation of LECs, and Western-blot was used to detect the expression change of Bcl-2 and Caspase-3.RESULTS: The photodensity (A) of HGF (50nmol/L) + K252a (30nmol/L) was not significantly different from that of DMEM control (P＞0.05). The expression of Bcl-2 and Caspase-3 were not significantly different from that in the control group.CONCLUSION: K252a, the inhibitor of c-Met, can effectively inhibit the proliferation of LECs.

Objective To identify the differential serum proteins in patients with hepatic injury resulting from coal-burning type of arsenism. Methods Six serum samples were collected from patients with liver injury resulting from coal-burning type of arsenism and healthy subjects(control gruop) in endemic arsenism area. Twodimensional gel electrophoresis(2-DE) was performed to separate serum proteins, after silver staining, the differential expression of proteins were analyzed and then identified by matrix-assisted laser desorption/ionization time of flight mass spectrometry(MALDI-TOF-MS). Results The 2-DE map of serum protein patterns of patients and normal control were established successfully. The results showed that there were an average of (824 ± 31 ) spots and (782 ± 42) spots on 2-DE matching of the patients and control groups and the matching rate was 94.9%(782/824). From these two groups 49 differential protein spots were identified, of which over 3 times the difference in the expression of 30 protein spots were singled out and MALDI-TOF-MS analysis was carried out. Ten proteins were identified. Upregulated expression was observed in alpha-2-macroglobulin, B-cell receptor-associated protein, keratin 1,apolipoprotein A-I, and down-regulated expression was observed in haptoglobin, α2-heremans-schimid-glycoprotein,mitogen-activated protein kinase 4, zinc finger protein 323, ZAP-70 and SP40 in the patient group. Conclusions The well-resolved and reproducible 2-DE serum patterns of patients are established and some differentially expressed proteins are characterized. Whether these proteins of differential expression are serum markers for liver injury resulting from coal-burning type of arsenism need to be further verified.

OBJECTIVETo observe the effect of Wenyang Huazhuo Tongluo Recipe (WYHZTLR) on the proportion of T helper 17 cells (Thl7)/regulatory T cells (Treg), and serum levels of IL-17 and IL-10 in peripheral blood of systemic sclerosis (SSc) patients with yang qi insufficiency and turbidity induced collaterals blockage syndrome (YQITICBS).

METHODSTotally 82 SSc patients were randomly assigned to the Western medicine group (as the control group) and the integrated Chinese and Western medicine group (as the treatment group), 41 cases in each group. All patients took methotrexate (MTX) tablet and prednisone tablet. Patients in the treatment group additionally took WYHZTLR. The treatment course for all was six consecutive months. Besides, another 70 healthy volunteers were recruited as a healthy control group (as the healthy group). Percentages of Th17 and Treg in peripheral blood were detected by flow cytometry. Serum levels of IL-17, IL-10, von Willebrand factor (vWF), aminoterminal propeptide of type l procollagen (PIIINP), and cross-linked carboxyterminal telopeptide of type I collagen ( I CTP) were measured by double antibody sandwich ELISA. The correlations between Th17/Treg and levels of vWF, PIIINP, I CTP, skin score, and disease activity index were observed by Pearson correlation analysis.

RESULTSThe percentage of Th17 in peripheral blood, ratios of Th17/Treg, and the serum level of IL-17 were significantly higher, but the percentage of Treg and the serum level of IL-10 were significantly lower in SSc patients, when compared with those of the healthy group (P <0. 05, P <0. 01). Compared with the same group before treatment, the percentage of Thl7, ratios of Thl7/Treg, and levels of IL-17, vWF, and PIIINP all decreased in the two groups after treatment (P <0.05, P <0.01), but the percentage of Treg and the IL-10 level increased (P <0. 05, P <0. 01). Meanwhile,the level of I CTP was higher in the treatment group after treatment (P <0. 05). The improvement of all indices except the percentage of Th17 was more obvious in the treatment group than in the control group (P <0. 05, P <0. 01). The ratio of Th17/Treg was positively correlated with levels of vWF, PIIINP, skin score, and disease activity index before and after treatment respectively (P <0. 01), but with no obvious correlation with the level of I CTP (P >0. 05).

CONCLUSIONWYHZTLR could achieve its therapeutic effect on SSc patients by regulating Th17/Treg imbalance, lowering levels of vWF and PIIINP, and elevating the level of I CTP.

Drugs, Chinese Herbal ; therapeutic use ; Enzyme-Linked Immunosorbent Assay ; Flow Cytometry ; Humans ; Interleukin-10 ; Interleukin-17 ; Methotrexate ; Peptide Fragments ; Procollagen ; Scleroderma, Systemic ; drug therapy ; T-Lymphocytes, Regulatory ; Th17 Cells

There has been an increasing interest in recent years on mesenchymal stem cell (MSC). It is well known that MSCs are capable of self-renewal and differentiating into many cell lineages. MSC can be expended to a large quantity that is required for clinical transplantation. Recent studies show that MSC have potential application in immune diseases due to their unique immunologic characteristics, such as low immunogenicity and immunoregulatory function. But their immunoregulatory mechanism is not yet clear. This review discusses the advances in researches on the mechanism of MSCs' immunoregulatory function and potential clinical application in immune disease and organ transplantation.
Animals ; B-Lymphocytes ; immunology ; Graft vs Host Disease ; immunology ; Humans ; Immune Tolerance ; immunology ; Immunotherapy ; Mesenchymal Stem Cell Transplantation ; methods ; Mesenchymal Stromal Cells ; cytology ; immunology ; T-Lymphocytes ; immunology

OBJECTIVETo explore the role of early growth response factor-1 (Egr-1) signal pathway in acute intrahepatic cholestatic liver injury in rats.

METHODSA single dose (50 mg/kg) of alpha-naphthylisothiocyanate (ANIT) was administered by gavage to each experimental rat to induce intrahepatic cholestasis. Liver tissue and serum specimens were collected from rats at 24, 48 and 72 h after the intoxication. The values of Egr-1, cytokine induced neutrophil chemoattractant 1(CINC-1), macrophage inflammatory protein-2 (MIP-2) mRNA, the protein expression of inducible nitricoxide synthase (iNOS) and the values of tumor necrosis factor alpha (TNF alpha) and interleukin 6 (IL-6) were assayed by real-time PCR, immunohistochemistry, and ELISA, respectively. The levels of MDA, SOD, NO and MPO were assayed by thiobarbituric acid method, xanthine oxidase method, nitric acid deoxidizing assay, and colorimetric method, respectively.

RESULTSIn the model group at 24, 48, 72 h after intoxication, the values of CINC-1 and MIP-2 mRNA were higher than those of the controls (P < 0.05). In the model group at 24, 48 h after intoxication, the value of Egr-1 mRNA was higher than that of the controls (P < 0.05), but there was no significant difference at 72 h (P < 0.05). Of the model group, the absorbance value of iNOS was lower than that of the controls at 24, 48 and 72 h (P < 0.05). Of the model group at 24, 48, 72 h after intoxication, the values of TNF alpha, IL-6, MPO and MDA were higher than those of the controls (P < 0.05), but the values of NO and SOD were lower than those of the controls (P < 0.05).

CONCLUSIONSEgr-1 signal pathway is involved in acute intrahepatic cholestatic liver injury induced by ANIT. After Egr-1 was activated, CINC-1 and MIP-2 are activated consequently and attract neutrophils into the liver. TNF alpha and IL-6 are activated at the same time, so neutrophils are activated and the resulting lipid peroxidation and MDA increased, injuring the liver. iNOS and NO may play a protective role in acute intrahepatic cholestatic liver injury induced by ANIT.

1-Naphthylisothiocyanate ; Acute Disease ; Animals ; Chemokine CXCL1 ; metabolism ; Chemokine CXCL2 ; metabolism ; Cholestasis, Intrahepatic ; chemically induced ; metabolism ; pathology ; Early Growth Response Protein 1 ; metabolism ; Interleukin-6 ; metabolism ; Liver ; chemistry ; pathology ; Male ; Rats ; Rats, Sprague-Dawley ; Signal Transduction ; Tumor Necrosis Factor-alpha ; metabolism