The anti-hepatitis B virus (HBV) effects and its mechanisms of the ethanol extracts of Hypericum perforatum L. (EHP) in vitro were explored. HepG2 2.2.15 cells, a stable HBV-producing cell line, were cultured as the model system to observe the anti-HBV effect. The viral antigens of cellular secretion, HBsAg and HBeAg, were determined by enzyme linked immunosorbent assay (ELISA). The quantity of HBV-DNA released in the supernatant was assayed by real-time PCR. In order to understand the mechanisms of the suppression of HBV replication, all HBV promoters (Cp, Xp, S1p, S2p and Fp) with luciferase reporter gene were transfected into HepG2 cells respectively. Then the activities of viral promoters were examined by luciferase reporter assay. It was found EHP effectively suppressed the secretion of HBsAg and HBeAg from HepG2 2.2.15 cells in a dose-dependent manner, as well as the extracellular HBV DNA. And EHP could selectively inhibit the activity of HBV promoter Fp. Our data suggest that EHP exerts anti-HBV effects via inhibition of HBV transcription, which helps to elucidate the mechanism underlying the potential therapeutic value of EHP.

In this study, the anti-HBV effects of tea polyphenols (TP) were examined. After cells were exposed to TP for 3, 6, 9 days, amounts of HBsAg, HBeAg and HBV-DNA released into the supernatant of the cultured HepG2 2.2.15 cells were detected. TP, to some extent, inhibited the secretion of HBsAg and strongly suppressed the secretion of HBeAg in a dose-dependent (P<0.01) and time-dependent manner, with 50% maximal inhibitory concentration (IC50) value being 7.34 microg/mL on the 9th day, but the time-dependence was not significant (P=0.051). Expression of HBV-DNA in the supernatant of the cell culture also was significantly decreased in a dose-dependent fashion (P<0.01). The IC50 of TP in inhibiting HBV DNA was 2.54 microg/mL. It concluded that TP possessed potential anti-HBV effects and may be used as a treatment alternative for HBV infection.
Antiviral Agents/*pharmacology ; DNA, Viral/analysis ; Dose-Response Relationship, Drug ; Flavonoids/*pharmacology ; Hep G2 Cells ; Hepatitis B Surface Antigens/analysis ; Hepatitis B e Antigens/analysis ; Hepatitis B virus/*drug effects ; Inhibitory Concentration 50 ; Phenols/*pharmacology ; Tea/*chemistry

Objective To investigate the relationship between single nucleotide polymorphism (SNP) of Fas ligand (FasL) and fulminant hepatitis B in Han Chinese. Methods HBV infected subjects were enrolled in this case-control study, including 233 cases of inactive HBsAg carrier, 68 patients with fulminant hepatitis B,100 cases of spontaneous hepatitis B clearance, 102 patients with hepatitis B virus (HBV) related cirrhosis and 112 patients with HBV related primary hepatocellular carcinoma. The blood samples and clinical data were collected. FasL-844T/C polymorphisms of enrolled subjects were examined by TaqMan real time fluorescent genotyping polymerase chain reaction (RT-PCR). A adjusted odds ratios (OR)and 95% confidence intervals (CI)were calculated using the Logistic regression model. Results After adjusting the factors of gender and age, binary Logistic regression analyses indicated that the genotype frequencies of FasL-844 CC,CT,TT in inactive HBsAg carriers were 50. 64% ,39. 91% and 9. 44% respectively, and those in cases of fulminant hepatitis B were 79. 41%, 17. 65% and 2. 94%, respectively. The analysis also revealed that FasL-844CC genotype in inactive HBsAg carriers was high risk factor of developing fulminant hepatitis B (OR =4. 729,95%CI:0. 510 - 21. 282,P = 0. 043), while there were no statistic significances in other cases (P>0. 05). Conclusion The inactive HBsAg carriers harboring FasL-844CC may have greater susceptibility to fulminant hepatitis B, which need arouse high attention.

OBJECTIVETo establish a mouse model for human chronic HBV infection, and to investigate the role of PD-1/PD-L1 signaling pathway in antiviral immunity.

METHODSA mouse model was established by hydrodynamic injection of the plasmid pAAV/HBV1.2-GFP into the tail vein of C57BL/6 mice, HBV markers were assayed at different time points after injection. After intraperitoneal injection of anti-PD-L1 monoclonal antibody, the serum ALT, and HBV DNA in the serum, liver and kidney were assayed.

RESULTSThe chronic HBV infection mouse model were established successfully, serum HBsAg and high load of HBV DNA were detectable 90 days after plasmid injection. After blocking of the PD-1/PD-L1 pathway, the serum ALT level of mice were significantly increased (P < 0.01), and the HBV DNA load in serum (P < 0.01), liver (P < 0.05) and kidney (P < 0.05) were decreased significantly.

CONCLUSIONBlocking the PD-1/PD-L1 signaling pathway can enhance antiviral response in mice with chronic HBV infection.

Animals ; Antigens, Surface ; metabolism ; Apoptosis Regulatory Proteins ; metabolism ; B7-1 Antigen ; metabolism ; B7-H1 Antigen ; DNA, Viral ; analysis ; Disease Models, Animal ; Hepatitis B virus ; metabolism ; Hepatitis B, Chronic ; immunology ; metabolism ; virology ; Male ; Membrane Glycoproteins ; metabolism ; Mice ; Mice, Inbred C57BL ; Peptides ; metabolism ; Programmed Cell Death 1 Receptor ; Signal Transduction

OBJECTIVETo detect the serum levels of melanocyte antibodies and explore the relation between melanoma antigen recognized by T-cells (MART-1) and vitiligo in children.

METHODSThe serum samples were collected from children with vitiligo to test the autoantibodies, and divided into low- and high-titer group according to the test results. Melanocytes were incubated with the serum samples, and the changes of melanocyte surface antigen were evaluated using specific MART-1 antibody.

RESULTSThe serum melanocyte antibody levels in children with vitiligo were significantly higher than those in normal subjects. The expression level of melanocyte surface antigen MART-1 increased obviously after incubation of the melanocyte with high antibody titer serum samples, and MART-1 was found to specifically bind to specific MART-1 antibody.

CONCLUSIONMelanocytes MART-1 may correlate to the autoimmune mechanism in children with vitiligo.

Adolescent ; Autoantibodies ; blood ; Child ; Child, Preschool ; Enzyme-Linked Immunosorbent Assay ; Female ; Humans ; MART-1 Antigen ; immunology ; Male ; Melanocytes ; immunology ; T-Lymphocytes ; immunology ; Vitiligo ; immunology

OBJECTIVETo investigate the effect of total fiavonoids from Chrysanthemun morifolium (TFCM) on learning and memory, and cholinergic system function in aging mice.

METHODSThe aging mice model was established by subcutaneous injection of D-galactose. ICR mice were divided into five groups (n=10): contrA group, model group, and TFCM groups. Mice in TFCM groups were given TFCM (50,100 or 150 mg/kg) by gastric irrigation once a day. Learning and memory ability were evaluated by Morris water maze test. The MDA content, SOD and Ach E activity were also measured.

RESULTSCompared with control group, learning and memory ability declined in the D-galactose-induced aging mice; meanwhile MDA content and AchE activity increased, SOD activity decreased. Treatment with TFCM (100, 150 mg/kg) ameliorated the decrease in learning and memory ability of aging mice. Compared with model group, TFCM (100, 150 mg/kg) could also decrease MDA content and Ach E activity, and increase SOD activity in aging mice.

CONCLUSIONTFCM may improve the learning and memory ability of aging mice. The mechanism is involved in its antioxidative characteristic and improvement of central cholinergic system function.

Aging ; drug effects ; physiology ; Animals ; Antioxidants ; pharmacology ; Cholinergic Fibers ; physiology ; Cholinergic Neurons ; physiology ; Chrysanthemum ; chemistry ; Female ; Flavonoids ; isolation & purification ; pharmacology ; Learning ; drug effects ; Male ; Memory ; drug effects ; Mice ; Mice, Inbred ICR

Objective To understand the correlation of expression levels of serum stromal cell-derived factor 1α (SDF-1α), osteoprotegerin (OPG) and β2microglobulin (β2-MG) in patients with multiple myeloma (MM) with or without myeloma bone disease (MBD). Methods Eighty patients with MM who were admitted to the Affiliated Hospital of Inner Mongolia Medical University from January 2014 to June 2017 were selected; all of the patients met the international diagnostic criteria for MM. According to the symptoms such as bone pain, the patients were divided into group with MBD (45 cases) and group without MBD (35 cases). Enzyme-linked immunosorbent assay (ELISA) was used to detect the serum levels of SDF-1α and OPG, and radioimmunoassay was used to detect the expression of MM major prognostic indicator β2-MG. The MBD score was evaluated in 45 patients selected by random number table after sacroiliac joint X-ray and three-dimensional bone reconstruction. The χ 2test was used to compare the categorical variables; the two independent sample t-test was used to compare the continuous variables that conformed to the normal distribution between two groups, and the Pearson method was used for the correlation analysis. Results The expression level of serum SDF-1α in the group with MBD was significantly higher than that in the group without MBD [0.31±0.17) pg/ml vs. (0.18±0.06) pg/ml], and the difference was statistically significant (t ＝-4.21, P < 0.001). The expression level of serum OPG in the group with MBD was significantly lower than that in the group without MBD [(0.73±0.50) pg/ml vs. (1.08±0.31) pg/ml], and the difference was statistically significant (t＝ 3.62, P< 0.001). Pearson analysis showed that β2-MG level in the group was positively correlated with SDF-1α level (r＝ 0.84, P< 0.001), and negatively correlated with OPG level (r＝ -0.48, P<0.001). The β2-MG level in the group without MBD did not show a correlation with the SDF-1α and OPG levels. Conclusions In the serum of patients with MBD, the expression levels of β2-MG and SDF-1α are increased, and the expression level of OPG is decreased. SDF-1α and OPG may be new clinical biochemical indicators for diagnosis, treatment and prognosis assessment in MBD.

Objective: To construct the mutant strain ATP binding cassette transporter SSU05_0948 of Streptococcus suis type 2 and comprehensively study its pathogenicity, and to provide useful insights for understanding the mechanism that Streptococcus suis avoid host innate immunity. Methods: The mutant strain 05ZYH33Δ0948 was constructed through homologous recombination technology. The differences between the mutant strain and the wild type strain were evaluated through bacterial adhesion, whole blood killing, mice meningitis assay, mice and piglets virulence assay. Chi-square test and t test were used. Results: Successfully constructed the mutant strain 05ZYH33Δ0948. The adhesion results showed that the adhesion rate (0.663±0.047)% of the wild strain to A549 cell was significantly higher than that of the mutant (0.246±0.074)%, the difference was statistically significant (χ²=5.267, P=0.014); the adhesion rate (16.540±2.320)% of the wild strain to Hep2 cell was significantly higher than that of the mutant (1.970±0.320)%, the difference was statistically significant (χ²=0.014, P<0.01); the adhesion rate (5.497±0.174)% of the wild strain to Hep2 cell was significantly higher than that of the mutant (1.950±0.335)%, the difference was statistically significant (χ²=0.016, P<0.01). The killing rate (32.970±3.589)% of the wild strain in whole blood is no difference with the mutant (29.560±3.737)% (χ²=1.200, P=0.133). Piglets competitive infection showed that, the competitive index at 12 h, 24 h and 36 h were 0.046±0.003, 0.107±0.003, 0.064±0.001, respectively. 12 h and 24 h was significant differences(t=15.490, P=0.041), 24 h and 36 h was significant differences(t=5.660, P=0.047), 12 h and 36 h was no differences(t=1.445, P=0.285). Conclusions Streptococcus suis type 2 ABC transporter SSU05_0948 is a new adhesion factor and virulence factor of Streptococcus suistype 2, and also a new meningitis factor, which plays important roles in Streptococcus suis against host innate immunity.

Objective To understand the nutrition status of primary school students in Namling County of Shigatseand so as to provide references for nutrition health intervention for students. Methods By random cluster sampling, 5 primary schools were randomly selected, and 1 class was randomly selected from each grade. A total of 1097 subjects, aged from 7 to 12 years were selected and their height and weight were measured. Results The rate of overweight was 0.46%. The rate of malnutrition was 32.27%, and boys (36.61%) were higher than girls (27.75%) ( 2=9.847, P=0.002).The rate of malnutrition was the lowest (25.00%) in the 8 years old group, and the highest (53.38%) in 12 years old group ( 2=37.808, P<0.001). The rate of stunting was 15.86%. There was no significant difference between boys (17.14%) and girls (14.53%) ( 2=1.408, P=0.235), and the highest (31.76%) in 12 years old group and the lowest (9.66%) in 7 years old group ( 2=34.206, P<0.001). The rate of wasting was 20.78%, boys (24.46%) was higher than girls (16.95%) ( 2=9.411, P=0.002). There was significant difference among different age groups ( 2=25.493, P<0.001). Conclusions Malnutrition is still a serious public health problem among students and the main characteristic was high-rate of stunting and wasting. It is necessary to strengthen nutrition education to improve the nutritional status of students.

OBJECTIVETo identify the epidemical characteristics of suicidal tendency among middle-school students in cities of China and to explore the main factors leading to suicidal tendency in adolescents.

METHODSMulti-stage cluster sampling method was used to select 9015 students in grades 1, 2, 3 and 4 respectively from 25 general middle schools in Beijing, Hangzhou, Wuhan and Urumqi of China in June 2006 and field investigation was carried out through "China Global School-based Student Health Survey (GSHS) Questionnaire".

RESULTSAmong the students in the four cities, the incidence rates of suicidal ideation were from 14.4% to 20.8% with an average of 17.4%. The incidence rates of suicidal plan were from 6.8% to 9.7% with an average of 8.2% and were different among cities. 15.0% of the boys had suicidal ideation and 6.7% of them made a suicidal plan comparing to 19.7% of girls having had suicidal ideation and 9.5% of them made a suicidal plan. The two kinds of suicidal tendency in girls were all higher than those in boys. City, age, gender, grade, days and type of being bullied, depression, close friends and having received health education on coping with stresses were factors influencing suicidal tendency of students. Days of being bullied and suicidal tendency showed a dose-response relation.

CONCLUSIONSuicidal tendency seemed common in middle-school students. Training on 'coping the issue' should be strengthened and harmonious environment should be improved in middle-schools.

Adolescent ; China ; epidemiology ; Data Collection ; Female ; Humans ; Incidence ; Male ; Students ; psychology ; Suicide ; psychology ; statistics & numerical data ; Urban Population