Hepatitis B is a serious infectious disease worldwide, and hepatitis B virus (HBV) is the direct cause of this disease. In recent years, as an essential part of its evolutionary process, HBV mutation has been extensively studied domestically and globally. However, the study on the conserved sequences in HBV sequences is still in its infancy. In this study, we applied multiple EM for motif elicitation (MEME) algorithm to discover HBV motif and proposed a new metric, conservative index (CI), to carry out phylogenetic analysis based on HBV sequences. Then, the constructed phylogenetic tree was subjected to reliability assessment. The results demonstrated that the new metric CI combined with the MEME algorithm can effectively help to discover motifs in HBV sequences and construct a phylogenetic tree based on them and to analyze the evolutionary relationship between HBV sequences; in addition, the possible ancestral sequences of samples may be obtained by conservative analysis. The proposed method is valuable for the exploratory study on large HBV sequence data sets.
Computational Biology ; Conserved Sequence ; Evolution, Molecular ; Hepatitis B virus ; genetics ; Humans ; Nucleotide Motifs ; Phylogeny ; Reproducibility of Results

Feeding Methods ; Humans ; Infant ; Male ; Mastication ; Syphilis ; etiology

OBJECTIVETo discuss the results and significance of the detection of the CFTR gene mutation in azoospermia patients with congenital unilateral absence of the vas deferens (CUAVD).

METHODSWe collected peripheral blood samples from 6 azoospermia patients with CUAVD for detection of the CFTR gene mutations and single nucleotide polymorphisms. We analyzed the genome sequences of the CFTR gene in comparison with the website of the UCSC Genome Browser on Human Dec. 2013 Assembly.

RESULTSMissense mutation of c. 592G > C in exon 6 was found in 1 of the 6 azoospermia patients with CUAVD and splicing mutation of c. 1210-12T[5] was observed in the noncoding region before exon 10 in 2 of the patients, both with the V470 haplotype in exon 11.

CONCLUSIONMutations of the CFTR gene can be detected in azoospermia patients with CUAVD and the detection of the CFTR gene mutation is necessary for these patients.

Azoospermia ; genetics ; Cystic Fibrosis Transmembrane Conductance Regulator ; genetics ; Exons ; Humans ; Male ; Male Urogenital Diseases ; genetics ; Mutation, Missense ; genetics ; Vas Deferens ; abnormalities

Hepatitis B is one of the most serious global threats to human health. Phylogenetic analysis of hepatitis B virus (HBV) can reveal the evolutionary relationship between HBV sequences and thus provide a basis for the prediction and treatment of hepatitis B and other aspects. In this study, we performed sequence analyses on the HBV sequences of five clinical HBV samples and the HBV sequences retrieved from the GenBank, EMBL, and DDBJ to construct a phylogenetic tree and analyze sequence structures. The experimental results revealed that the C gene of one cloned sequence had a recombinant structure of HBV B/ C subtype. Moreover, the phylogenetic results proved the existence of a newly found subtype HBV/B6 in Xishuangbanna of Yunnan Province, China. The experimental conclusion represents certain value for phylogenetic studies of HBV in Yunnan ethnic minority groups.
DNA, Recombinant ; genetics ; Genes, Viral ; genetics ; Genotyping Techniques ; Hepatitis B virus ; classification ; genetics ; Humans ; Phylogeny

Objective：This study was designed to investigate microvessel density (MVD) and expression of vascular endothelial growth factor (VEGF)， basic fibroblast growth factor (bFGF) in pancreatic cancer, and the relevance of these three indexes to the biological behavior of the cancer． Methods：Intratumor MVD and the expression of VEGF and bFGF were examined by immunohistochemical staining in 47 pancreatic cancer tissues (polyclonal antibody for FⅧ and VEGF, monoclonal antibody for bFGF), and the relationship between either MVD or the expression of these two angiogenic factors and the clinicopathological features, including survival were analyzed． Results：MVD in cancer tissues was higher (10.32± 3.32) than that in normal tissues (6.72± 1.73) (P<0.01). In 47 cases, the positive rate of expression of VEGF, bFGF protein in pancreatic cancer was significantly higher than that in normal tissues(P< 0.05), 57.44％ of 47 pancreatic cancer were positive for VEGF protein in cancer cells,and 63.82％ showed strong bFGF staining in cancer and infilbrating cells． The overexpression of VEGF and bFGF protein correlated significantly with high MVD (P< 0.05). Advanced pathological grade of the disease was significantly more frequent in the patients with high MVD, positive staining of VEGF and bFGF, (P< 0.01)． The higher MVD and the overexpression of bFGF correlated with poor survival (P< 0.05)． Conclusions： Intratumor MVD is strongly related to the progress, invasiveness and metastasis of pancreatic cancer, and may serve as a meaningful prognostic factor． The overexpression of VEGF and bFGF may play an important role in the process of tumor-associated neovascularization and suggest that VEGF or bFGF system may be promising target for antiangiongenic strategy of pancreatic cancer．

OBJECTIVETo investigate the protective effects of daidzein (DD) on ventricular remodeling in rats with myocardial hypertrophy induced by pressure overload and its mechanism.

METHODMyocardial hypertrophy model of rats induced by pressure overload was prepared by constricting abdominal aorta. The operated rats were randomly divided into sham operated control group, aorta-constricted model group and three DD groups (30, 60, 120 mg kg(-1)). Four weeks later, the heart-weight (HW), left ventricular weight (LVW), the ratio of HW/BW and LVW/BW (LVI) and the cardio-myocyte diameters (MD) after dyeing by HE colar were measured. The hydroxyroline, nitric oxide (NO) and the activity of nitric oxide synthetase (NOS) and Na+ -K+ -ATPase, Ca2+ -ATPase in left ventricle were quantified with spectrophotometry and the angiotension II (Ang II) in left ventricle and serum was messured with radioimmunoassay.

RESULTAfter treatment of the left ventricular with DD, vs aorta-contricted model group, NO content, cNOS and Na+ -K+ -ATPase, Ca2+ -ATPase activity were significantly increased, the content of AngII in left ventricle and serum and iNOS activity and the ratio of HW/BW, LVI, MD were significantly reduced.

CONCLUSIONDD has protective effects on ventricular remodeling in rats with myocardial hypertrophy induced by pressure overload and its mechanism may be related to raising NO content and reducing the level of Ang II.

Angiotensin II ; blood ; metabolism ; Animals ; Hypertrophy, Left Ventricular ; metabolism ; pathology ; Isoflavones ; pharmacology ; Male ; Myocardium ; metabolism ; pathology ; Nitric Oxide ; metabolism ; Phytoestrogens ; pharmacology ; Random Allocation ; Rats ; Rats, Wistar ; Ventricular Remodeling ; drug effects

As a common computer keyboard and a mouse can't meet the requirements of some special occasions, this paper introduces the design of a controlling switch set based on RS-232 for capturing the image at the medical image workstation. Its working principles, circuit, assembly together with its associated software controller are given in detail. The control switch set features easy manufacturing, low cost and a good reliability.
Equipment Design ; Image Processing, Computer-Assisted ; instrumentation ; methods ; Software Design

Objective To evaluate the role of expression of phosphodiesterase 4B (PDE4B) in the spinal cord in inflammatory responses in a rat model of neuropathic pain and the relationship with extracellular signal-regulated kinase (ERK).Methods Sixty healthy male Sprague-Dawley rats,weighing 180-220 g,in which intrathecal catheters were implanted at L5,6 interspace,were used.The location of catheters was confirmed 6 days later.The rats were randomly divided into 5 groups (n =12 each):sham operation group (group Sham),normal saline (NS) group,vehicle group (group Ⅴ),mismatch siRNA group (group siR-M),and PDE4B-siRNA group (group siR-B).Neuropathic pain was induced by ligation of L5 spinal nerve (SNL).In Sham group,the L5 spinal nerve was only exposed,but not ligated.Immediately after ligation and on 1,3,5,and 7 days after ligation,10 μl NS,10 μl NS,LipofectaminTM RNAiMAX,PDE4B-siRNA (2 μg/10 μl) encapsulated in mismatch siRNA and PDE4B-siRNA (2 μg/10 μl) encapsulated in LipofectaminTM RNAiMAX were injected intrathecally in Sham,NS,V,siR-M,and siR-B groups,respectively.The mechanical pain threshold was measured at 1 day before and 2,4,6 and 8 days after operation.After behavioral testing on 8th day after operation,the rats were sacrificed and the lumbar segment of the spinal cord was removed for determination of PDE4B protein,ERK and phosphor-ERK (p-ERK)expression,and TNF-α,IL-1β and IL-6 levels.Results Compared with Sham group,the mechanical pain threshold was significantly decreased at 2,4,6 and 8 days after operation in NS,V,siR-M and siR-B groups (P ＜0.05),and no significant change was found in the mechanical pain threshold at 2,4,6 and 8 days after operation (P ＞ 0.05) and the expression of p-ERK and PDE4B protein,and levels of TNF-α,IL-1β and IL-6 were increased at 2,4,6 and 8 days after operation in V and siR-M groups (P ＜ 0.05).Compared with NS group,the mechanical pain threshold was significantly increased,and the expression of p-ERK and PDE4B protein and levels of TNF-α,IL-1β and IL-6 were decreased at 2,4,6 and 8 days after operation (P ＜ 0.05),and no significant change was found in the parameters mentioned above in V and siR-M groups (P ＞ 0.05).Conclusion Up-regulation of the expression of PDE4B protein in the spinal cord is involved in the development of neuropathic pain in rats,which may be related to promoted phosphorylation of ERK in the spinal cord and enhanced inflammatory responses.

Objective To evaluate the role of phosphodiesterase 4B (PDE4B) in lipopolysaccharide (LPS)-induced release of inflammatory factors in rat microglias.Methods The pri mary cultured microglial cells were randomly divided into 5 groups (n =24 each) using a random number table:control group (group C),LPS group,vehicle group,mismatch small interfering RNA (siRNA) group and PDE4B-siRNA group.The cells were incubated for 48 h in C and LPS groups.The cells were transfected with lipofectaminTM RNAiMAX 1 μl for 48 h in vehicle group.In mismatch siRNA and PDE4B-siRNA groups,mismatch siRNA 2 μl and PDE4B-siRNA 2 μl were added to 100μl serum-free culture medium (final concentration of siRNA 20 nmol/L),respectively,lipofectaminTM RNAiMAX 1 μl was added simultaneously and the cells were then transfected for 48 h.The expression of PDE4B protein and mRNA was determined by Western blot and real-time PCR,respectively.The cells were cultured for 24 h in serum-free culture medium containing LPS 100 ng/ml in LPS,vehicle,mismatch siRNA and PDF4B-siRNA groups.Then the release of TNF-α and IL-1β was measured by ELISA and the expression of extracellular signalregulated protein kinase (ERK) and phosphorylated ERK (p-ERK) was detected by Western blot.Results Compared with C group,the expression of PDE4B protein and mRNA was significantly down-regulated in group PDE4BsiRNA (P ＜ 0.05),no significant changes were found in LPS,vehicle and mismatch siRNA groups (P ＞ 0.05),and the release of TNF-α and IU1β was increased and the expression of p-ERK was up-regulated in the other four groups (P ＜ 0.05).Compared with LPS group,the release of TNF-α and IL-1β was decreased and the expression of p-ERK was down-regulated in PDE4B-siRNA group,and no significant changes were found in vehicle and mismatch siRNA groups (P ＞ 0.05).There was no significant difference in ERK expression between the five groups (P ＞ 0.05).Conclusion PDF4B can promote LPS-induced release of inflammatory factors in rat microglias and activation of ERK is involved in the mechanism.

Objective To prepare controlled release microspheres of vascular endothelial growth factor(VEGF)& calcium alginate and observe their effect on proliferation of human umbilical vein endo- thelial cells(HUVEC)in order to provide theoretical basis for controlled release of VEGF facilitating an- giogenesis of tissue engineering bone.Methods VEGF-calcium alginate microspheres were prepared by using the needle extrusion/external gelation method to investigate physicochemical character and in vitro release of VEGF.According to the different ingredients added into the culture medium,the seconda- ry cultured HUVEC were divided into four groups,ie,control group,microsphere group,VEGF group and VEGF-calcium alginate microsphere group,in which the proliferation of the cultured HUVEC was ob- served with cell counting method,MTT method and flow cytometry.Results The calcium alginate mi- crospheres were revealed as spherical shape and evenly distributed,with mean grain diameter of(560?50)?m,carrying capacity of 0.72 ng/mg and the encapsulation efficiency of 54%.Smooth controlled re- lease in VEGF-alginate microspheres lasted for more than 10 days.Proliferation of the cultured HUVEC was accelerated the most in VEGF group at the beginning but in EGF-calcium alginate microsphere group at midanaphase compared with other groups,with statistical difference(P＜0.05).There was no statis- tical difference upon cell counting,cell activity and time point of cell cycle between control group and mi- crosphere group.Conclusion VEGF-sodium alginate microapheres can continue activity of VEGF,re- lease VEGF for over 10 days and promote proliferation cultured HUVEC for a long time.