Epstein-Barr virus (EBV) is a human herpesvirus associated with important human diseases, including infectious mononucleosis syndrome, malignant lymphoma, and nasopharyngeal carcinoma. The mechanism of EBV entry into host cells remains a subject of intensive research. After decades of study, researchers have identified several key proteins and different patterns of EBV intrusion into host cells. The viral surface glycoproteins, gp350/220, gp42, gB, gH, and gL, are involved in interactions with the CR2 receptor on the surface of B lymphocytes during viral entry. However, the majority of epithelial cells lack CR2 receptor expression, which makes viral invasion much more complex than in B lymphocytes. Three different models have been proposed to explain how EBV enters epithelial cells: (1) "transfer of infection", mediated by B lymphocytes or Langerhans cells; (2) EBV utilizes its own proteins during the process of fusion with the cell membrane; and (3) progeny virions arising from EBV-infected epithelial cells cross lateral membranes into adjacent epithelial cells. This review will discuss the relevant mechanism of viral entry into B lymphocytes and epithelial cells during EBV infection.
Animals ; B-Lymphocytes ; virology ; Epithelial Cells ; virology ; Epstein-Barr Virus Infections ; virology ; Herpesvirus 4, Human ; genetics ; physiology ; Humans ; Viral Proteins ; genetics ; metabolism ; Virus Internalization

Objective To observe the metabolism and distribution of arsenic in liver and brain of offspring rata by exposure to arsenic of pregnant rats or lactation dams and weaned pups,and explore if arsenic could penetrate the placental barrier,lactation barrier and blood brain barrier. Methods The Wistar female rots were randomly divided into four groups according to body weights,12 in each group,and were fed with drinking water that contained arsenic(NaAsO_2) 0,10,50,100 mg/L beginning from the gestafional day 6 until pups 42 days old. Pups were separately sacrificed on postnatal day(PND) 0,15,28,42. Arsenic in liver and brain of offspring rots and in breast milk was examined by atomic absorption speetrophotometer with an arsenic speeiation pretreatment system. Results Concentration of iAs,MMA,DMA of brain in 50,100 mg/L groups were higher than that of 0 mg/L group[0,0,0,(7.3±6.6),0,(44.2±27.4)ng/g]on PND 0,42[iAs: (120.0±46.0),(195.5±125.3),(216.5±278.4),(176.6±151.8) ng/g; M MA: (47.2±18.1),(199.6±389.1),(47.4±55.2),(82.7±79.2) ng/g; DMA: (984.3±377.4),(2222.1±1433.2),(998.1±368.3),(1781.3±715.7)ng/g,all P < 0.05]. Concentration of DMA of brain in 50,100 mg/L groups were higher than that of 0 mg/L group[(13.9±18.1),(50.6±98.3)ng/g]on PND 15,28 [(270.3±73.1),(323.9±72.7),(758.7±245.9),(1020.6±383.6) ng/g,all P < 0.05]. Concentration of iAs,DMA of liver in 10,50,100 mg/L groups were higher than that of 0 mg/L group [(1.4±3.5),(49.7± 47.1),0,(100.4±30.2)ng/g]on PND 28,42 [iAs: (37.5±28.1),(268.8±246.4),(307.2±339.9),(15.4±9.4),(479.1±161.1),(408.4±51.9)ng/g;DMA: (594.5±148.8),(3181.9±519.0),(4834.2±2568.4),(1061.8± 85.2),(3697.1±553.7),(4120.0±732.8) ng/g,all P < 0.05]. Concentration of DMA of liver in 10,50,100 mg/L groups were higher than that of 0 mg/L group[(13.2±20.5)ng/g]on PND 15[(182.0±60,2),(637.6±90.0),(1458.7±196.3)ng/g,all P < 0.05]. Concentration of arsenicals of liver and brain showed a dose-dependent increase. The concentrations of DMA of breast milk in 50,100 mg/L groups were also higher than that of 0 mg/L group[(9.8±13.4),0 ng/g]on PND 0,15 [(182.3±85.9),(372.2±203.9),(124.2±33.1),(244.4±196.5)ng/g,all P < 0.05]. In the analysis of the change of arsenic on different postnatal day,we found the concentration of iAs,MMA,DMA,TMA in liver and brain of pups all decreased on postnatal day 15,and was lower than that on PND 0,28 and 42. Conclusions The distribution of arsenic and methyl-metabolism in liver and brain of pups is related with arsenic exposure dose. Arsenic can penetrate the placenta and blood brain barrier easily and lactation can hinder arsenic intake in some extent.

The influence of separating effect of different chromatographic conditions of mouse gut flora by high performance ion exchange chromatography analysis was studied. The optimum chromatographic conditions for separating gut bacteria were determined. The sample was applied to the chromatography column packed with Toyopearl SuperQ-650c anion resin, equilibrated with 0.02mol/L piperazin-hydrochloric acid buffer (pH 8.0), and elution salt 1mol/L NaCl, eluted with the gradient of 0-50% NaCl/ 80 min, then 50%~75% NaCl/ 25 min at the flow rate 1ml/min, and injecting volume was 1ml.Under these conditions, intestinal flora were separated into several fractions. The establishment of HPLC analysis method will lay a foundation of further research on the components of mouse gut flora and their dynamic changes.

Objective To summarize the clinical characteristics and diagnosis of hemiconvulsion-hemiplegia-epilepsy(HHE) syndrome.Methods The clinical data of 5 children with HHE syndrome were analyzed.Cranial magnetic resonance imaging MRI and /or computerized tomography(CT) and electroencephalogram(EEG) were done in all patients.Results The age of onset was less than 4 years in 4 of 5 patients and initial seizures were associated with fever in 3 cases.The longest duration of convulsive seizures lasted more than 2 hours in all cases,followed by the appearance of hemiplegia involving the side of the body where the convulsions were localized.Subsequent epilepsy developed within 2 years of the hemiplegia in all 5 cases,with 4 cases simple partial seizure and 1 case psychomotor seizures.All cases had mental retardation.Cranial MRI showed left hippocampal sclerosis in 4 patients and CT brain scan showed right cerebral hemiatrophy in 1 case.The EEG showed abnormality in all patients.Epileptiform discharges were found in 4 cases,and the damage hemisphere showed slowing and low voltage of background activity in 1 case.All cases received mainly carbamazepine therapy,and the seizures were satisfactorily controlled or partly controlled.Conclusions HHE syndrome is recognized as hemiplegia-epilepsy syndrome after prolonged hemiconvulsion.The hippocampal sclerosis may be the consequence of repeated seizures,but not the cause.Better understanding of the syndrome,early and adequate treatment of prolonged seizures,especially of febrile convulsion,will reduce the incidence of HHE syndrome.

Objective To evaluate the blood supply features and effectiveness of arterial chemoembolization for pedunculated hepatocellular carcinoma.Methods Angiography and chemoembolization via supplying blood arteries of tumor were performed in five patients with pedunculated hepatocellular carcinoma.Interventional procedure was carried out with tumor vascular infusion of 350 mg hot elemene emulsion and tumor embolization by cisplantin-lipidol emulsion(cisplantin 60-80 mg+lipidol 8-15 ml)and glutin.Results Ten interventional procedures(TACE)were undertaken in 5 patients.Angiography showed that tumor blood supply mainly coming from collateral circulation adjacent to the tumors,but partially from hepatic artery.Tumor sizes decreased from 30% to 50% in 5 cases,and AFP declined in 4 cases after the treatment. Conclusion Pedunculated hepatocellular carcinoma possessing different blood supply features from intrahepatocellular carcinomas.But transarterial ehemoembolization is still an effective method of choice for this treatment.

OBJECTIVETo investigate the relationship between copper speciation and microbial features (microbial communities and copper tolerance level) in order to determine the adverse effect of different forms of Cu on microorganisms.

METHODSTessier's sequential extraction procedure was used to qualify the different Cu forms (exchangeable, carbonate bound, Fe/Mn oxide bound, residue and organic matter bound), and the copper tolerance level (expressed as IC50, influence concentration) was measured by the plate-count method.

RESULTSBy simple correlation analysis, the IC50 was positively correlated with the concentration of exchangeable Cu (R2 = 0.8204), while weakly correlated with other forms of Cu.

CONCLUSIONThe bacterial community tolerance increases in the copper-contaminated soil while sensitive bacteria decrease in the copper-contaminated soils. The exchangeable Cu exerts high toxicity to microbial communities.

Bacteria ; drug effects ; isolation & purification ; China ; Copper ; analysis ; chemistry ; toxicity ; Environmental Monitoring ; Fungi ; drug effects ; isolation & purification ; Hydrogen-Ion Concentration ; Soil Microbiology ; Soil Pollutants ; chemistry ; toxicity

BACKGROUNDIt has been reported that osteopontin has an important role in cardiac fibrosis and remodeling. However, its direct mechanisms remain unclear. The purpose of this study was to investigate the role of angiotensin and aldosterone blockades in cardiac osteopontin expression associated with cardiac remodeling in myocardial infarcted (MI) rats.

METHODSFifty SD rats that survived 24 hours after ligating left anterior descending coronary artery were randomly divided into three groups: MI-saline group (n = 15, 5 ml/d), MI-perindopril group (n = 18, perindopril 2 mgxkg(-1)d(-1)) and MI-spironolacton (n = 17, spironolacton 20 mgxkg(-1)xd(-1)). A sham operation group (n = 15) was selected as non-infarcted control. At 6 weeks after treatment, hemodynamic pararmeters and left ventricular function were measured with catheterization, interstitial fibrosis infiltration and cardiomyocyte diameters were evaluated histologically. Myocardium osteopontin protein expression level in the non-infarcted myocardium was detected by Western blotting.

RESULTSNo osteopontin protein was detected in the myocardium of sham-operation rats. High levels of osteopontin protein expression were detected in the MI-saline rats, but the levels were suppressed in the MI-perindopril and MI-spironolacton rats at 6 weeks following MI (P < 0.01, respectively). Compared with the sham operation group, all rats in the MI group showed marked interstitial fibrosis infiltration in the non-infarction area, higher ventricular weight/body weight ratio, significantly increased cardiomyocyte diameter (P < 0.01, respectively), and developed significant systolic and diastolic dysfunction as indicated by decreased left ventricular systolic pressure (LVSP) and +/-dp/dt, as well as increased left ventricular end-diastolic pressure (LVEDP) (P < 0.01, respectively). Angiotensin and aldosterone blockades partly prevented cardiac fibrosis and systolic and diastolic dysfunction (P < 0.01, respectively).

CONCLUSIONTreatment with angiotensin and aldosterone blockades inhibits expression of osteopontin in the non-infarcted myocardium and prevents cardiac remodeling following MI.

Angiotensins ; antagonists & inhibitors ; Animals ; Fibrosis ; Hemodynamics ; Male ; Mineralocorticoid Receptor Antagonists ; pharmacology ; Myocardial Infarction ; drug therapy ; pathology ; physiopathology ; Myocardium ; chemistry ; pathology ; Osteopontin ; analysis ; Rats ; Rats, Sprague-Dawley

OBJECTIVETo study and compare the clinical and electroencephalography (EEG) features in children with benign occipital epilepsy (BOE) of Gastaut and Panayiotopoulos types.

METHODSThe clinical data of 23 children with BOE (16 Gastaut type and 7 Panayiotopoulos type) were retrospectively studied.

RESULTSThe mean age of onset in the Panayiotopoulos and Gastaut groups were 4.5 and 9.1 years, respectively. The children in the Panayiotopoulos group were characterized by ictal vomiting, frequent deviation of eyes and head, frequent nocturnal seizures, and secondary generalized seizures with longer duration but less frequency. By comparison, the children in the Gastaut group were characterized by visual symptoms as ictal events, higher seizure frequency, shorter seizure duration and more frequent diurnal seizures. The EEG showed that the majority of both groups had occipital spike-wave discharges when the eyes were opened. Eleven children in the Panayiotopoulos group and all of 7 children in the Gastaut group received antiepileptic mono-drug therapy. All of the 11 children in the Panayiotopoulos group responded to the therapy, but 2 cases in the Gastaut group did not respond and 2 cases had subtle cognitive deficits.

CONCLUSIONSThere are differences in the age of onset, clinical symptoms, seizure frequency and duration, and therapeutic responses between children with Panayiotopoulos and Gastaut type BOE.

Child ; Child, Preschool ; Electroencephalography ; Epilepsies, Partial ; drug therapy ; physiopathology ; Female ; Humans ; Male

Microbial transformation of cardamonin by Mucor spinosus (CGMCC 3.3450) in preparative scale resulted in the isolation of two new products. Their structures were elucidated unambiguously by ESI-MS, 1H NMR, 13C NMR and 2D NMR spectra analyses as 4-O-beta-D-glucopyranosyl-6-hydroxy-2-methoxychalcone (1, 4-GluC) and 6-O-beta-D-glucopyranosyl-4-hydroxy-2-methoxychalcone (2, 6-GluC), respectively. The time-course of biotransformation by M. spinosus showed that both 4-GluC and 6-GluC appeared on the 2nd day. The optimal biotransformation temperature was 28 degrees C, the optimal biotransformation time was 72 h and the optimal concentration for cardamonin was 40 mg x mL(-1). This is the first time for successful microbial glycosylation of cardamonin in present research.
Biotransformation ; Chalcones ; chemistry ; isolation & purification ; metabolism ; Glucosides ; chemistry ; isolation & purification ; Glycosylation ; Magnetic Resonance Spectroscopy ; Molecular Structure ; Mucor ; metabolism ; Spectrometry, Mass, Electrospray Ionization

OBJECTIVEThe efficacy and adverse effects of conventional dose and low dose adrenocorticotrophic hormone (ACTH) therapy for West syndrome (WS) were compared in order to identify a low effective dose with few adverse effects.

METHODSA prospective randomized controlled study was conducted. Thirty children with cryptogenic (n=8) or symptomatic (n=22) WS were enrolled. They were randomly assigned to receive either conventional dose or low dose ACTH therapy. For the conventional dose group, ACTH 50 IU per day was administered for 2 weeks and tapered to zero over the subsequent 2 weeks. For the low dose group, 0.4 IU/kg per day was injected for 2 weeks. After seizures were fully controlled, ACTH was tapered to zero over the subsequent 2 weeks. If there was an absence of an effective response in the low dose group, the dosage was increased to 1 IU/kg per day for the next 2 weeks and then tapered to zero over 2 weeks. Both effectiveness and adverse effects were compared between the two groups.

RESULTSThere were no significant differences in the good initial responses between the conventional and the low dose groups, which were 53% and 60%, respectively (P> 0.05). EEG findings after ACTH therapy, the rate of relapse of spasms, and the interval to relapse were not different between the two groups (P> 0.05). The long-term outcomes were assessed in the initial 8 responders, and there were no significant differences between the two groups (follow-up duration>12 months). The rates of good efficacy and disappearance of the hypsarrhythmia were significantly higher in the cryptogenic WS group than in the symptomatic WS group (P<0.05). The incidence of ACTH therapy related-adverse effects in the conventional dose group (93%) was significantly higher than in the low dose group (20%) (P<0.01). The mild brain shrinkage was observed in one patient from the conventional dose group.

CONCLUSIONSThe short-term and long-term therapeutic effects of ACTH between 50 IU/d and 0.4 IU/kg/d doses are similar. ACTH therapy is more effective for cryptogenic WS than symptomatic WS. To reduce adverse effects, ACTH therapy should start with a low dose (0.4 IU/ kg each day).

Adolescent ; Adrenocorticotropic Hormone ; adverse effects ; therapeutic use ; Child ; Child, Preschool ; Dose-Response Relationship, Drug ; Female ; Humans ; Infant ; Male ; Prospective Studies ; Spasms, Infantile ; drug therapy