Hematologic Diseases ; Humans ; Mesenchymal Stem Cell Transplantation ; Mesenchymal Stromal Cells

Wild birds (mainly Anseriformes and Charadriiformes) are recognized as the natural reservoir of avian influenza viruses (AIVs). The long-term surveillance of AIVs in wild birds has been conducted in North America and Europe since 1970s. More and more surveillance data revealed that all the HA and NA subtypes of AIVs were identified in the wild ducks, shorebirds, and gulls, and the AIVs circulating in wild birds were implicated in the outbreaks of AIVs in poultry and humans. Therefore, the AIVs in wild birds pose huge threat to poultry industry and human health. To gain a better understanding of the ecology and epidemiology of AIVs in wild birds, we summarize the transmission of AIVs between wild birds, poultry, and humans, the main results of surveillance of AIVs in wild birds worldwide and methods for surveillance, and the types of samples and detection methods for AIVs in wild birds, which would be vital for the effective control of avian influenza and response to possible influenza pandemic.
Animals ; Animals, Wild ; virology ; Birds ; virology ; Humans ; Influenza A virus ; genetics ; isolation & purification ; physiology ; Influenza in Birds ; epidemiology ; transmission ; virology ; Influenza, Human ; epidemiology ; transmission ; virology ; Sentinel Surveillance ; veterinary

OBJECTIVETo investigate the immunological activity of Streptomyces polysaccharide (SMP) on normal and immunosuppressed mice.

METHODSThe effect of SMP on the proliferating activity of normal mouse splenocytes was tested in the mixed lymphocyte culture, and the changes of peripheral blood T lymphocytes were evaluated with acid a-naphthyl acetate esterase (ANAE) method. The ratio of Lyt2+ and L3T4+ T cell subsets was measured by flow cytometry.

RESULTSSMP stimulated obvious proliferation of mixed lymphocytes, showed protective effects on T lymphocyte and increased the ratio of Lyt2+ and L3T4+ cell subsets to nearly normal level in immunosuppressed mice.

CONCLUSIONSSMP can regulate the immune function in mice.

Animals ; CD4-Positive T-Lymphocytes ; immunology ; Female ; Immunocompromised Host ; immunology ; Lymphocyte Culture Test, Mixed ; Male ; Mice ; Mice, Inbred BALB C ; Mice, Inbred C57BL ; Polysaccharides ; immunology ; Spleen ; cytology ; Streptomyces ; chemistry ; immunology ; T-Lymphocytes ; cytology ; immunology

Middle East respiratory syndrome coronavirus (MERS-CoV) has caused outbreaks of SARS-like disease with 35% case-fatality rate, mainly in the Middle East. A more severe outbreak of MERS occurred recently in the Republic of Korea, where 186 people contracted the infections, causing great concern worldwide. So far, there has been no clinically available drug for the treatment of MERS-CoV infection. The potential drugs against MERS-CoV mainly consist of monoclonal antibodies, peptides and small molecular agents. Small molecular agents have an advantage of easier synthesis, lower cost in production and relatively higher stability. There is better chance for those candidates to gain a quick development. This article reviews the progress of developing small molecular MERS-CoV agents.
Antibodies, Monoclonal ; pharmacology ; Antiviral Agents ; pharmacology ; Coronavirus Infections ; drug therapy ; Drug Design ; Humans ; Middle East Respiratory Syndrome Coronavirus ; drug effects

Background Pupil atresia increases the difficulty of cataract surgery.The improper enlarging pupil will lead to many complications.The appropriate method of pupil dilation is very important to improve the postoperative effect.Objective This study was to evaluate the pupillary function after manually enlarged pupil to different sizes for pupil atresia complicated cataract.Methods A retrospective case-controlled study was designed.Thirty-eight eyes of 30 cases suffered from pupil atresia complicated cataract induced by chronic uveitis were enrolled in Shandong Eye Institute from May 2006 to May 2012.The eyes underwent pupil forming and phacoemulsification and assigned to the pupil enlarged to ≥6.0 mm group (15 eyes) and 4.5-5.5 mm group (23 eyes).The fibrosis membrane at pupil zone was removed,and the fibrosis strip at pupil collar was cut evenly by 23G intraocular microscissors as zigzag shape.Then the pupil was enlarged in multipoint by a pair of left and right iris hook from the main and lateral incisions.The pupils of 15 eyes in the pupil enlarged to ≥6.0 mm group were dilated above 6.0 mm and 23 pupils in the 4.5-5.5 mm group were dilated to 4.5-5.5 mm and followed by routine phacoemulsification and foldable intraocular lens implantation.Topical and systemic corticosteroids and nonsteroidal anti-inflammatory drugs combined topical mydriatic were applied before and after operation.The pupil diameter,light reflex and photophobia symptom in postoperation were compared between the two groups.The visual acuity before and after operation and intra-and post-operative complications were recorded.This study was approved by Ethic Committee of Shandong Eye Hospital,and written informed consent was obtined from each patient before operation.Results The pupil diameter in the pupil enlarged to ≥6.0 mm group was dilated to (6.9±0.4) mm and that of the 4.5-5.5 mm was dilated to (5.1 ±0.3) mm intraoperatively,with a statistical significance between them (t =16.100,P =0.000).Three months later,the pupil diameter in the pupil enlarged to ≥ 6.0 mm group was (4.9 ±0.4)mm,with different degrees of lacerated pupillary margins,and that in the pupil enlarged to 4.5-5.5 mm group was (3.5 ±0.5) mm,with rare lacerated pupillary margins,showing a statistically significant difference (t =9.820,P =0.000).The unresponsive or obtuse light reflex in the pupil enlarged to ≥6.0 mm group was significantly higher than in the pupil enlarged to 4.5-5.5 mm group(11 eyes vs.6 eyes) (x2 =8.200,P =0.005).The subjective photophobia symptom of 2-3 grades in the pupil enlarged to ≥6.0 mm group was in 12 eyes,which was higher than that in the pupil enlarged to 4.5-5.5 mm group (2 eyes) (H=19.840,P=0.000).The iris haemorrhage were seen in 3 eyes in the pupil enlarged to 4.5-5.5 mm group and 7 eyes in the pupil enlarged to ≥6.0 mm group (x2 =5.290,P=0.030).The visual acuities of the operated eyes in the two groups improved at different degrees.Conclusions Approximate physiological pupil and good visual quality can been obtained by manual releasing and enlarging pupil to less than 5.5 mm evenly during the surgery for pupil atresia complicated cataract induced by chronic uveitis.

Background Eyes with filamentary keratitis present with serious clinical symptoms.This disease is easy to relapse and the treatment is tricky.At present,its pathogenesis is still unclear,and few works were done on filamentous composition.Objective This study was to analyze the composition of corneal filament by imageological and histopathological method,and discuss the formation mechanism of filamentary keratitis.Methods Eighty-eight eyes of 82 cases who suffered from filamentary keratitis were collected in Shandong Eye Hospital between January 2008 and January 2011.The etiologies of the patients were classified and the clinical data were recorded.Firstly,the corneal filiform strip was detected by laser scanning confocal microscopy (LSCM),and the corneal structure was examined by high-definition optical coherence tomography (HD-OCT).Then the composition of filamentary strip was analyzed by Giemsa and Masson trichrome staining of stretched preparation of filiform strip.Results Etiological study showed that filamentary keratitis occurred after penetrating keratoplasty in 40 eyes,after cataract surgery and photorefractive keratectomy (PRK) in 18 eyes,dry eye and neural dystrophic corneal disease in 14 eyes,acute conjunctivitis in 10 eyes.HD-OCT revealed that filament lesion developed to Bowman layer.Filament was composed of epithelial cells,inflammatory cells,mucus and the high reflective strip core with spiral arrangement under the LSCM,and epithelial cells,inflammatory cells and fibrous tissue were seen in the strip core.Giemsa staining exhibited that filament contained corneal epithelial cells,inflammatory cells,mucus and dark blued strip core with helical arrangement.Masson trichrome discovered that the strip core was red fibrous tissue surrounding by blue mucus.Conclusions Epithelial cells,inflammatory cells,mucus and the high reflective strip core with spiral arrangement are the main elements of filament in filamentary keratitis.The lesion can reach Bowman layer.The results contribute to reveal the formation mechanism of corneal filament and assist treatment.

To study the chemical constituents from the the deep-sea fungus Alternaria sp. F49. Seven compounds were isolated from the EtOAc extract by using silica gel, Sephadex LH-20, ODS and HPLC methods. Based on the spectroscopic analysis, their structures were identified as (8R)-5-O-methyl-orcinotriol (1), orcinotriol (2), α-acetylorcinol (3), 3'-hydroxyalternariol 5-O-methyl ether (4), altenusiol (5), altenusin (6), and 5'-methoxy-6-methyl-biphenyl-3,4,3'-triol (7). (8R)-5-O-Methyl-orcinotriol (1) is a new phenolic compound which has never been reported in the literature. Compounds 4-7 showed strong DPPH free radical scavenging activity; whereas compounds 1-7 showed strong ABTS free radical scavenging activity.

Objective To investigation the pathological characteristics of esophageal squamous cell carcinoma to provide reference criteria for delineating the target area in radiotherapy.Methods Fifty-two patients from the Fourth Hospital of HeBei Medical University underwent resection whom all had been proved to have esophageal squamous cell carcinoma before operation.Chest CT was scanned and transmitted to the 3- dimensional conformal planning system for radiotherapy by VRX-16 scanner.The lesion of esophageal carcinoma was delineated in the 3-dimensional rebuild CT image and the lesion volume was computed by digital rebuild program.Every surgically resected specimen was made into pathologic giant section.The actual size of the specimen was obtained by calculating the size under the microscope with the shrinkage ratio.Multicentric carcinomatous lesion,severe dysplasia and direct intramural infiltration were observed in the giant section with a microscope and the order of such pathological characteristics were analysed statistically.Results 1.The tumor length by different method of preparation of operated specimens differed obviously.The longest was shown by CT. 2.Multicentric carcinomatous lesion was found in 15(29%)cases out of 52 patients.Proximal to the tumor,the mean distance between the multicentric carcinomatous lesion and the main lesion plus the length of the multicentric carcinomatous lesion was 3.02?1.45cm.Distal to the tumor,it was 2.60?2.44 cm.Severe dysplasia was found in 28 patients.Proximally,the mean distance between the severe dysplasia and the main lesion plus the length of the severe dysplasia was 2.45?1.30 cm.Distal to the tumor,it was 3.24?2.19 cm.Direct intramural infiltration was found in 41 patients,of which the mean length being 2.80?1.52 cm proximally and 2.02?1.51 cm distally. 3.Tumor thrombus was found in 6 patients and lymphoduct infiltration in 36 patients.Direct intramural infiltration was found at higher incidence in specimens complicated with lymphoduct infiltration(86%)and those complicated with tumor thrombus(91%).There were no apparent factors affecting severe dysplasia.The proximal distance to direct intra- mural infiltration was much longer than distally.Conclusions Multicentric carcinomatous lesion,severe dysplasia and direct intramural infiltration may be observed in esophageal squamous cell carcinoma.Multicentric carcinomatous lesion and direct intramural infiltration are obviously correlated with lymphoduct infiltration.To cover 95% of the microscopic extension,a margin of 5.0 cm is needed proximal to the base of gross tumor volume,and 7.5 cm distal to it.To cover 90% of the microscopic extension,a margin of 4.5 cm is needed proximally,and 5.0 cm distally.

OBJECTIVETo study the mechanism and significance of peripheral blood mononuclear cell (PBMC) of neonates infected with hepatitis B virus (HBV).

METHODSEighty-four HBsAg-positive and HBeAg-negative mothers and their newborns were recruited in this study. Sixteen hepatitis B virus markers (HBVM)-negative mothers and their neonates were served as control. All these cases had no symptoms of hepatitis, serious pregnancy complications and preexisting disease. Age, gestational age and the method of delivery were matched in two groups (P > 0.05). Five ml blood samples were taken from the peripheral vein of the pregnant women before delivery and from neonates within 24 hours after birth, before inoculation of HBV vaccine (HBVac). Serum and PBMC were isolated from 2 ml and 3 ml samples respectively. The sera, PBMC and the last supernatant of PBMC washing were stored at -80 degrees C. HBVM of neonates were detected by using enzyme linked immunosorbent assay (ELISA). HBV DNA in serum, PBMC and the last supernatant of PBMC washing of mothers and neonates were detected by using a nested-polymerase chain reaction (n-PCR). Two pairs of oligonucleotide primers, the outer primer pair for first PCR and inner primer pair for second PCR, designed according to region S of HBV genome were synthesized at Shanghai Cell Biology Institute of Chinese Academy of Sciences. The neonates who were HBV DNA positive in PBMC but HBsAg and HBV DNA negative in serum were followed up for one year, HBsAb in serum and HBV DNA in PBMC were observed in the neonates.

RESULTS(1) The positive rate of HBV DNA in 84 serum and PBMC of mothers were 53.57% and 40.48%, respectively (chi(2) = 2.891, P > 0.05). All the results were weakly positive. (2) Twenty-four (28.57%) newborns in the study group were infected, including 7 who were only HBV DNA positive in serum, 11 only HBV DNA positive in PBMC and 6 in both, all the results were weakly positive. HBsAg was negative in all the newborns. None of the neonates in control group was infected with HBV. There was significant difference between the two groups (chi(2) = 4.55, P < 0.05). (3) Of all the study cases, 11 (13.10%) neonates were HBV DNA weakly positive in PBMC but HBsAg and HBV DNA negative in serum. Of their mothers, 5 were only HBV DNA positive in serum, 2 only positive in PBMC and 4 positive in both serum and PBMC. Seven of the 11 neonates were followed up for one year and at the end of follow-up, 4 were HBsAb positive and HBV DNA negative in PBMC; 3 were HBsAb negative, and among the 3 cases HBV DNA in 2 was still positive in PBMC, HBsAg and HBV DNA in serum were negative in all the 7 neonates.

CONCLUSION(1) HBV DNA positivity either in serum or in PBMC in mothers can result in infection of PBMC with HBV in their neonates. (2) PBMC infection with HBV can exist for a long time in neonates while HBsAg and HBV DNA are negative in serum, and may result in vaccination failure in neonates.

Case-Control Studies ; DNA, Viral ; blood ; Female ; Hepatitis B ; diagnosis ; immunology ; Hepatitis B Vaccines ; administration & dosage ; Hepatitis B virus ; Humans ; Infant, Newborn ; Infectious Disease Transmission, Vertical ; Leukocytes, Mononuclear ; virology ; Pregnancy

OBJECTIVETo study the role of the HBV-infected mothers' PBMC in intrauterine transmission of HBV to their fetuses.

METHODSThirty pregnant women with serum HBV DNA negative and PBMC HBV DNA positive and their newborns were used as the study group. Ten pregnant women with serum HBV negative and their infants served as the control group. HBV DNA in serum and in PBMC was detected using nested polymerase chain reaction (n-PCR). The mothers' PBMC in newborns' peripheral blood was examined using heminested-PCR.

RESULTSFour newborns were serum HBV DNA positive and 8 newborns were HBV DNA positive in PBMC in the study group. Among them, 2 newborns were HBV DNA positive in both serum and PBMC, 6 cases were positive in PBMC only, and 2 cases were positive in serum only. Five mothers had the GSTM1 gene; and it was not detected in 3 newborns. Among the 8 newborns with HBV DNA positive in PBMC, 3 did not have the GSTM1 gene, at the same time their mothers possessed the GSTM1 gene. Mothers' PBMC were detected in all of these three newborns' peripheral blood. HBV DNA in serum and in PBMC of the control group infants were all negative.

CONCLUSIONHBV-infected PBMC of the mother may serve as a vector in HBV intrauterine infection.

Adult ; DNA, Viral ; analysis ; Female ; Hepatitis B virus ; isolation & purification ; Hepatitis B, Chronic ; blood ; transmission ; Humans ; Infant, Newborn ; Infectious Disease Transmission, Vertical ; Leukocytes, Mononuclear ; virology ; Pregnancy ; Pregnancy Complications, Infectious ; virology