Hepatitis C virus (HCV) accounts for the majority of cases of transfusion acquired hepatitis and may cause chronic hepatitis, cirrhosis and hepatocellular carcinoma. Currently, there is no vaccine against HCV and treatment is expensive and not always effective.The adaptive host immune response in viral clearance of HCV infection was described and the recent progress in vaccine development of HCV, focusing on the fields of DNA vaccine candidates, recombinant viral vectored vaccine candidates and combined (prime-boost) vaccine candidates were summarized. Some challenges and limitations of developing a HCV vaccine were also analysed. In summary, a promising approach of developing an experimental HCV vaccine to induce extremely potent and broad T-cell responses based on prime-boost strategy was presented.

Objective To investigate the quality of life and its influencing factors of families primary caregivers of dementia patients .Methods The typically self made questionnaire ,WHO quality of life measurement profile (WHOQOL‐BREF) ,zarit bur‐den of care scale(ZBI) ,social support rating scale (SSRS) et al were adopted to investigate 64 caregivers of AD patients .Results (1) The overall quality of life of family caregivers of total subjective feelings were significantly lower than the general health status of subjective feeling score (t= -2 .217 ,P=0 .030) .The field of physiological and psychology points have no statistically significant difference in comparison with Chinese norm (t= -0 .252 ,-1 .994 ,P=0 .801 ,0 .050);the field of social and environment points have statistically significant difference compared with norm(t= -3 .830 ,3 .658 ,P=0 .000 ,0 .001) .(2) caregiver who have spouse , poor parent child relationship and patients with somatic diseases and mental behavior symptoms have lower quality of life(P<0 .05) .(3)Total score of Quality of life was negatively associated with total score of care burden (r= -0 .433 ,P=0 .000) ,while was significant positive associated with total score of the social support (r=0 .346 ,P=0 .005) .(4)Marital status ,parent‐child rela‐tionship ,physical illness and social support were the main factors affecting the quality of life(r2 =0 .409) .Conclusion Strengthen the social support and psychological intervention of dementia caregivers who has a spouse ,poor parent-child relationship and poor physical condition may help to improve the quality of life .

Objective To analysis the etiology and molecular classification of brucella strains isolated in Guangdong province in 2010.Methods The strains of 19 brucella were verified and identified by some methods including traditional biology phenotype confirmation,PCR amplification and pulsed field gel electrophoresis (PFGE).Results On phenotype level,4 strains were brucella melitensis biovar 1,2 strains were brucella suis biovar 3,and the rest were brucella melitensis biovar 3,which were specific B genes positive strains,and the PFGE typing similar values ranging from 67.9％ to 100％.In addition to the four strains from Zhuhai for the outbreak,the homology was 100％,and the rest were sporadic cases.Conclusions Brucella cases,in Guangdong province,are highly sporadic and dispersed outbreaks.Compared with a few years ago,it shows species diversification,and brucella melitensis biovar 3 is still the dominant serotype.PFGE can be used to distinguish the three species of brucella,but it can't effectively distinguish the allotypes.

Objective To identify the epidemiological features of COVID-19 epidemic in Chenzhou City, Hunan province so as to provide scientific evidence for effective containment of the COVID-19 epidemic. Methods Descriptive epidemiological method was used to retrospectively characterize the confirmed COVID-19 cases and asymptomatic cases in Chenzhou City from January 23 through March 10, 2020. Results A total of 39 confirmed COVID-19 cases and 6 asymptomatic cases infection were documented in the city, with no death.We identified 8 clusters of COVID-19, which were all familial transmission.There was statistical difference between the sources of different types of epidemic (χ²=15.996, P < 0.001), in which all the local COVID-19 cases were the secondary cases in the clusters.As the epidemic expanded, the trend shifted from imported-case-centered to local-case-centered.The epidemic has covered 81.81% of the city area; in each area, the first COVID-19 cases were all imported. Conclusion The COVID-19 epidemic has been effectively controlled.At present, we focus on the quarantine in the entry and exit to prevent the imported epidemic.

OBJECTIVETo investigate the effect of bicyclol on vascular oxidative stress injury induced by superoxide anion.

METHODSRat thoracic aortic rings were isolated for isometric tension recording using organ bath technique. Superoxide arterial injury was induced by pyrogallol exposure, and the effect of bicyclol on endothelium-dependent relaxation was evaluated.

RESULTSBicyclol (10(-8) - 10(-5) mol/L) relaxed endothelium-intact aortic rings precontracted by phenylephrine. This effect was abolished by L-NAME, an inhibitor of nitric oxide synthase and indomethacin, an inhibitor of cyclooxygenase. Exposure to pyrogallol (500 micromol/L) resulted in decrease of acetylcholine(ACh)-induced endothelium-dependent relaxation in aortic rings, and pre-incubation of bicyclol (10(-5) mol/L) for 45 min improved the relaxation attenuated by pyrogallol. In aortic rings pre-treated with indomethacin, bicyclol increased the ACh-induced relaxation that was inhibited by pyrogallol (500 micromol/L). This effect was not found in aortic rings pre-treated with L-NAME.

CONCLUSIONBicyclol has endothelium-dependent vasodilating effect on rat thoracic aorta and improves vascular function by attenuating oxidative stress. Nitric oxide from endothelium is involved in the anti-oxidative effect of bicyclol.

Animals ; Antioxidants ; pharmacology ; Aorta, Thoracic ; metabolism ; physiology ; Biphenyl Compounds ; pharmacology ; Endothelium, Vascular ; physiology ; In Vitro Techniques ; Male ; Oxidative Stress ; drug effects ; Pyrogallol ; pharmacology ; Rats ; Rats, Sprague-Dawley ; Superoxides ; pharmacology ; Vasodilation ; drug effects ; physiology

OBJECTIVETo investigate the risk factors in postoperative cognitive dysfunction (POCD) induced by patient self-controlled intravenous analgesia (PCIA).

METHODSA case-control study included 103 patients with POCD(P group), assessed by Mini-Mental-State test and 103 cognitive normal controls (NP group). The cases and controls were matched for age, gender,history of operation and PCIA volume dose. The relationship between POCD and various factors was analyzed by univariate and multivariate analysis. Spss 11.5 of statistical software was used for data analysis.

RESULTSData from univariate analysis showed that the history of cerebral trauma, education level and VAS score had significant differences between P group and NP group. Multivariate analysis conformed that the history of cerebral trauma, VAS score and education level were significantly related to POCD induced by PCIA and their ORs (95% CI) were 4.261 (1.344-13.508), 2.364 (1.209-4.624), 0.312 (0.170-0.573) respectively.

CONCLUSIONPatient's history of cerebral trauma and low VAS score were independent risk factors of POCD induced by PCIA and high education level seemed to be a protective factor.

Aged ; Analgesia, Patient-Controlled ; adverse effects ; Case-Control Studies ; Cognition Disorders ; etiology ; Female ; Humans ; Male ; Middle Aged ; Postoperative Complications ; etiology ; Risk Factors

OBJECTIVEThis study examined whether the two polymorphisms of GPX1 (198Pro--> Leu) and TXNRD2 (370Lys-->Arg) contributed alone or in combination, to the risk of gastric cancer development.

METHODSA total of 361 patients with gastric cancer and 363 cancer-free controls were recruited and their genotypes of the two polymorphisms were determined by polymerase chain reaction-based restrictive fragment length polymorphism (PCR-RFLP) method. Odds ratio (OR) and 95% confidence interval (CI) were computed using unconditional logistic regression model.

RESULTSGPX1 and TXNRD2 polymorphisms individually were not associated with the risk of gastric cancer. Gene-gene interaction of GPX1 and TXNRD2 polymorphisms decreased the risk of gastric cancer. Carrying the protective genotype might decrease the risk at 62% (OR = 0.38, 95% CI = 0.26-0.55, P < 0.001) as compared with the risk genotype.

CONCLUSIONThe GPX1 198 Pro/Pro and TXNRD2 370Arg/Arg genotypes might be associated with the genetic susceptibility of gastric cancer.

Alleles ; Case-Control Studies ; Female ; Gene Frequency ; Genetic Predisposition to Disease ; Genotype ; Glutathione Peroxidase ; genetics ; Humans ; Male ; Middle Aged ; Polymorphism, Single Nucleotide ; Stomach Neoplasms ; genetics ; Thioredoxin Reductase 2 ; genetics

Recombinant adeno-associated viruses (rAAV) vectors have been shown to mediate long-term transgene expression in mice and nonhuman primates. We have adapted viral vector system based on two rAAV vectors, namely rAAV1 and rAAV2. We have generated rAAV vectors expressing the envelope glycoprotein (E1 and E2) derived from Chinese HCV patient (genotype 1b) and used these to immunize BALB/c mice. We detected the total antibody titer by IFA and neutralizing antibody (nAb) using in vitro HCV neutralizing assays based on HCV pseudotyped particles. Furthermore, IFN-gamma ELISpot assay was used to assess the T cellular response against HCV at 12 weeks after rAAV1-E1E2 immunization. We also analyzed HCV envelope glycoprotein expression in muscle of rAAV1-E1E2 immunized mice. Our data showed: (i) rAAV1 directed long-term expression of HCV genes in mice; (ii) immunized intramuscularly with a single dose of rAAV elicited durable and effective immune responses in mice; and (iii) Moreover, rAAV1-E1E2 induced higher total antibody and nAb titers than rAAV2-E1E2 did. These data suggest that rAAV1 vectors could stimulate robust, durable, and effective immune responses against HCV.
Animals ; Antibodies, Viral ; blood ; Dependovirus ; genetics ; metabolism ; Female ; Genetic Vectors ; genetics ; metabolism ; Hepacivirus ; genetics ; immunology ; Hepatitis C ; immunology ; virology ; Humans ; Mice ; Mice, Inbred BALB C ; Vaccines, DNA ; administration & dosage ; genetics ; immunology ; Viral Envelope Proteins ; administration & dosage ; genetics ; immunology ; Viral Vaccines ; administration & dosage ; genetics ; immunology

In this study, three expression vectors encoding unmodified glycoproteins E1 and E2 from H77 (1a), Hebei (1b) and JFH1 (2a) strains were constructed to form pVRC-H77-E1E2, pVRC-HeBei-E1E2 and pVRC-JFH1-E1E2 expressing constructs. The protein expression was confirmed by immunofluorescene assay(IFA) and Western blot. The Lentiviral vector has the ability to package the cellular membrane into pseudo-particles. The plasmid expressing HCV E1-E2 glycoproteins in native form was co-transfected into 293FT cells with a lentiviral packaging plasmid (pHR'CMV delta R8.2)and a self-inactivated (SIN) transfer plasmid (pCS-CG) containing a reporter EGFP gene to produce infectious HCV pseudo-particles(pp). Flow cytometry assays showed that the HCVpp could infect Huh7 and Huh7-CD81, and the infectivity in Huh7-CD81 was about 2-3 times higher than that in Huh7 cells. Meanwhile, HCVpp could neither infect non-liver cells, for example, the 293 cells, nor HepG2 cell . Titration of HCVpp by p24 ELISA assay or infection assay showed that this HCVpp may contain 5-25 ng/mL p24 or 10(4)-10(5) TU (transducing unit)/ ml. An in vitro HCV neutralizing assays based on HCVpp (1a, 1b, 2a) were then established using AP33, a monoclone antibody with cross-neutralizing ability to different HCV strains. The neutralizing ability of the antibodies from HCV infected patients was further studied with this HCVpp system. In summary, three kinds of HCVpp (1a, 1b, 2a subtype) were successfully developed; In vitro HCV neutralizing assays based on HCVpp and SIN lentiviral system were established. This system paves a way for characterization of early steps of HCV infection (host tropisms, receptor binding, membrane fusion, et al. ) or screening anti-HCV drugs (such as inhibitor to virus entry). This system can be further applied to assess the human immune responses in HCV patients or evaluate HCV vaccine candidates.
Hepacivirus ; immunology ; Hepatitis C Antibodies ; immunology ; Hepatitis C, Chronic ; immunology ; Humans ; Neutralization Tests ; Viral Envelope Proteins ; immunology ; Virion ; immunology

OBJECTIVETo compare the effects of different doses of microwave on the proliferative activity and cell cycle of cultured epithelial cells of rabbit lens, and to investigate the limit tolerant of microwave exposure.

METHODSCultured epithelial cells of rabbit lens were exposed to microwave radiation with frequency of 2,450 MHz and power density of 0.10, 0.25, 0.50, 1.00, 2.00 mW/cm(2) for 8 h in vitro. HE staining was used to observe the morphological changes of lens epithelial cells, the proliferative activity and cell cycle were measured by MTT assay and PI fluorescent staining.

RESULTS8 h after radiation, 0.50, 1.00 and 2.00 mW/cm(2) microwave could decrease the proliferation of lens epithelial cells, make the cells disordered arrangement, shrinkage, detachment, and inhibit the synthesis of cell DNA. The percentage of G(0)/G(1) phase cells were 71.95% +/- 2.12%, 75.68% +/- 3.35% and 82.40% +/- 8.68% respectively, which were higher than that in control group (61.68% +/- 5.76%, P < 0.05 or P < 0.01). The percentage of S phase cells were 19.32% +/- 3.07%, 16.08% +/- 4.91% and 12.98% +/- 8.08% respectively, which were lower than that in control group (28.05% +/- 5.12%, P < 0.05 or P < 0.01). No obvious changes could be detected in 0.10, 0.25 mW/cm(2) microwave groups (P > 0.05).

CONCLUSIONMicrowave exceeding 0.50 mW/cm(2) may make injury to lens epithelial cells after 8 hour radiation, which may be related to the effect of microwave radiation on cell cycle.

Animals ; Cell Cycle ; radiation effects ; Cells, Cultured ; DNA ; metabolism ; Epithelial Cells ; cytology ; metabolism ; radiation effects ; Lens, Crystalline ; cytology ; metabolism ; radiation effects ; Microwaves ; Rabbits