Adult ; Heart Aneurysm ; congenital ; Heart Atria ; pathology ; Humans ; Male

OBJECTIVETo develop a safe and effective lentivirus vaccine model and provide insights into the development of other lentivirus vaccines.

METHODSIn this study, a construct of pGPT was made by deleting env gene in the infectious Equine infectious anemia virus (EIAV) molecular clone of WU57. Since the overlaping of EIAV Rev gene with env gene, there was no Rev gene in the construct of pGPT. For compensation of Rev function, the construct of pGPTC was made by inserting 4 copies of constitutive RNA transport elements (CTEs) from Mason-Pfizer monkey virus into the construct of pGPT. In addition, a construct designated pTEB expressing EIAV Env protein was made while env gene-minus viruses were made by co-transfection of pGPT/pTEB or pGPTC/pTEB into 293 cells. Western blot was used to identify the development of recombinant virus particles. Then immunofluorescence assay was used to evaluate the infectivity of recombinant virus particles in vitro.

RESULTSEIAV proteins expression was detected in the supernatant of transfected 293 cells by Western blot within pGPTC/pTEB transfected cells. However, no evidence of EIAV proteins expression was observed within pGPT/pTEB transfected cells. EIAV proteins expression was detected in the first round but not in the second round infected EK cells with EIAV(GPTC) by immunofluorescence assay.

CONCLUSIONRev/RRE was necessary for expression of viral structural proteins; CTEs from Mason-Pfizer monkey virus was functionally interchangeable with EIAV Rev/RRE to help RNAs transportation out of nucleus to express structural proteins and EIAV particles were produced in the transfected 293 cells. A live EIAV recombinant virus with single round infection had been developed.

Animals ; Blotting, Western ; Cells, Cultured ; Fluorescent Antibody Technique ; Genes, rev ; Haplorhini ; Horses ; Humans ; Infectious Anemia Virus, Equine ; genetics ; Lentivirus ; immunology ; Lentivirus Infections ; immunology ; prevention & control ; Mason-Pfizer monkey virus ; genetics ; Transfection ; Vaccines, Synthetic ; Viral Vaccines ; genetics ; immunology

Objective To investigate the relevant risk factors for fungal infection following operation of the gastrointestinal neo- plasm and offer supporting data for the prevention of fungal infection.Methods Medical records from 116 patients who under- went the operation of gastrointestinal neoplasm in the special group of this hospital from January 2006 to June 2006 were retro- spectively reviewed on the relevant risk factors by univariate and multivariate Logistic regression analysis.Results Of the 116 patients reviewed, 18 had fungal infection.Forty-six samples were positive for fungal pathogen.The most frequently isolated fungal strain was Candida albicans (15/20) and the most common infection site was gastrointestinal tract (14/18).Fungal in- fection after the operation of gastrointestinal neoplasm was significantly relevant with the duration of antibiotic use, duration of post-operative fasting, low serum albumin, high blood glucose and complication of bacterial infection.The duration of antibiotic use was a significantly independent risk factor.Conclusions Reasonable antibiotic use, nutritional support, early enteral nutri- tion and control of blood glucose should be taken into account after the operation of gastrointestinal neoplasm in order to prevent fungal infections.

OBJECTIVE: To construct the expressing vector of siRNA which can inhibit the Smad3 activity. METHODS: Sixty-four bases of 2 pair oligos for hairp in RNA expression which targeted Smad3 gene were chemically synthesized and annealed. pSUPER vector was linearized with BgL II and Hin d III treated with alkaline phosphatase (CIP). Anneled oligos were inserted into the downstream of the treated pSUPER's pol III H1 promoter to construct RNAi plasmid (pSUPER Smad3). Oligos with a scrambled sequence were used as a negative control. pSUPER Smad3 was transfected into human renal tubular epithelial cells (HKC). RESULTS: Recombinant pSUPER Smad3 vector was identified by the digestion with Eco R I and Hin d III, and confirmed by the sequencing analysis with T3 primer. Sixty-four bases had been inserted into the expected site. Furthermore, the insertion sequence was exactly corrected. The activity evaluation indicated that mRNA and protein of Smad3 but not Smad2 were inhibited by pSUPER Smad3 in HKC. CONCLUSION The pSUPER Smad3 system has been constructed successfully, and has high inhibition and specificity in vitro.
Epithelial Cells ; metabolism ; Humans ; Kidney Tubules ; cytology ; Plasmids ; RNA Interference ; RNA, Messenger ; genetics ; RNA, Small Interfering ; Smad3 Protein ; antagonists & inhibitors ; genetics ; Transfection

Objective To evaluate the risk of plague occurrence via surveying and analyzing indoor rat density and flea index in natural villages having previous plague experience. Methods During August to September 2007, 30 natural villages experiencing previous plague were selected based on the surveillance data, and then all households were coded with numbers and 20 households in each village were randomly selected via computer. Cages and sticky papers were set in 600 selected households to capture rats and fleas. Rat density, flea prevalence, flea index and median were estimated. Results One hundred thirty-three Rattus flavipectus and 33 Suncus murinus were caught and averaged rat density was 2.8 rats per one hundred cage. nights (166/6000), the median was 5 rats each village. One hundred and one mice infected fleas, flea prevalence on rats was 60.8% (101/166), 296 Xenopsylla cheopis and 48 Leptopsylla segnis were collected. Rat flea index was 2.1 fleas per rat (344/166). A total of 315 dissociated flea was caught, average dissociated flea index was 0.026 fleas per sticky paper (315/11888). The median was 5.5 dissociated fleas per village. Of dissociated fleas, Ctenocephalides felis felis (205) and Xenopsylla cheopis (103) accounted for 97.8% (308/315). The proportion for species of the rat flea and the dissociated flea was different(Fisher test: P < 0.01). The rat flea was significantly associated with the rat density(r = 0.68, P < 0.01), but the dissociated flea was significantly associated with neither the rat density(r = -yield than fried wheat batter(χ2 = 5.59, P < 0.05). Conclusions In these villages having previous plague experience of Lianghe County, Rattusflavipectus was dominant species of indoor rats, Xenopsylla cheopis and Ctenocephalides felis felis were dominant species of rat flea and dissociated flea, respectively. Mengsong, Bangdu, and Tangjiatun village had potential risk of plague emergence.

The 1H-NMR fingerprints of three different species tibetan medicine sea buckthorn were established by 1H-HMR metabolomics to find out different motablism which could provide a new method for the quality evaluation of sea buckthorn. The obtained free induction decay (FID) signal will be imported into MestReNova software and into divide segments. The data will be normalized and processed by principal component analysis and.partial least squares discriminant analysis to perform pattern recognition. The results showed that 25 metabolites belonging to different chemical types were detected from sea buckthorn,including flavonoids, triterpenoids, amino acids, carbohydrates, fatty acids, etc. PCA and PLS-DA analysis showed three different varietiest of sea buckthorn that can be clearly separated by the content of L-quebrachitol, malic acid and some unidentified sugars, which can be used as the differences metabolites of three species of sea buckthorn. 1H-NMR-based metabonomies method had a holistic characteristic with sample preparation and handling. The results of this study can offer an important reference for the species identification and quality control of sea buckthorn.
Hippophae ; metabolism ; Magnetic Resonance Spectroscopy ; methods ; Medicine, Tibetan Traditional ; Metabolomics

Objective To study on the effects of Huaweishu granule on cisplatin-induced Beagle dog vomiting models and its mechanism.Methods Cisplatin-induced Beagle dog vomiting models were adopted as research object.The changes of vomiting frequency,latency,serum motilin content in the medulla oblongata and ileum,5-HT and substance P content of these models after using Hua weishu Granule were observed.Results ① Latent period of vomiting of the model group was (60.8±37.1)min; while this period was (137.3± 53.4)min,(122.8 ± 50.7) min,(l16.8±44.6)min,in the Huawei-shu low,medium and high dose group respectively,all showing a statistic difference than the model group (P＜0.05).②Frequency of vomiting in the model group was (270.3±51.8),while this frequence was (111.5±45.0) and (149.5±26.8) in Huawei-shu low and medium dose group respectively; ③ serum motilin in the model group was (0.354±0.098)ng/ml,while serum motilin in Huawei-shu low,medium and high dose group was (0.230±0.074) ng/ml,(0.235± 0.071) ng/ml,and (0.245± 0.062)ng/ml respectively,all lower than the model group (P＜ 0.05).④ Medulla oblongata 5-HT in the model group was (2.028 ±0.198)ng/ml,while medulla oblongata 5-HT in Huawei-shu low,medium and high dose group was (1.620±0.329)ng/ml,(1.194±0.386)ng/ml,and (1.269 ± 0.251) ng/ml respectively,all were lower than the model group (P＜0.05); ileum 5-HT in the model group was (1.634± 0.221)ng/ml,while ileum 5-HT in Huawei-shu low,medium and high dose group was (1.108±0.291)ng/ml,(1.194±0.386)ng/ml,and (1.269 ± 0.251) ng/ml respectively,all were lower than the model group(P＜0.05) ;⑤ ileal substance P content of the model group was (0.356±0.063)ng/ml,while ildeal P content in Huawei-shu low dose group was (0.274±0.064)ng/ml,lower than the model group than(P＜0.05).The medullary substance P content was (0.432±0.021)ng/ml in the model group,while medullary P content in Huawei-shu low,medium and high dose group was (0.370±0.040) ng/ml,(0.385±0.029) ng/ml,and (0.386± 0.041)ng/ml respectively,all were lower than the model group(P＜0.05).Conclusion Huawei-shu granule can prevent cisplatin-induced Beagle vomiting.

Extended-spectrum beta-lactamases (ESBLs), mediated by plasmids, can hydrolyze and cause resistance to penicillins, broad spectrum-cephalosporins, and monobactams. Most ESBLs are derived from the widespread broad-spectrum beta-lactamases TEM-1 and SHV-1. There are also other families of ESBLs, including CTX-M and OXA-type enzymes as well as novel unrelated beta-lactamases. This article reviews recent advances in the classification, characteristics, and other molecular biological aspects of ESBLs.
Molecular Biology ; beta-Lactamases ; classification ; genetics

BACKGROUNDTissue Doppler imaging (TDI) has provided an objective means to quantify global and regional left ventricular (LV) and right ventricular (RV) function with improved accuracy and greater reproducibility than conventional echocardiography. This study was conducted to assess RV myocardial systolic activation by TDI in subjects with pulmonary arterial hypertension (PAH).

METHODSA total of 30 patients with PAH and 30 healthy volunteers, all comparable in age and sex, underwent standard Doppler echo and TDI. Using pulsed Doppler echocardiography combined with TDI, the following regional parameters were evaluated in three different myocardial segments (RV basal lateral wall, basal septal, and LV basal lateral) on apical 4-chamber view: systolic (Sm), early- and late-diastolic (Em and Am) peak velocities. RV myocardial systolic activation delay was defined as the difference in time to peak TDI systolic velocities between the RV basal lateral wall and basal septal. In addition, RV end-diastolic and end-systolic areas were measured to calculate RV fractional area change from the same apical 4-chamber view.

RESULTSCompared with the control group, patients with PAH showed increased RA and RV end-diastolic diameter (RA: (4.5 +/- 1.2) cm vs (3.0 +/- 0.8) cm, P < 0.05 and RV: (4.8 +/- 1.9) cm vs (3.4 +/- 0.5) cm, P < 0.05) and reduced RV fractional area change; (35 +/- 14)% vs (56 +/- 9)%, P < 0.05. These PAH patients showed lower myocardial peak velocities and a significant activation delay compared with controls (P < 0.05). Moreover, a strong correlation between RV myocardial systolic activation delay and RV fractional area change was shown in patients with pulmonary arterial hypertension (r = -0.82).

CONCLUSIONSIn PAH, RV myocardial systolic activation was markedly delayed, which was directly related to the RV fractional area change. RV myocardial systolic activation delay assessed by TDI could offer a unique approach to predict RV dysfunction.

Adolescent ; Adult ; Diastole ; Echocardiography, Doppler ; Female ; Humans ; Hypertension, Pulmonary ; physiopathology ; Male ; Middle Aged ; Systole ; Ventricular Dysfunction, Right ; etiology ; Ventricular Function, Right

OBJECTIVETo investigate the aortic elastic properties and its clinical significance in intracranial aneurysms (IAs).

METHODSOne hundred and seven IAs patients (57 with hypertension) and 108 healthy subjects were recruited. The internal aortic diameters in systole and diastole were measured by the M-mode echocardiography, the aortic elasticity indexes were calculated and compared.

RESULTSThe aortic distensibility (DIS) was lower and the aortic stiffness index (SI) was higher in IAs patients than those in controls (both P <0.001). DIS was lower and SI was higher in IAs patients with hypertension (IAs-HP) than those in IAs with no hypertension (P <0.001). Similar results were obtained when the aortic elasticity index were adjusted for body surface area and body mass index.

CONCLUSIONAbnormal aortic elasticity is a common finding in IAs patients and hypertension is closely related to the severity of aortic elasticity.

Adult ; Aged ; Aorta ; diagnostic imaging ; physiopathology ; Case-Control Studies ; Elasticity ; Female ; Humans ; Intracranial Aneurysm ; physiopathology ; Male ; Middle Aged ; Ultrasonography