Background Instability of tear film,increase of ocular surface temperature and tear evaporation are the associated factors of both bubbles and dry eye.But the relationship between dry eye and ocular surface bubbles is unclear.The bubbles are easily retained and checked in the inferior conjunctiva fornix.Objective This study aimed to study the relationship between dry eye and bubbles in the inferior conjunctiva fornix.Methods Sixty-four eyes of 32 patients with binocular irritative symptoms and bubbles or without bubbles in the inferior conjunctiva fornix were collected in Affiliated Tianyou Hospital of Wuhan University of Science and Technology from January to May,2012.The bubbles in the inferior conjunctiva fornix were examined by slit lamp microscope,and the break-up time (BUT) and Schirmer Ⅰ test (S Ⅰ t) were performed.The differences of BUT and S Ⅰ t between the two groups were compared using independent sample t test,and abnormality rate of examination indexes was statistical analyzed by CHI-Square test using a SPSS 11.5 software.Written informed consent was obtained prior to the clinical survey.Results In the 64 eyes of the bubbles group,incidence of dry eye was 75.00％,and the incidence of both BUT＜5 seconds and S Ⅰ t＜5 mm/5 minutes was 46.88％ ;while the incidence of BUT＜5 seconds or S Ⅰ t＜5 mm/5 minutes was 53.13％ and 57.81％,respectively.In 64 eyes without bubbles,incidence of dry eye was 31.25％,the incidence of both BUT＜5 seconds and S Ⅰ t＜5 mm/5 minutes was 18.75％,that of BUT＜5 seconds or S Ⅰ t＜5 mm/5 minutes was 21.88％ and 20.31％,respectively.The incidences of dry eye,both BUT＜5 seconds and S Ⅰ t＜5 mm/5 minutes,BUT ＜5 seconds,S Ⅰ t＜5 mm/5 minutes were significantly higher in the bubbles group than those of the without bubbles group (all at P=0.00).In the 68 eyes determined as dry eyes,48 eyes (48/68) were in the bubbles group and 20eyes (20/68) were in the without bubbles group,showing a significant difference between the two groups (x2 =24.60,P＜0.01).The incidences of both BUT＜5 seconds,S Ⅰ t＜5 mm/5 minutes were not significantly different between the two groups (x2 =0.01,P=0.95;x2 =1.06,P=0.30).Conclusions The bubbles in the inferior conjunctiva fornix is highly correlated with dry eye.

OBJECTIVEThis paper aims to develop a monoclonal antibodies (MAbs)- based ELISA for detecting Chlamydophila pneumoniae (C. pneumoniae) antigens in humans with the variable domains (VD) 2 and 3 of the major outer membrane protein (MOMPVD2-VD3) and to assess its sensitivity and specificity by comparing with a widely used MAb that is able to recognize the elementary bodies of C. pneumoniae.

METHODSMOMPVD2-VD3 were overexpressed in Escherichia coli and purified by affinity chromatography. Mice were immunized with the recombinant antigen, and hybridomas secreting MAbs were screened. Three stable hybridomas clones were selected and named 5D6, 7G3, and 8C9. The MAbs-based ELISA was scrutinized for species-specific recognition with a number of human throat swab samples from Group I (156 patients with typical respiratory illness clinically confirmed before) and Group II (57 healthy donors).

RESULTSIn Group I, 55 positive cases were detected by anti-EB MAb-based ELISA, 51 cases were positive by MAbs 5D6-based ELISA, and 33 and 38 cases were positive by MAb 8C9 and 7G3-based ELISA respectively. Of the 57 samples from Group II "healthy donors", 5 were positive and 52 were negative with both anti-EB and 5D6-based tests, while 2 and 3 positive cases were identified by the other two MAb-based ELISAs respectively.

CONCLUSIONThe novel MOMPVD2-VD3 MAb-based assay may have higher specificity than the anti-EB MAb, which may possibly be used as an alternative tool for the diagnosis of C. pneumoniae infection.

Animals ; Antibodies, Monoclonal ; Bacterial Outer Membrane Proteins ; immunology ; Chlamydophila Infections ; diagnosis ; microbiology ; Chlamydophila pneumoniae ; isolation & purification ; Enzyme-Linked Immunosorbent Assay ; methods ; Humans ; Mice ; Protein Structure, Tertiary

Spiramycin (SP) belongs to the 16-member macrolide antibiotics. It contains three components,namely SP I, SP II and SP III, which differ structurally in the acylation moieties on the C3 of the lactone. The SP I component contains a hydroxyl group at C3. SP II, and SP III are formed by further acetylation or propionylation of the C3 of SP I, by the same 3-O-acyltransferase (3-O-AT) . The study focused on simplifying spiramycin components. Theoretically, disruption/deletion of the 3-O-AT gene will reduce/stop the acylation of SP I to SP II and SP III. In this study, degenerated primers were designed according to the conserved regions of 3-O-acyltransferase, MdmB and AcyA in the medicamycin and carbomycin producers of S. mycarofaciens and S. thermotolerans, respectively, and an 878bp DNA fragment was amplified from the spiramycin-producer of S. spiramyceticus F21. Blast analysis of the 878bp DNA fragment suggested that it encoded the 3-O-acyltransferase (3-0-AT, sspA) gene for spiramycin biosynthesis. The flanking regions of this 878bp DNA fragment were then amplified by single-oligonucleotide-nested PCR, and a total of 4.3 kb DNA was obtained (3457nt among the 4.3kb fragment was sequenced, and deposited in GenBank DQ642742),covering the whole putative 3-O-acyltransferase gene, sspA. The sspA was then deleted from the S. spiramyceticus F21 genome by double cross-over homologous recombination, mediated by temperature-sensitive plasmid pKC1139. A comparison was done of the components of spiramycins produced by the sspA-deleted mutant strain with that of the parent strain by HPLC analysis, which showed that sspA-deleted mutant produced SP I (72%), SP II (18%), and SP III (9.6%), whereas parent strain produced SP I (7.8%), SP II (67%), and SP III (25%), respectively, demonstrating the role of ssp A in the acylation of SP I into SP II and SP III. The ssp A-deleted mutant strain obtained in this study may be used for the production of SP I, or may serve as a good starter for the construction of spiramycin derivatives.
Acyltransferases ; genetics ; Aminoglycosides ; biosynthesis ; Gene Deletion ; Genes, Bacterial ; genetics ; Genetic Engineering ; methods ; Streptomyces ; enzymology ; genetics

Background/Aims: Single-balloon enteroscopy (SBE) has been widely used in diagnosing small bowel disease. We conducted this study to systematically appraise its technical and clinical performance. Methods: Studies on SBE published by September 2018 were systematically searched. Technical and clinical performance data were collected and analyzed with descriptive or meta-analysis methods. Results: In total, 54 articles incorporating 4,592 patients (6,036 procedures) were included. Regarding technical parameters, the pooled insertion depths (IDs) for anterograde and retrograde SBE were 209.2 cm and 98.1 cm, respectively. The pooled retrograde ID in Asian countries was significantly greater than that in Western countries (129.0 cm vs 81.1 cm, p<0.001). The pooled anterograde and retrograde procedure times were 57.6 minutes and 65.1 minutes, respectively.The total enteroscopy rate was 21.9%, with no significant difference between Asian and Western countries. Clinically, the pooled diagnostic yield of SBE was 62.3%. Obscure gastrointestinal bleeding (OGIB) was the most common indication (50.0%), with a diagnostic yield of 59.5%. Vascular lesions were the most common findings in Western OGIB patients (76.9%) but not in Asian ones (31.0%). The rates of severe and mild adverse events were 0.5% and 2.5%, respectively. Conclusions SBE is technically efficient and is clinically effective and safe, but total enteroscopy is relatively difficult to achieve with this technique. Etiologies of OGIB in Asian countries differ from those in Western countries.

Objective:To summarize the experience of treatment for chronic pancreatitis by analyzing the clinical information of 10 533 patients with chronic pancreatitis admitted to First Affiliated Hospital of Naval Medical University (Changhai Hospital) in the past 28 years.Methods:Clinical data including the age, sex, place of birth, admission time, admission age, admission department, discharge time, hospitalization times and treatment methods of chronic pancreatitis patients admitted to Changhai Hospital from January 1995 to February 2022 were analyzed retrospectively. The changes of chronic pancreatitis patients′ admission, demographic characteristics and treatment mode were summarized.Results:A total of 10 533 patients were analyzed, including 7 443 males (70.66%) and 3 090 females (29.34%), and male to female ratio was 2.41∶1. The average age of admission was (45.7±15.0) years. In terms of geographical distribution, East China was the largest, followed by North China and Northwest China. 10 533 patients were admitted for 19 920 times, and there were 18 156 times (91.14%) in gastroenterology department and 1 452 times (7.29%) in general surgery department. Patients in gastroenterology department were admitted for (1.88±1.45) times and the average length of hospitalization was (10.33±5.63) days. A total of 14 134 endoscopic retrograde cholangiopancreatography [(1.45±1.41) times per patient] were performed among 8 022 patients, and 13 882 pancreatic extracorporeal shock wave lithotripsy [(2.22±0.36) times per patient] were performed among 6 629 patients. In general surgery department, patients were admitted for (1.03±0.16) times and the average length of hospitalization was (14.90±9.00) days. 1 242 patients underwent surgical treatment. The ratio of endoscopic therapy to surgery increased from 0.12∶1 in 1995 to 15.72∶1 in 2021.Conclusions:The study shows that chronic pancreatitis was more common in middle-aged males in China, and the treatment modes of chronic pancreatitis in Changhai Hospital had changed from surgery to endoscopic therapy.

Objective To delimit the natural infectious focus, including the distribution of wildlife,species, ecology of intermediate hosts and final host of Angiostrongylus cantonensis, as well as the routes of transmission and epidemiological characteristics and wildlife of human Angiostrongylus cantonensis, based on human diverging cases identified in Shenzhen, southern area of China. Methods Data including rate of infection and density of Angiostrongylus cantonensis among different hosts in 12 different areas in Shenzhen was collected, using microscope to inspect homogenate liquids of snails. Wild mice were captured with mouse cage to examine the adult Angiostrongylus cantonensis. Using larva isolated from wild-snails-infected rats to observe the life cycle of Angiostrongylus cantonensis. Results Wild life of Angiostrongylus cantonensis existed in the southwest part of Shenzhen with its majority intermediate hosts as Achatina fulica. The overall rate of infection was 31% in wildlife and final host was found to be Rattus andersoni, Achatina fulica which were extensively distributed in the shrub region of Shenzhen because of suitable climate,humidity and vegetation for generating the life cycle of Achatina fulica. Human infected Angiostrongylus cantonensis was mainly due to eating raw snails or vegetables contaminated by larva of Angiostrongylus cantonensis.The peak of infection was seen from April to November in Shenzhen area.Conclusion Wildlife of Angiostrongylus cantonensis existed in the southwest part of Shenzhen with major wildlife reservoir including fresh water snail and wild mouse. The existence of natural focus Angiostrongylus cantonensis was now recognized as an important source of human angiostrongliasis in Shenzhen area.

Objective: To investigate the expression and function of collagen type ⅩⅦ α1 (COL17α1) in aging mouse skin and its effect on the stemness and proliferation of human epidermal stem cells (ESCs), and to explore the mechanism of related microRNA (miR) in intervening the expression of COL17α1 of human ESC. Methods: The method of experimental research was used. Twelve 2-month-old (young) and twelve 24-month-old (aged) male C57BL/6J mice were selected, and full-thickness skin samples from their upper back were taken for follow-up detection. After hematoxylin-eosin staining of the full-thickness skin samples of young mice and aged mice, the structure of the epidermis was observed and the thickness of the epidermis was measured; the morphology of epidermal basement membrane and hemidesmosomes were observed by transmission electron microscopy, and the hemidesmosomes were counted; the mRNA and protein expressions of COL17α1 were detected by real-time fluorescent quantitative reverse transcription polymerase chain reaction (RT-PCR) and Western blotting respectively, and the protein expression and distribution of COL17α1 was observed and detected by immunofluorescence method. The fresh foreskin tissue discarded after surgery was obtained from 3 healthy men aged 20-30 years who underwent circumcision at the Fourth Medical Center of PLA General Hospital, ESCs were extracted and well-grown cells were wsed for follow-up experiments. According to the random number table (the same grouping method below), ESCs were divided into blank control group, transfection reagent control group, empty vector plasmid group, and COL17α1 knockdown plasmid group with corresponding treatment. After 48 hours of culture, the mRNA expression of COL17α1 was detected by real-time fluorescent quantitative RT-PCR, the protein expressions of COL17α1 and cytokeratin 14 (CK14) were detected by Western blotting, and the cell proliferation level was detected by cell counting kit 8. miRs that might act on the 3' non-coding region of COL17α1 mRNA were screened through DIANA, miRTarBase, miRNAMap, TargetScan, and microRNA databases. The ESCs were divided into negative control group transfected with miR mimic negative control and each miR mimic group transfected with each of the previously screened miR mimics. Forty-eight hours after transfection, the protein expression of COL17α1 was detected by Western blotting. Based on the sequencing data set GSE114006 in Gene Expression Omnibus (GEO), the GEO2R tool was used to statistically analyze the expression of the previously screened miRs that could cause the reduction of COL17α1 protein expression in the skin of 30 young (18-25 years old) and 30 elderly (>70 years old) human skins. The full-thickness skin samples of young mice and aged mice were taken, and the expressions of increased miRs in the aforementioned aged human skin were detected by real-time fluorescent quantitative RT-PCR. Two batches of human ESCs were taken, the first batch was divided into COL17α1 wild type+miR-203b-3p negative control group and COL17α1 wild type+miR-203b-3p mimic group, and the second batch was divided into COL17α1 mutant+miR-203b-3p negative control group and COL17α1 mutant+miR-203b-3p mimic group. Each group of ESC was transfected with corresponding sequences respectively. Forty-eight hours later, the luciferase reporter gene detection kit was used to detect the gene expression level of COL17α1. The number of samples in the tissue experiment was 6, and the number of samples in the cell experiment was 3. Data were statistically analyzed with independent sample t test, one-way analysis of variance, least significant difference test or Dunnett's test, Mann-Whitney U test or Kruskal-Wallis H test. Results: Compared with those of young mice, the boundary between the epidermis and the dermis of the aged mice skin was blurred and the cell layers were less, and the thickness of epidermis was significantly thinner (Z=-2.88, P<0.01); the morphology of basement membrane was discontinuous, with less unevenly distributed hemidesmosomes at the epidermis-dermis junction, and the number of hemidesmosomes was significantly reduced (Z=-2.91, P<0.01); the mRNA and protein expression levels of COL17α1 in the skin of aged mice were significantly decreased (with t values of 10.61 and 6.85, respectively, P<0.01). Compared with those of young mice, the protein expression of COL17α1 in the basal layer of epidermis and the bulb of hair follicle in the skin of aged mice was significantly decreased (Z=-2.24, P<0.05). After 48 hours of culture, the protein expression levels of COL17α1 in ESCs of blank control group, transfection reagent control group, empty vector plasmid group, and COL17α1 knockdown plasmid group were 1.00±0.27, 1.12±0.21, 1.13±0.23, and 0.42±0.18, respectively. Compared with those of blank control group, the mRNA and protein expression levels of COL17α1, the protein expression level of CK14, and the proliferation level of ESCs in transfection reagent control group and empty vector plasmid group did not change significantly (P>0.05), while these indexes in COL17α1 knockdown plasmid group were significantly decreased (P<0.05 or P<0.01). miR-203a-3p, miR-203b-3p, miR-512-5p, miR-124-3p, miR-28-5p, miR-590-3p, and miR-329-5p might bind to the 3' non-coding region of COL17α1 mRNA. Forty-eight hours after transfection, compared with 1.000±0.224 in negative control group, the protein expression level of COL17α1 in ESCs of miR-329-5p mimic group, miR-203b-3p mimic group, and miR-203a-3p mimic group decreased significantly (0.516±0.188, 0.170±0.025, and 0.235±0.025, with t values of 3.17, 5.43, and 5.07, respectively, P<0.05 or P<0.01). Only the expression level of miR-203b-3p in the skin of the elderly was significantly higher than that of the young (t=3.27, P<0.01). The expression level of miR-203b-3p in the skin of aged mice was significantly higher than that of young mice (Z=-2.88, P<0.01). Forty-eight hours after transfection, the gene expression level of COL17α1 in ESCs of COL17α1 wild type+miR-203b-3p mimic group was significantly lower than that of COL17α1 wild type+miR-203b-3p negative control group (t=7.66, P<0.01). The gene expression level of COL17α1 in ESCs of COL17α1 mutant+miR-203b-3p mimic group was similar to that of COL17α1 mutant+miR-203b-3p negative control group (P>0.05). Conclusions: The mRNA and protein expression levels of COL17α1 decrease with age increasing in mice, which may lead to the detachment of mouse ESC from the epidermal basement membrane. Decreased expression of COL17α1 can inhibit the expression of CK14 and ESC proliferation, which may be responsible for the thinning of the epidermis and slower wound healing in aged human skin. The increased expression of miR-203b-3p in aged mouse skin can target and bind to the 3' non-coding region of COL17α1 mRNA, hindering the post-transcriptional translation process, thus resulting in decreased COL17α1 protein expression.
Adolescent ; Adult ; Aged ; Animals ; Autoantigens ; Humans ; Keratin-14 ; Male ; Mice ; Mice, Inbred C57BL ; MicroRNAs/genetics* ; Non-Fibrillar Collagens/pharmacology* ; Polyesters ; RNA, Messenger ; Skin Aging ; Stem Cells ; Young Adult

Objective:According to the GB/T 15000.3-2008， to develop a fucosterol certified reference material based on the project approved by Standardization Administration. Method:Fucosterol was isolated from Laminaria japonica dried thallus via 95% ethanol extraction， vacuum concentration， repeated column chromatography separation， recrystallization in petroleum ether-ethyl acetate， and residual solvent removal. Its chemical structure was identified by elemental analysis （EA）， infrared spectrum （IR）， mass spectrometry （MS）， nuclear magnetic resonance （NMR） and X-ray diffraction （XRD）. Its homogeneity， stability， and cooperative certification conducted by 8 laboratories were carried out by high performance liquid chromatography with evaporative light scattering detector. Result:For the fucosterol reference material， the certified value of purity was 99.54% with expanded uncertainty of 0.16% in confidence interval of 95%， the stability was good within 24 months storage period at 2-4 ℃， which met the technical requirements of reference material and passed the acceptance organized by Standardization Administration. Conclusion:The national standard materials of fucosterol has been successfully developed， which can be used for the determination of this component， the evaluation of detection methods， and the detection and quality control of related products.