Objective To provide experimental evidences for developing a safe and effective re- combinant fowlpox virus which can prevent the infection of HIV-2.Methods A fowlpox virus(FPV) transferring vector was constructed by inserting HIV-2 gag gene to the downstream of a synthetic complex promoter ATI-p7.5?20 of vector pUTA2.Transfection was then carried out,and recombi- nant FPV(rFPV)was screened by 5'-bromo-deoxyuridine(BrdU),genome PCR and western blot detection.Balb/c mice were immunized with rFPV by muscular injection.Anti-HIV-2 antibody, CD4~+ and CD8~+ T-cell count and specific target-killing activity of spleen CTL in immunized mice were analyzed by ELISA,FACS and LDH release assay,respectively.Results A transferring vector pA- gag was constructed and confirmed by amplifying a fragment of 766 bp from the rFPV genome.Mean- while,HIV-2 multi-antibody-specific protein blot(55 000)was detected from the recombinant virus and the HIV-2 specific antibody was detected from the immunized Balb/c mice.HIV-2 specific target- killing activity of spleen CTL was observed in immunized mice.Conclusion A recombinant fowlpox virus expressing HIV-2 structural protein Gag has been obtained,and it can stimulate HIV-2-specific eelluar and humoral immune reactions in mice.

Objective Insulin autoantibody (IAA) is known to exist in sera of type 1 diabetes mellitus (T1DM) patients and pre-T1DM individuals. The aim of this study was to establish a novel microtiter plate radioimmunoassay (RIA) for IAA and evaluate its clinical value. Methods Diluted 125Ⅰ-insulin was mixed with 5 ul serum samples in a 96-well microtiter plate and then incubated for 72 h on an orbital plate shaker (4℃). The immunocomplexes were transferred to another protein a coated Millipore plate, and then the plate was washed with Tri-Buffered Saline Tween-20 (TBT) buffer. Counts per minute (CPM) was measured with liquid scintillation and luminescence counter. The positive cut-off point of IAA index was defined as ≥0.06 based on the 99-percentile of the distribution in 317 healthy individuals. The specificity and sensitivity of the assay were calculated from the samples provided by the fourth Diabetes Autoantibodies Standardization Program (DASP 2005). The IAA levels were determined in 71 T1 DM and 551 newly diagnosed type 2 diabetes (T2DM) patients, and 317 healthy controls. The t test, non-parametric test, x2 test and linear correlation analysis were performed on the data using SPSS 11.5 software. The concordance rate was estimated with Kappa value. Results (1) The optimized testing condition was described as 2×104 CPM of 125Ⅰ-insulin, 5 ul serum sample and slowly horizontal shaking for 72 h. (2) The intra-assay CV was 4.8%-8.9% and inter-assay CV was 6.4%-10.5%. Based on DASP 2005 samples, the specificity and sensitivity of the assay were 97% (97/100) and 50% (25/50), respectively. Ninety-six serum samples with different IAA levels were selected and tested to compare between our new method and a domestic IAA RIA kit. The results showed that the IAA indices from the two methods were positively correlated (r= 0.678, P<0.001). The concordance rate was 72.9 %(Kappa value=0.402). There were 25 samples with discordant results, which were positive for IAA titer using the corresponding microtiter plate RIA but negative using the novel RIA kit. (3) In TIDM group the positive rate of IAA was 19.7% (16/71), higher than the healthy controls (0.9%, x2=54.36, P<0.001). The subgroup of T1DM children (with 0-9 years) showed the highest IAA positive rate (55.6% ,x2=4.85, P<0.05). In T2DM group the frequency of IAA was 1.5% (8/551), which had no significant difference comparing with that of healthy controls (x2= 0.95, P >0.05). Conclusions Our proposed microtiter plate RIA method for IAA is highly sensitive and specific, likely to be feasible for clinical application. The frequency of IAA is high in children with T1DM.

This study was to investigate the chemical constituents of the aerial part of Zygophyllumfabago, by phytochemical methods. The compounds were isolated by silica gel and Sephadex LH-20 column chromatographies from the EtOAc extract. Their structures were characterized by various spectroscopic data (1H-NMR, 13C-NMR, MS) and comparison with the literature. As a result, thirteen compounds were isolated and their structures were identified as 1-hydroxyhinesol(1), hinesol(2), atractylenolactam(3), beta-eudesmol (4), 5alpha-hydroperoxy-beta-eudesmol(5), 12-hydroxy-valenc-1(10)-en-2-one(6), pubinernoid A(7), (6S,7E)-6-hydroxy-4,7-megastigmadien-3,9-dione(8), 3-hydroxy-5alpha, 6alpha-epoxy-beta-ionone (9), (3S,5R, 6S, 7E)-3, 5, 6-trihydroxy-7-megastigmen-9-one(10), (6R,7E,9R)-9-hydroxy-4,7-megastigmadien-3-one(11), (S)-3-hydroxy-beta-ionone(12), and blumenol A(13). Compounds 1-7 were sesquiterpenoids and 8-13 were megastigmane type norsesquiterpenoids. All the compounds were obtained from Z. fabago for the first time, and compound 1 was a new natural product.
Drugs, Chinese Herbal ; chemistry ; isolation & purification ; Molecular Structure ; Spectrometry, Mass, Electrospray Ionization ; Terpenes ; chemistry ; isolation & purification ; Zygophyllum ; chemistry

Objective To investigate the value and dynamic characteristics of diffusion-weighted imaging(DWI)in rabbit liver VX_2 tumor model,with correlation of pathology.Methods Forty New Zealand rabbits were included in the study and VX_2 tumor piece was implanted directly into the liver after laporotomy.Fiffteen had two intrahepatic implants while twenty-five had one implant.DWI was performed on the seventh,fourteenth and twenty-first day after implantation,while routine T_1WI and T_2WI sequences were done on the seventh and fourteenth day.Ten VX_2 tumor samples were studied by pathology.Results The lump detection rates on the seventh day after implantation of DWI,T_1WI and T_2WI were 78.7%(37/47), 10.7%(3/28)and 53.6%(15/28)respectively with statistical significance(x~2=32.61,P

OBJECTIVETo investigate the role of sulfated tyrosine in regulating the activity of tyrosylprotein sulfotransferases (TPST) 1 and TPST2.

METHODSConstructs of TPST 1 and TPST2 were amplified by polymerase chain reaction (PCR), then fused into immunoglobulin G1 Fc region. All the variants in which sulfated tyrosines were mutated to phenylalanine were made by the PCR-based Quick Change method and confirmed by sequencing the entire reading frame. Small hairpin RNA (shRNA) constructs-targeting nucleotides 259-275 of TPST1 and nucleotides 73-94 of TPST2 were generated and subcloned into pBluescript. Human embryonic kidney (HEK) 293T cells were transfected with these plasmids. One day later, cells were split: one part was labeled with 35S-cysteine and methionine or 35S-Na2SO3 overnight, the second part was used for 125I labeled binding experiment, and the third part was retained for binding and flow cytometry.

RESULTSTyrosines at position 326 of TPST1 and position 325 of TPST2 were sulfated posttranslationally. Tyrosine sulfation of TPSTs was effectively inhibited by sulfation inhibitors, including specific shRNAs and non-specific NaCIO3. shRNAs reduced the sulfation of C3a receptor and C5a receptor, and partially blocked the binding of these two receptors to their respective ligands.

CONCLUSIONSThe activities of TPSTs were regulated by tyrosine sulfation. Inhibition of sulfotyrosine decreases the binding ability of C3a receptor and C5a receptor to their respective ligands.

Cell Line ; Complement C3a ; metabolism ; Complement C5a ; metabolism ; Humans ; Protein Binding ; Protein Processing, Post-Translational ; Receptor, Anaphylatoxin C5a ; metabolism ; Receptors, Complement ; metabolism ; Sulfotransferases ; genetics ; metabolism ; Transfection ; Tyrosine ; analogs & derivatives ; metabolism

To solve the issues of costly planting of facility cultivation method and inferior efficacy than wild herbs of Dendrobium officinale, the cliff epiphytic cultivation method was studied. To research the growth, agronomic traits, yield, polysaccharide and alcohol-soluble extract contents were measured on the D. officinale from different water regulation and cliff slope gradients treatments. The results showed that D. officinale epiphytic at 85 degrees-90 degrees cliff and sprayed water 1-2 h x d(-1) at the growing season can get better growth and obtain high yield, and the morphology has no different from wild cliff D. officinale, even in the environments without shade. The contents of polysaccharide and alcohol-soluble extract are closely related to the physiological ages, but significantly higher than the facility cultivation. It is possible that environmental stresses benefit the accumulation of polysaccharides, alcohol-soluble extract and other efficient ingredients.
Agriculture ; methods ; Dendrobium ; chemistry ; growth & development ; Drugs, Chinese Herbal ; analysis ; Polysaccharides ; analysis ; Water ; analysis

OBJECTIVETo identify the distribution and differentiation of ABL kinase domain mutation in the Chinese Han nationality imatinib resistant chronic myeloid leukemia (CML) and Philadelphia chromosome-positive acute lymphoblastic leukemia (Ph(+)ALL).

METHODSBone marrow or peripheral blood samples of 112 imatinib resistant CML patients and 21 Ph(+)ALL patients were obtained from the first affiliated hospital of Soochow university according to local law. Total RNA was extracted from the mononuclear cells using a TRIzol reagent. ABL kinase domain (KD) mutation was detected by direct sequencing.

RESULTSOf the 112 imatinib resistant CML patients, 54.46%(61 cases) had ABL KD mutation. Twenty-three mutants were identified in 20 amino acid sites and 23.21% (26 cases) ABL KD mutations were in P-loop region. ABL KD mutations were also detected in 71.43% (15 cases) imatinib resistant Ph(+)ALL patients, with 10 mutations in 8 amino acid sites. The most frequent mutation was T315I (28.57%), followed by E255K/V (19.05%) and Y253F/H (14.29%). The frequency of T315I was much higher in imatinib resistant Ph(+) ALL than that in imatinib resistant CML (P = 0.001). Ph(+)ALL with additional chromosomal aberrations also had a higher rate of ABL KD mutation than that of CML (P = 0.010). Ph(+)ALL gained ABL KD mutation faster than CML (P < 0.010).

CONCLUSIONChinese imatinib resistant CML and Ph(+)ALL patients had different characteristics in ABL KD mutation. The rate of ABL KD mutation in Ph(+)ALL with additional chromosomal aberrations was much higher than that of CML with additional chromosomal aberrations.

Adolescent ; Adult ; Aged ; Asian Continental Ancestry Group ; genetics ; Benzamides ; pharmacology ; Chromosome Aberrations ; Drug Resistance, Neoplasm ; genetics ; Female ; Humans ; Imatinib Mesylate ; Leukemia, Myelogenous, Chronic, BCR-ABL Positive ; genetics ; Middle Aged ; Mutation ; Philadelphia Chromosome ; Piperazines ; pharmacology ; Precursor Cell Lymphoblastic Leukemia-Lymphoma ; genetics ; Protein-Tyrosine Kinases ; genetics ; Proto-Oncogene Proteins c-abl ; genetics ; Pyrimidines ; pharmacology ; Young Adult

OBJECTIVETo obtain a series of objective criteria associated with pharyngeal swallowing function using dynamic swallow study in Chinese adults.

METHODSDynamic videofluoroscopic swallow studies were performed on 80 normal adult volunteers. There were 40 males and 40 females aged from 20 to 60 years old. Measurement software Avidemux 2.5 and Image J were used to measure the objective parameters which were closely related to the pharyngeal swallowing function in the swallowing process, such as maximum displacement of the hyoid bone (HmaxD), pharyngeal transit time (PTT), pharyngeal constriction ratio(PCR), and maximum opening of the esophageal entrance (EEmax).

RESULTSIn the 80 adults, the HmaxD, PTT, PCR, and EEmax were (1.91 ± 0.48) cm (x(-) ± s), (0.82 ± 0.15) s, 94.9% ± 3.41%, and (0.91 ± 0.05) cm respectively. The HmaxD of the male (2.04 ± 0.46) cm was significantly larger than that of the female (1.78 ± 0.47) cm (t = 2.44, P = 0.017), but the PTT, PCR, and EEmax had no significant difference between different gender and age groups (P > 0.05).

CONCLUSIONSObjective parameters of the HmaxD, PTT, PCR, and EEmax during swallowing are obtained in Chinese adults. These data are important for assessment of the swallow function and these data provide a foundation for further research on assessment of swallowing function in Chinese.

Adult ; Deglutition ; physiology ; Female ; Healthy Volunteers ; Humans ; Larynx ; physiology ; Male ; Middle Aged ; Pharynx ; physiology ; Reference Values ; Young Adult

OBJECTIVETo study the methods of surgery for hepatocellular carcinoma (HCC) with tumor thrombi in portal vein (TTPV).

METHODSTo Analyze and summarize the clinical information from 138 HCC patients with tumor thrombi in portal vein collected during January 1990 and January 2003.

RESULTSThirty-seven patients receiving palliative therapy died from 1 to 8 months, and average survival time is 3.9 months. 101 patients had operation treatment, 23 of them underwent hepatoma resection, and average survival time was 10.9 months; 78 patients underwent hepatoma resection and removal of tumor thrombi, and average survival time was 26.8 months. 52 of whom underwent hepatic artery and portal vein chemoembolization, the 1-, 3-, 5-year survival rates was 96.2%, 51.9%, 11.5%, the 1-, 3-, 5-year survival rates of the 26 patients who didn't undergo chemoembolization were 76.9%, 23.1%, 0%.

CONCLUSIONSOperation treatment can comparatively extend the survival time of hepatocellular carcinoma with tumor thrombi in portal vein patients, and the best choice is hepatoma resection and removal of tumor thrombi, hepatic artery and portal vein chemoembolization after operation can enhance the effect.

Adult ; Aged ; Carcinoma, Hepatocellular ; mortality ; pathology ; surgery ; therapy ; Chemoembolization, Therapeutic ; Combined Modality Therapy ; Female ; Hepatectomy ; methods ; Humans ; Liver Neoplasms ; mortality ; pathology ; surgery ; therapy ; Male ; Middle Aged ; Neoadjuvant Therapy ; Neoplastic Cells, Circulating ; Portal Vein ; pathology ; Retrospective Studies ; Survival Rate

OBJECTIVETo investigate the effect of moxibustion at Sanyinjiao (SP 6) for uterine contraction pain in labor, and evaluate the safety of the parturient and newborn.

METHODSOne hundred and seventy-four cases of singleton pregnancy and cephalic presentation primipara were single blinded and randomly divided into three groups: observation group (59 cases), placebo treated group (57 cases) and blank group (58 cases). The observation group was treated with moxibustion at Sanyinjiao (SP 6) for 30 min when the uterus cervix openning at 3 cm, the placebo treated group was treated with moxibustion at no acupoint for 30 min and the blank group was treated with routine labor nursing, the uterine contraction pain and the safety of the mother and infant were compared among three groups.

RESULTS1) The uterine contraction pain was tested by Visual Analogue Scale (VAS): the scores of VAS in the observation group were obviously decreased after 15 min and 30 min of moxibustion (both P<0.05), there were no obvious changes of the VAS scores in placebo treated group and the blank group, the scores of VAS in observation group decreased much more obviously than those in the other two groups (all P<0.05); 2) Midwife rating of the uterine contraction pain: after 30 min of moxibustion, the effective rate of labor analgesia was 69.5% (41/59) in observation group, which was higher than that of 45.6% (26/57) in placebo treated group and 43.1% (25/58) in blank group, with significant differences between them (both P<0.05); 3) The postpartum hemorrhage amount of the observation group was obviously lower than those of placebo treated group and blank group (both P<0.05); 4) The Apgar score of newborn was higher in observation group and placebo treated group than that of blank group (both P<0.05).

CONCLUSIONMoxibustion at Sanyinjiao (SP 6) can relieve the uterine contraction pain, and has no side effect to mother and infant, it is one of the safe, effective and simple non-drug analgesia methods.

Acupuncture Points ; Adult ; Female ; Humans ; Labor Pain ; physiopathology ; therapy ; Labor, Obstetric ; Moxibustion ; Pregnancy ; Treatment Outcome ; Uterine Contraction ; Young Adult