Insect viruses are attractive as biological control agents and could be a feasible alternative to chemical insecticides in the management of insect infestations. This review describes recent advances in the development of wild-type and genetically modified viruses as insecticides. A new strategy of application of insect viruses in China is reviewed. Also, the assessment of biosafety of genetically modified Helicoverpa armigera Nucleopolyhedovirus (HearNPV) is emphasized as a case-study.

Objective To discuss the effect of Yanhuning Injection combined with amoxicillin and clavulanate potassium in treatment of infantile pneumonia.Methods Totally 1 00 infants with pneumonia were selected.They were randomly divided into two groups,the observation group (52 cases) were given Yanhuning Injection combined with amoxicillin and clavulanate potassium.The control group (48 cases) were given Yanhuning Injection.The effect of Yanhuning Injection combined with amoxicillin and clavulanate potassium in treatment of infantile pneumonia was evaluated using efficacy,cough,pulmonary rales disappeared time,pyretolysis time,pulmonary function indexes and adverse reaction during treatment as indexes.Results The effective rate was 92.3％ in the observation group and 75.0％ in the control group.The effective rate in the observation group was higher than that of the control group (P ＜ 0.05).The cough,pulmonary rales disappeared time of the observation group was shorter than that of the control group (P ＜ 0.05).There was no statistical significance on pyretolysis time between two groups.Before treatment,there was no statistical significance on FVC,FEV1 and FEV1/FVC％ between two groups.After treatment,the FVC,FEV1 and FEV1/FVC％ were increased and higher in the observation group (P ＜ 0.05).During treatment,there was no statistical significance on adverse reaction between two group.Conclusion Yanhuning Injection combined with amoxicillin and clavulanate potassium has a good effective on infantile pneumonia.It could improve the symptoms of pneumonia and lung function while inhibiting inflammation with good safety.It was worthy of clinical application.

OBJECTIVETo explore the effect of Yijing Huoxue Cuyun Decoction (YHCD) in adjusting hypoestrogenemic response induced by clomiphene.

METHODSInfertile patients caused by ovulation disturbance were randomly divided into 2 groups. The 60 patients in the observed group were treated with clomiphine plus YHCD, and the 58 patients in the control group were given clomiphine plus estradiol valerate.

RESULTSBy scoring on the cervical relaxation and improvement of cervical mucus, 38 patients (63.3%) in the observed group had Insler score of more than 8 points, while that in the control group was only 25 (43.1%), comparison between the two groups showed significant difference (P < 0.05). The endometrium thickening in the observed group was 0.98 +/- 0.19 cm, significantly different to that in the control group (0.85 +/- 0.21 cm, P < 0.01). Twenty-five patients in the observed group (41.7%), and fourteen patients in the control group (24.1%), respectively got pregnancy, the pregnant rate in the former was obviously higher than that in the latter (P < 0.05).

CONCLUSIONYHCD can ameliorate hypoestrinemia induced by clomiphene and increase the pregnant rate in patients.

Adult ; Clomiphene ; adverse effects ; therapeutic use ; Drugs, Chinese Herbal ; therapeutic use ; Estrogens ; blood ; deficiency ; Female ; Humans ; Infertility, Female ; drug therapy ; Ovulation ; drug effects ; Ovulation Induction ; Phytotherapy

Objective To determine the expression of membrane-bound B lymphocyte stimulator (BLyS) protein and its mRNA in vitro of peripheral blood mononuclear cells (PBMCs) from individuals with systemic lupus erythematosus (SLE),and to investigate the role of interferon-?(IFN-?) on the expression of BLyS.Methods PBMCs were obtained from 25 SLE patients (mean age of 31+14) and 20 healthy volunteers (mean age of 28?10).They were randomized into IFN-?(5 ng/ml) group and control group.PBMCs were col- lected at 0,6,12 and 24 h for BLyS mRNA assessment using semi-quantitative reverse transcription-PCR (RT-PCR).PBMCs were also collected at 72 h for membrane-bound BLyS protein detection using flow cy- tometry (FACS) and direct immunofluorescence.Results①The expression of BLyS mRNA and membrane- bound protein in PBMCs was significantly higher in individuals with SLE compared with healthy controls (P＜0.05);②IFN-?enhanced BLyS mRNA expression in PBMCs in both healthy controls and SLE patients,with the greatest effect at 6 h (stimulated vs unstimulated,0.42?0.19 vs 0.25?0.14,P＜0.01;0.59?0.28 vs 0.44?0.21,P＜0.01 );③IFN-?also increased the expression of membrane-bound BLyS protein in both healthy con- trols and individuals with SLE (FACs,mean fluorescence intensity,4.5+3.0 vs 3.7~2.6,P

Animals ; Extremities ; blood supply ; Heparin ; pharmacology ; Male ; Mesentery ; blood supply ; Microcirculation ; drug effects ; Rats ; Rats, Wistar ; Reperfusion Injury ; Splanchnic Circulation ; drug effects

OBJECTIVETo study the changes of amino acids in cerebral spinal fluid (CSF) in children with spastic or athetotic cerebral palsy (CP) by examining CSF levels of glutamic acid (Glu), gamma-aminobutyric acid (GABA) and aspartate (ASP).

METHODSCSF samples were obtained from 13 children with spastic CP, from 14 children with athetotic CP, and from 10 children without central nervous system and infectious diseases (control group). CSF levels of Glu, GABA and ASP were determined by high-performance liquid chromatography.

RESULTSCSF levels of GABA, ASP and Glu in the control group were 13.04+/-2.19, 10.21+/-0.45 and 8.41+/-2.26 micromol/L, respectively. Compared with the control group, CSF GABA levels in the spastic and the athetotic CP groups (8.02+/-2.03 and 10.01+/-2.68 micromol/L respectively) significantly decreased (P<0.01), whereas CSF levels of Glu (20.99+/-8.15 and 28.77+/-17.62 micromol/L respectively) and Asp (13.53+/-3.93 and 14.02+/-2.88 micromol/L respectively) in the spastic and the athetotic CP groups significantly increased (P<0.01). There were statistical differences in the GABA level between the spastic and the athetotic CP groups (P<0.05). In children with spastic CPCSF Glu level was positively correlated to muscle tension.

CONCLUSIONSCSF excitatory amino acid levels increased, while CSF inhibitory amino acid levels decreased in children with CP. There were differences for CSF amino acid levels in different types of CP. The changes of amino acid levels may contribute to the pathogenesis of CP.

Amino Acids ; cerebrospinal fluid ; Cerebral Palsy ; cerebrospinal fluid ; physiopathology ; Child, Preschool ; Chromatography, High Pressure Liquid ; Female ; Humans ; Male ; Muscle Tonus

AIMTo probe into the affection and significance of NO on the expression of P-selectin in renal injury following hind limb ischemia/reperfusion in rats.

METHODSIn accordance with the conventional approaches of our department, the model rats were prepared after they were made to undergo 4 hours or ischemia followed by 4 hours of reperfusion of hind limbs. The Wistar rats were divided into four groups randomly: Control group, LI/R group, L-Arg group and L-NAME group. And then in those four groups of Wistar rats, a series of values of measurement were determined such as: Plasma concentrations of nitric oxide (NO), blood urea nitrogen (BUN) and creatinine (Cr). Furthermore, biochemically there came to the assessment of the values including myeloperoxidase (MPO), NO, total nitric oxide synthase (tNOS), inducible NOS (iNOS) and constitutive NOS (cNOS) of renal tissue in different groups. By the methods of electrophoresis and biochemistry, the urine protein was mensurated. The immunohistochemical method was used to detect the expression of P-selectin protein. The morphologic changes were observed with a microscope.

RESULTSAfter hind limbs had suffered from ischemia/reperfusion for 4 hours, there was the occurrence of a series of results such as in the following which were based on the comparison between plasm of LI/R group and control group. The values of NO, BUN and Cr increased significantly, and the trend of indexes such as NO in renal tissue was similar to that in plasma. The values of MPO, tNOS and iNOS in renal tissue all increased significantly after reperfusion, while cNOS decreased distinctly. The urine protein appeared, especially large molecular weight protein. Renal pathology revealed that after LI/R there were edema and infiltration of polymorphonuclear neutrophil (PMN). Immunohistochemically, the expression of P-selectin was upregulated significantly. Compared with LI/R rats, all injury changes were alleviated in L-Arg group. Morphologic changes were mild. Both the content of urine protein and the percentage of apoptosis cell decreased. The expression of P-selectin was downregulated. In L-NAME group, all injury changes got worse. Immunohistochemical results showed strong positive staining of P-selectin.

CONCLUSIONThe renal injury after LI/R may relate to the strong expression of P-selectin. NO may have protective affection by decreasing the expression of P-selectin and alleviating the adhesion, aggregation and infiltration of neutrophils.

Animals ; Kidney ; metabolism ; pathology ; Male ; NG-Nitroarginine Methyl Ester ; adverse effects ; Nitric Oxide ; blood ; P-Selectin ; metabolism ; Rats ; Rats, Wistar ; Reperfusion Injury ; metabolism ; pathology

OBJECTIVETo investigate the constitution of abnormal spermatozoa from patients with sex chromosome anomalies.

METHODSTriple color fluorescence in situ hybridization (FISH) was used to determine the sex chromosome constitution of spermatozoa from three patients with sex chromosome anomalies (case 1:46,XY/47,XXY, case 2:45,XO/46,X,Yqh-, case 3:47,XXY). The preimplantation genetic diagnosis (PGD) was performed to case 2.

RESULTSAn increased ratio (2.05 vs 1) of X-bearing to Y-bearing spermatozoa was only observed in case 2, who also had an increased incidence of total abnormal spermatozoa (29.71%). An increased incidence of total abnormal spermatozoa (4.91%) was also observed in case 3. Among the constitution of abnormal spermatozoa, case 2 had the increased proportions of XY18 disomy, O18 monosomy and XO monosomy, while case 3 had an increase proportion of XY18 disomy (1.87%). PGD was performed to case 2 and one embryo with XX1818 was selected for implanting.

CONCLUSIONUsing FISH to detect the sperm sex chromosomes in patients with sex chromosome anomalies can provide the useful information to evaluate the risk of sex chromosome anomalies in preimplantation embryos.

Adult ; Chromosomes, Human, X ; genetics ; Chromosomes, Human, Y ; genetics ; Female ; Humans ; In Situ Hybridization, Fluorescence ; Male ; Preimplantation Diagnosis ; methods ; Sex Chromosome Aberrations ; Spermatozoa ; metabolism

OBJECTIVETo explore the effects of down-regulated tryptase expression in mast cells on the synthesis and release of interleukin-6 (IL-6) and tumor necrosis factor-alpha (TNF-alpha) of vascular endothelial cells.

METHODSTryptase-siRNA (small-interfering RNA) vector was constructed to inhibit tryptase expression in P815 cells. The medium of P815 cells treated by the tryptase-siRNA (RNAi-P815 group) or pure vector (P815 group) was collected and used to culture bEnd.3 cells. The messenger RNAs (mRNAs) of IL-6 and TNF-alpha in bEnd.3 cells and their protein levels in the medium were measured by reverse transcription polymerase chain reaction (RT-PCR) and enzyme-linked immunosorbent assay (ELISA), respectively.

RESULTSIL-6 and TNF-alpha mRNAs in bEnd.3 cells cultured in RNAi-P815-conditioned medium decreased significantly compared to those in P815-conditioned medium. Consistently, IL-6 and TNF-alpha protein levels in the medium of bEnd.3 of RNAi-P815 group were lower than those of P815 group.

CONCLUSIONReduced tryptase expression significantly inhibited the synthesis and release of IL-6 and TNF-alpha in vascular endothelial cells. RNA interference targeting tryptase expression may be a new anti-inflammatory strategy for vascular diseases.

Animals ; Cell Line ; Culture Media, Conditioned ; Down-Regulation ; genetics ; Endothelial Cells ; enzymology ; secretion ; Gene Expression Regulation, Enzymologic ; Interleukin-6 ; genetics ; secretion ; Mice ; RNA, Messenger ; genetics ; RNA, Small Interfering ; genetics ; Transgenes ; Tryptases ; genetics ; metabolism ; Tumor Necrosis Factor-alpha ; genetics ; secretion

Objective To explore the risk factors and the rate of HBV vertical transmission from HBsAg-positive couple to their infant.Methods 46 families who had antenatal examination at Fujian Provincial Maternal and Child Health Hospital during August 2010 and November 2011 were chosen as research object.Cord blood was sampled after delivery for HBVM and HBV-DNA quantification.Those with HBV-DNA load ≥5 × 102 copies/ml were involved in the case group while those having ＜5 × 102 copies/ml were chosen as controls.Results The average positive rate of neonatal cord blood HBV-DNA was 45.7％ (21/46),while the positive rates of cord blood HBsAg and HBeAg were 34.8％(16/46) and 23.9％ (11/46) respectively.The positive rates of maternal serum HBV-DNA and paternal serum HBV-DNA were 52.2％ (24/46) and 69.6％ (32/46) respectively,with the positive rate of couple serum HBeAg as 39.1％ (18/46) and 32.6％(15/46) respectively.Results from univariate analysis showed that hepatitis B surface markers,serum HBeAg-positive,serum HBV-DNA positive,and serum HBV-DNA load of the couples were risk factors to the HBV vertical transmission(x2＝8.731,8.414,8.932,9.663,10.823,3.962,13.638,36.501 ;P＜0.05).Data from the multivariate analysis showed that maternal serum HBV-DNA positive and paternal serum HBV-DNA load were risk factors to the HBV vertical transmission [OR＝ 17.6 (1.3-238.4) ;OR ＝ 3.5 (1.6-7.6)].Serum HBV-DNA loads of the couples were positively correlated with the cord blood HBV-DNA load,while the load levels of the couple' s serum HBV-DNA were higher than cord blood HBV-DNA.There appeared dose-response relationship between couple' s serum HBV-DNA load level and the cord blood HBV-DNA load level.Results from the analysis of ROC curve showed that both maternal serum HBV-DNA load level (103 copies/ml) and paternal serum HBV-DNA load level (104 copies/ml) were demarcation points to better forecast the occurrence of vertical transmission of HBV,because there showed higher sensitivity and specificity for the forecasting process.Neonatal outcomes showed no significant difference between the case group and the control group.The negative conversion rate became 15.0％ (3/20) when the HBV-DNA positive infants were followed up for 7 months.Conclusion Both maternal serum HBV-DNA positive and paternal serum HBV-DNA load were risk factors of HBV vertical transmission.When the maternal serum HBV-DNA load appeared ＞103 copies/ml and paternal serum HBV-DNA load ＞ 104 copies/ml,the rate of HBV vertical transmission would increase.