Objective To analyse the genetic variability of EG95 sequences and provide guidance for EG95 vaccine application against Echinococcus granulosus (E. granulosus). Methods We analysed EG95 polymorphism by collecting total 97 different E. granulosus isolates from 12 different host species that originated from 10 different countries. Multiple sequence alignments and the homology were performed by Lasergene 1 (DNASTAR Inc., Madison, WI), and the phylogenetic analysis was performed by using MEGA5.1 (CEMI, Tempe, AZ, USA). In addition, linear and conformational epitopes were analysed, including secondary structure, NXT/S glycosylation, fibronectin type III (FnIII) domain and glycosylphosphatidylinositol anchor signal (GPI-anchor). The secondary structure was predicted by PSIPRED method. Results Our results indicated that most isolates overall shared 72.6–100% identity in EG95 gene sequence with the published standard EG95 sequence, X90928. However, EG95 gene indeed has polymorphism in different isolates. Phylogenetic analysis showed that different isolates could be divided into three subgroups. Subgroup 1 contained 87 isolates while Subgroup 2 and Subgroup 3 consisted of 3 and 7 isolates, respectively. Four sequences cloned from oncosphere shared a high identity with the parental sequence of the current vaccine, X90928, and they belonged to Subgroup 1. However, in comparison to X90928, several amino acid mutations occurred in most isolates besides oncosphere, which potentially altered the immunodominant linear epitopes, glycosylation sites and secondary structures in EG95 genes. All these variations might change their previous antigenicity and thereby affecting the efficacy of current EG95 vaccine. Conclusions This study reveals the genetic variability of EG95 sequences in different E. granulosus isolates, and proposed that more vaccination trials would be needed to test the effectiveness of current EG95 vaccine against distinct isolates in different countries.

OBJECTIVETo evaluate the effect of FLAMIGEL (hydrogel dressing) on the repair of residual burn wound.

METHODSSixty burn patients with residual wounds hospitalized in 6 burn units from November 2011 to May 2012 were enrolled in the multi-center, randomized, and self-control clinical trial. Two residual wounds of each patient were divided into groups T (treated with FLAMIGEL) and C (treated with iodophor gauze) according to the random number table. On post treatment day (PTD) 7 and 14, wound healing rate was calculated, with the number of completely healed wound counted. The degree of pain patient felt during dressing change was evaluated using the visual analogue scale (VAS). The mean numbers of wounds with score equal to zero, more than zero and less than or equal to 3, more than 3 and less than or equal to 6, more than 6 and less than or equal to 10 were recorded respectively. Wound secretion or exudate samples were collected for bacterial culture, and the side effect was observed. Data were processed with repeated measure analysis of variance, t test, chi-square test, and nonparametric rank sum test.

RESULTSWound healing rate of groups T, C on PTD 7 was respectively (67 ± 24)%, (45 ± 25)%, and it was respectively (92 ± 16)%, (72 ± 23)% on PTD 14. There was statistically significant difference in wound healing rate on PTD 7, 14 between group T and group C (F = 32.388, P < 0.01). Ten wounds in group T and four wounds in group C were healed completely on PTD 7, with no significant difference between them (χ(2) = 0, P > 0.05). Forty-two wounds in group T and seven wounds in group C healed completely on PTD 14, with statistically significant difference between them (χ(2) = 42.254, P < 0.01). Patients in group T felt mild pain during dressing change for 37 wounds, with VAS score higher than zero and lower than or equal to 3. Evident pain was observed in patients of group C during dressing change for 43 wounds, and it scored higher than 3 and less than or equal to 6 by VAS evaluation. There was statistically significant difference in mean number of wounds with different grade of VAS score between group T and group C (Z = -4.638, P < 0.01). Staphylococcus aureus, Pseudomonas aeruginosa, Klebsiella pneumoniae, E. coli, Baumanii, and Staphylococcus epidermidis were all detected in both groups, but there was no statistical difference between group T and group C (χ(2) = 0.051, P > 0.05). No side effect was observed in either of the two groups during the whole trial.

CONCLUSIONSFLAMIGEL can accelerate the healing of residual burn wounds and obviously relieve painful sensation during dressing change.

Adolescent ; Adult ; Aged ; Bandages ; Burns ; therapy ; Female ; Humans ; Hydrogels ; Male ; Middle Aged ; Young Adult

OBJECTIVETo investigate whether S. aureus could activate NF-κB signaling pathway in human osteoblasts.

METHODSImmunoblot and electrophoretic mobility shift assay were used to detect the degradation of I-κBα and activation of NF-κB in human osteoblasts following infection with S.aureus, respectively, and there were investigated the activated state of NF-κB signaling pathway in human osteoblasts. In addition, enzyme-linked immunosorbent assay was used to measure the secretion of IL-6 in culture supernatants, which was represented as one of important cytokines in osteomyelitis, and an inhibitor of NF-κB, SN50, which was added to human osteoblasts culture prior to 1 hour at 50 µmol/L before the infection of S.aureus, was used to determine whether S.aureus-activated NF-κB signaling pathway regulates IL-6 secretion of human osteoblasts.

RESULTSS.aureus could induce the degradation of I-κBα (I-κBα(15 min)/I-κBα(0 min) = 0.409 ± 0.245 and I-κBα(30 min)/I-κBα(0 min) = 0.061 ± 0.010) and activation of NF-κB in human osteoblasts in a time and dose-dependent manner following infection. In addition, the secretion of IL-6 in the supernatants of human osteoblasts ((2.17 ± 0.11) µg/L) was suppressed by 50 µmol/L SN50 compared to without the addition of SN50 ((3.58 ± 0.31) µg/L) (F = 174.25, P < 0.05).

CONCLUSIONSS.aureus could activate NF-κB signaling pathway in human osteoblasts, which could regulate cytokines secretions of human osteoblasts.

Cells, Cultured ; Humans ; Interleukin-6 ; secretion ; NF-kappa B ; metabolism ; Osteoblasts ; metabolism ; Signal Transduction ; Staphylococcal Infections ; metabolism

Objective To investigate changes in the content of monocyte chemoattractant protenin-1 (MCP-1) in aqueous humor following penetrating corneal trauma induced by explosion and complicated with seawater immersion in rabbits, and also its importance in the mechanism involved. Methods The model of penetrating corneal trauma was developed with fire crackers by using 20 rabbits as subjects, with the right eye as the experimental eye and left eye as the control. The fight eye was immersed with seawater and the left eye immersed with saline solution. Levels of MCP-1 in aqueous humor for the 2 groups were determined by enzyme -linked immunosorbent assay (ELISA) on the 1st, 2nd, 3rd, 5th and 7th days following development of the model. Results Levels of MCP-1 in aqueous humor for the experimental group were 247.018 ng/L, 143.939 ng/L, 93.637 ng/L respectively on the 1st, 2nd, 3rd days following development of the model. Comparisons showed that statistical difference could be seen between the 2 groups (P <0.01). Conclusions Levels of MCP-1 in aqueous humor following penetrating corneal trauma by explosion and complicated with seawater immersion were significantly higher than those of the control group, indicating that MCP-1 might be involved and have an important role to play in this pathological process.

Objective To investigate changes in the content of monocyte chemoattractant protenin-1 (MCP-1) in aqueous humor following penetrating corneal trauma induced by explosion and complicated with seawater immersion in rabbits, and also its importance in the mechanism involved. Methods The model of penetrating corneal trauma was developed with fire crackers by using 20 rabbits as subjects, with the right eye as the experimental eye and left eye as the control. The fight eye was immersed with seawater and the left eye immersed with saline solution. Levels of MCP-1 in aqueous humor for the 2 groups were determined by enzyme -linked immunosorbent assay (ELISA) on the 1st, 2nd, 3rd, 5th and 7th days following development of the model. Results Levels of MCP-1 in aqueous humor for the experimental group were 247.018 ng/L, 143.939 ng/L, 93.637 ng/L respectively on the 1st, 2nd, 3rd days following development of the model. Comparisons showed that statistical difference could be seen between the 2 groups (P <0.01). Conclusions Levels of MCP-1 in aqueous humor following penetrating corneal trauma by explosion and complicated with seawater immersion were significantly higher than those of the control group, indicating that MCP-1 might be involved and have an important role to play in this pathological process.

OBJECTIVETo study the association of TGF-alpha gene polymorphism and non-syndromic cleft lip with cleft palate in Shandong province.

METHODSPolymerase chain reaction combined with restrict enzyme digestion was used to detect the target gene variation in 98 patients with non-syndromic cleft lip with cleft palate and 101 healthy controls.

RESULTSThe C2 allele frequency in patients with non-syndromic cleft lip with cleft palate was significantly higher than that in healthy controls. The genotype frequency in patients with positive family history was significantly higher than that without positive family history.

CONCLUSIONTGF-alpha gene polymorphism is closely associated with non-syndromic cleft lip with cleft palate in Shandong, especially in patients with positive family history.

Cleft Lip ; Cleft Palate ; Gene Frequency ; Genotype ; Humans ; Polymerase Chain Reaction ; Polymorphism, Genetic ; Transforming Growth Factor alpha