Objective To explore the mechanism of TubA in the treatment of ulcerative colitis in mice,and to lay a foundation for the treatment strategy of ulcerative colitis.Methods Twenty C57BL/6 mice aged 6-8 weeks were randomly divided into 4 groups(n=5):the control group drank pure water every day,the model group and the treatment groups drank 3％dextran sulfate sodium(DSS)every day,and the treatment groups were injected with 10 mg/kg TubA and 20 mg/kg TubA every day from the third day,respectively.The weight changes of mice in all groups were recorded.Nine days later,the serum of mice was collected,and the expression levels of inflammatory factors IL-1β,IL-6 and IL-10 in serum were detected by ELISA.HE staining was used to observe the pathological changes of the mouse colon.The expression of myeloperoxidase(MPO)was detected by immunohistochemistry,the mRNA levels of inflammatory factors IL-1β,IL-6 and IL-10 were detected by RT-qPCR,and the expressions of GPX4 and FTH were detected by immunohistochemistry.The mRNA and protein expression levels of GPX4,GCLM,FTH,Nrf2,Keap1 and HO-1 in colon tissues were detected by RT-qPCR and Western blotting.Results Compared with the control group,the body weight and colon length of the model group decreased significantly.HE staining showed that inflammatory cells infiltrated the mucosa and submucosa of colon tissue,goblet cells were lost and crypt structure disordered and disappeared.Immunohistochemistry showed that the expression of MPO and FTH proteins were significantly increased,while the expression of GPX4 protein was significantly decreased(P＜0.05).The mRNA and protein expression levels of IL-1β and IL-6 were significantly increased,while the mRNA and protein expression levels of IL-10 were significantly decreased(P＜0.05).The mRNA and protein expression levels of FTH,Nrf2 and HO-1 were significantly increased,while the mRNA and protein expression levels of GPX4,GCLM and Keap1 were significantly decreased(P＜0.05).After TubA treatment,compared with the model group,all these changes mentioned above suppressed(P＜0.05).Conclusion TubA may reduce ulcerative colitis symptoms by inhibiting ferroptosis,providing new ideas for the treatment of ulcerative colitis.

Objective To explore the mechanism of TubA in the treatment of ulcerative colitis in mice,and to lay a foundation for the treatment strategy of ulcerative colitis.Methods Twenty C57BL/6 mice aged 6-8 weeks were randomly divided into 4 groups(n=5):the control group drank pure water every day,the model group and the treatment groups drank 3％dextran sulfate sodium(DSS)every day,and the treatment groups were injected with 10 mg/kg TubA and 20 mg/kg TubA every day from the third day,respectively.The weight changes of mice in all groups were recorded.Nine days later,the serum of mice was collected,and the expression levels of inflammatory factors IL-1β,IL-6 and IL-10 in serum were detected by ELISA.HE staining was used to observe the pathological changes of the mouse colon.The expression of myeloperoxidase(MPO)was detected by immunohistochemistry,the mRNA levels of inflammatory factors IL-1β,IL-6 and IL-10 were detected by RT-qPCR,and the expressions of GPX4 and FTH were detected by immunohistochemistry.The mRNA and protein expression levels of GPX4,GCLM,FTH,Nrf2,Keap1 and HO-1 in colon tissues were detected by RT-qPCR and Western blotting.Results Compared with the control group,the body weight and colon length of the model group decreased significantly.HE staining showed that inflammatory cells infiltrated the mucosa and submucosa of colon tissue,goblet cells were lost and crypt structure disordered and disappeared.Immunohistochemistry showed that the expression of MPO and FTH proteins were significantly increased,while the expression of GPX4 protein was significantly decreased(P＜0.05).The mRNA and protein expression levels of IL-1β and IL-6 were significantly increased,while the mRNA and protein expression levels of IL-10 were significantly decreased(P＜0.05).The mRNA and protein expression levels of FTH,Nrf2 and HO-1 were significantly increased,while the mRNA and protein expression levels of GPX4,GCLM and Keap1 were significantly decreased(P＜0.05).After TubA treatment,compared with the model group,all these changes mentioned above suppressed(P＜0.05).Conclusion TubA may reduce ulcerative colitis symptoms by inhibiting ferroptosis,providing new ideas for the treatment of ulcerative colitis.

Objective:To evaluate the immunogenicity and protective effect of a multicomponent recombinant protein vaccine EPRHP014 constructed independently and provide a scientific basis for developing new tuberculosis (TB) vaccine and effective prevention and control of TB.Methods:Three full-length Mycobacterium ( M.) tuberculosis protein antigens (EsxH, Rv2628, and HspX) and two epitope-predicted and optimized epitope-dominant protein antigens (nPPE18 and nPstS1) were selected, from which five protein antigens were used to construct a protein antigen composition EPRHP014, including a fusion expression multi-component protein antigen (EPRHP014f) and a multi-component mixed protein antigen (EPRHP014m) formed with the five single protein using clone, purification, and purification respectively. Multicomponent protein vaccines EPRHP014f and EPRHP014m were prepared with aluminum adjuvant, and the BCG vaccine was used as a control. ELISA detected the titer of serum-specific antibodies, the secretion of various cytokines was detected by ELISpot and Luminex, and immune protection was observed by the M.tuberculosis growth inhibition test in vitro. The results were statistically analyzed by t-test or rank sum test, and P<0.05 was considered a statistically significant difference. Results:Mice Immunized with EPRHP014m and EPRHP014f could produce highly effective IgG antibodies and their subtypes IgG1 and IgG2a, and the antibody titers were similar to those of mice immunized with BCG, with no statistical significance ( P>0.05). The number of spot-forming cells (SFC) secreting IFN-γ and IL-4 induced by EPRHP014f group was significantly higher than those by EPRHP014m group and BCG group ( P<0.05), but there was no significant difference in the number of SFC for IFN-γ and IL-4 induced between EPRHP014m group and BCG group ( P>0.05). The secretion levels of GM-CSF and IL-12p70 induced by the EPRHP014m group were higher than those of the BCG group ( P<0.05), but there was no significant difference in the levels of IL-6 and IL-10 induced between EPRHP014m group and BCG group ( P>0.05). There was no significant difference in the secretions of IL-6, IL-10, IL-12, and GM-CSF between the EPRHP014f and BCG groups ( P>0.05). EPRHP014m group, EPRHP014f group, and BCG group had obvious antibacterial effects in vitro, and the difference was insignificant ( P>0.05). Conclusion:Both EPRHP014f and EPRHP014m can induce strong humoral and cellular immune responses in mice after immunization, and have a strong ability to inhibit the growth of M. tuberculosis in vitro, indicating that the antigen composition EPRHP014 has good potential in the development and application of TB vaccine.

Objective:To preliminarily evaluate the immunogenicity and efficacy of two novel tuberculosis vaccine candidates (a fusion multicomponent protein EPDPA015f and a mixed multicomponent protein EPDPA015m) and to provide a new antigen combination for the development of tuberculosis vaccines.Methods:Recombinant plasmids for the expression of EPDPA015f and EPDPA015m proteins were constructed. Six-week-old BALB/c mice were immunized with EPDPA015f or EPDPA015m in combination with aluminium adjuvant (50 μg/mouse) for three times with an interval of 10 d. The mice were sacrificed 10 d after the last immunization to collect blood and spleen samples. Serum antibody titers and cytokine levels were measured by ELISA, Luminex technique and enzyme-linked immunospot assay (ELISPOT). Mycobacterial growth inhibition assay (MGIA) was used to detect the ability of mouse splenocytes to inhibit the growth of Mtb in vitro. One-way analysis of variance and t-test were used for statistical analysis. Results:Both EPDPA015f and EPDPA015m could induce the production of various cytokines and IgG antibodies at a high level. The levels of cytokines related to Th1 (IL-2, TNF-α, IFN-γ), Th2 (IL-4, IL-6, IL-10) and Th17 (IL-17) as well as other proinflammatory cytokines (GM-CSF, IL-12) were higher in the EPDPA015f group than in the adjuvant group ( P<0.05). The titer of IgG antibody induced by EPDPA015f was as high as 1∶4×10 6. The results of MGIA showed that the numbers of Mtb (lgCFU) in the PBS, adjuvant, EPDPA015f and EPDPA015m groups were 3.46±0.11, 3.51±0.06, 2.98±0.09 and 3.19±0.08, respectively. The number of colonies in the EPDPA015f group was the least as compared with that in the other three groups ( P<0.001, P<0.001, P<0.01). Conclusions:The vaccine candidate EPDPA015f could elicit more comprehensive and high-level cellular and humoral immune responses, and exhibited superior in vitro inhibitory activity against the growth of Mtb. EPDPA015f had the potential to be used as a preventive vaccine or a booster vaccine

Objective After implementation of new standard iodized salt,to comprehensively assess the iodine nutrition levels of different populations in Dali City of Yunnan Province.Methods From 2012 to 2015,in Dali City,there were 5 districts divided into east,west,south,north and middle,each district selected 1 township (town),and each township (town) selected 4 administrative villages,15 households for edible salt in each administrative village were sampled,and the salt iodine content was measured by "General Test Method in Salt Industry Determination of Iodine" (GB/T 13025.7-2012).In 2014,in the five districts of east,west,south,north and middle of Dali City,one township (town) was selected,and 20 pregnant women in the early,middle and late stages,respectively,20 lactating women,20 ordinary healthy adults and 20 children aged 0 to 4 were selected from each township (town);one primary school in each township (town) was selected in each district,and 40 students aged 8-10 years old were selected from each primary school as the survey objects.The urine samples of the survey objects were collected,and the urinary iodine content was measured by "Method for Determination of Iodine in Urine by As3+-Ce4+ Catalytic Spectrophotometry" (WS/T 107-2006).In 2015,in each administrative village of Dali,a water source with the largest number of drinking people was investigated,and water iodine was detected by the "Method of Water Iodine Detection Suitable for Iodine Deficiency and High Iodine Areas".Through questionnaires,the sources of iodine supplementation for pregnant and lactating women were investigated.Results The qualified iodized salt consumption rate of residents was higher than 90％ per year from 2012 to 2015,and median of salt iodine decreased from 29.38 mg/kg (2012) to 24.96 mg/kg (2015).The medians of urinary iodine in different populations were 136.85 μg/L for pregnant women (n =356),102.63 μg/L for lactating women (n =111),164.03 μg/L for adults (n =163),209.61 μg/L for 8-10 years old children (n =200),157.27 μg/L for children aged 0-＜ 2 years old (n =57),and 134.08 μg/L for 2-4 years old children (n =50).The median of iodine content of drinking water (n =142) in Dali was 0.62 μg/L,the range of iodine content was 0.00-9.92 μg/L.The average intake frequencies of iodine-rich seaweed for pregment women and lacting women were 0.99,1.07 time/month,respectively,only 1.99％ (9/453) of the population supplemented iodine through multivitamin and minerals tablets.Conclusions After reduction of salt iodine content,the iodine nutrition of populations in Dali City (a low water iodine region) is generally at an appropriate level.Maintaining a higher level of qualified iodized salt consumption rate,strengthening the monitoring of different populations and promotion of healthy behaviors are key steps in prevention and control of the disease in the future.

Objective To clone and express the extracellular portion of mouse Fcγreceptor Ⅱ-b ( FcγRⅡb) and to analyze the functions of the expressed proteins in a mouse model of systemic lupus ery-thematosus ( SLE) .Methods The gene fragment encoding FcγRⅡb was amplified by PCR, and then in-serted into the prokaryotic expression vector pET-32a(+) to construct the recombinant expression plasmid pET-FcγRⅡb.The expression plasmid was identified with restriction enzymes and then sent to the Shanghai Bio-Engineering Co.LTD for further sequencing analysis.The transformed Escherichia coli ( E.coli) BL21 ( DE3) strains carrying the recombinant expression plasmid pET-FcγRⅡb were induced by isopropylβ-D-1-thiogalactoside ( IPTG) .The expressed fusion proteins were analyzed by Western blot assay and purified with purification kits.The immune complex ( IC)-binding ability of FcγRⅡb was measured by ELISA.MRL/lpr mice with SLE in both the prevention (12 weeks old, n=40) and the treatment groups (19 weeks old, n=40) were randomly divided into four groups including 60 μl (4.8 μg) treatment group, 120 μl (9.6 μg) treatment group, 180μl (14.4μg) treatment group and PBS treatment group with 10 mouse in each group. The MRL/lpr mice with SLE were injected with the fusion protein through tail vein once a week for four con-secutive weeks.Serum samples were collected from each mouse after one week of observation.The levels of FcγRⅡb in soluble form in mice form both the prevention and treatment groups as well as the levels of anti-double stranded DNA antibodies were detected by ELISA.Results The gene encoding FcγRⅡb was ampli-fied and the recombinant expression plasmid pET-FcγRⅡb was successfully constructed.The recombinant proteins were expressed in the prokaryotic expression system, and then successfully purified.The recombi-nant proteins could bind to IC.Compared with the corresponding PBS control group, the levels of FcγRⅡb in soluble form were increased in mice from both prevention and treatment groups after treating with various concentrations of the recombinant protein (P<0.05).Significant differences in the levels of FcγRⅡb were found among mice of the same age after treating with different concentrations of the recombinant protein ( P<0.05).Compared with the corresponding PBS control group, the levels of anti-double stranded DNA anti-bodies were decreased in mice from both prevention and treatment groups after treating with various concen-trations of the recombinant protein (P<0.05).The levels of anti-double stranded DNA antibodies were grad-ually decreased along with the increasing dosage of protein (P<0.05).Conclusion The extracellular por-tion of murine FcγRⅡb in soluble form was successfully expressed.The recombinant proteins played a cer-tain role in the prevention and treatment of SLE in a mouse model.

Objective To determine the prevalence of penicillinase-producing Neisseria gonorrhoeae(PPNG) and the distribution of blaTEM-135 gene variants in PPNG at several gonococcal antimicrobial surveillance sites in China, to compare N. gonorrhoeae multi-antigen sequence typing(NG-MAST)types of PPNG and its blaTEM-135 gene variants, and to assess the difference and association in NG-MAST types of blaTEM-135 gene variants among different regions. Methods A total of 572 N. gonorrhoeae isolates were collected at 6 gonococcal antimicrobial surveillance sites from Jiangsu, Shanghai, Zhejiang, Tianjin, Guangdong and Guangxi in 2012. After isolation, purification, and identification, cefalotin paper discs were used for detection of PPNG. DNA was extracted by QIAxtractor DX kits after cultivation of the PPNG strains. Then, mismatch amplification mutation assay (MAMA) PCR was performed to identify blaTEM-135 variants, and NG-MAST analysis to determine N. gonorrhoeae genotypes. Results Among the 572 N. gonorrhoeae strains, 38.1%(218/572) were identified as PPNG, and of the PPNG strains, 52.3% (114/218) were blaTEM-135 variants. The detection rate of PPNG at these surveillance sites from high to low was as follows: 51.7% (45/87, Zhejiang), 45.6%(36/79, Shanghai), 38.0% (78/205, Guangdong), 37.5% (12/32, Guangxi), 31.2% (24/77, Jiangsu) and 25.0%(23/92, Tianjin), and that of blaTEM-135 variants was as follows: 68.9%(31/45, Zhejiang), 58.3%(14/24, Jiangsu), 50.0%(39/78, Guangdong), 47.2%(17/36, Shanghai), 39.1%(9/23, Tianjin)and 33.3%(4/12, Guangxi). NG-MAST analysis showed that the ST2318, ST1768, ST1866, ST1053 and ST8726 types predominated among these bla TEM-135 variants, and a strong correlation was found between blaTEM-135 variants and some NG-MAST types, such as ST1768, ST1053 and ST8726 types. The distribution of NG-MAST types was significantly different between the surveillance site in Tianjin (in the Northern part of China) and the other sites (in the Southern part of China), but highly similar among the surveillance sites in Jiangsu, Zhejiang and Shanghai regions. Conclusions There is a high prevalence of PPNG and its blaTEM-135 variants at several gonococcal antimicrobial surveillance sites in China, with significant differences in NG-MAST genotype distribution of PPNG and its blaTEM-135 variants among different regions.

Objective To observe the expression of Toll-like receptor(TLR) on peripheral blood dendritic cells(DC) in children with Henoch-Schtinlein purpura(HSP),and to investigate the pathogenesis of the abnormal expression of TLR in children with HSP.Methods Twenty hospitalized children with HSP in the Affiliated Hospital of Qingdao University Medical College from Dec.2011 to Jul.2012 were enrolled in the study(HSP group).Twenty agemetched healthy children were selected as a healthy control group.Peripheral venous blood was sampled under aseptic condition,peripheral blood mononuclear cells (PBMC) were isolated from density gradient centrifugation,and DC were generated by recombinat human granulocyte-macrophage colony-stimulating factor(GM-CSF),interleukin-4(IL-4) and tumor necrosis factor-α(TNF-α) in vitro.Expressions of CD83,CD86 and TLR2,TLR3,TLR4 in peripheral blood DC were examined by fluorescent activated cell sorter (FACS).Results 1.No significant distinction was found in the expression of the C Ds3 on peripheral blood DC between HSP group and healthy control group(t =0.80,P ＞ 0.05) ;in HSP group had remarkably increased expression of the CD86 on peripheral blood DC than that of the healthy control group (t =9.56,P ＜ 0.01).2.Expression rates of TLR2,TLR3,TLR4 on peripheral blood DC in the HSP group were higher than those in the healthy control group(t =1 1.79,13.29,9.45,all P ＜ 0.01).3.Expression rates of TLR2,TLR3 and TLR4 in HSP group had positive correlation with expression rates of CD86 (r =0.84,P ＜ 0.01 ; r =0.53,P ＜ 0.05 ; r =0.66,P ＜ 0.05).Conclusions Expressions of TLR2,TLR3 and TLR4 on peripheral blood DC significantly increased and were positively correlated with expression of CD86.This implies that TLR and co-stimulatory molecules might participate in the pathogenesis of HSP by mediating signal transduction,leading to abnormity of cytokines,then inducing Th1/Th2 immune imbalance by showing the advantage of Th2 function.

Objective To investigate the effects of hyperbaric oxygen (HBO) on the apoptosis and ultrastructure of islet cells in rats with type 2 diabetes.Methods Twenty-four Goto-Kakizaki (GK) rats with fasting blood glucose of over 16.7 mmol/L were randomly assigned to the 3 groups:the model group,the metformin hydrochloride group,and the HBO group,each consisting of 8 animals.Another 8 healthy male Wistar rats were used as the control group.The control group,the model group and the HBO group were given 5 ml/kg of pure water a day.The metformin hydrochloride group had lavage of 250 mg/kg metformin hydrochloride solution a day,and the HBO group had one session of HBO treatment a day.After 3 weeks,following anesthesia with isoflurane,the pancreas tissue was taken from the rats of all the groups,some of the tissue was made into slides for electron-microscopic observation,and some of them was made into paraffin sections for staining with Hematoxylin-eosin (HE).Apoptosis of islet cells was detected with immunohistochemistry with TdT-mediated dUTP Nick-End Labeling (TUNEL),and islet cells were labeled with caspase-3 by using immunohistochemistry.Results Electron microscopy revealed that mitochondria in the animals of the model group was markedly swollen with degranulation,and vacuolation.Pathological changes inmitochondria of islet cells for the animals of the HBO group were lighter than those of the model group.Apoptosis of islet cells occurred in all the groups,with the apoptosis index (AI) of the HBO group being (1.57 ± 0.33) ％.IOD for caspase-3 positive cells was 10.22 ± 4.61.On the other hand,AI and IOD for the animals of the model group were (4.88 ± 0.51) ％ and 14.65 ± 4.8 respectively,and statistical significance could be seen,when comparisons were made between the 2 groups(P ＜ 0.05).No statistical significance could be noted,as compared with the data of AI (1.16 ± 0.31)％ and the data of IOD (5.36 ± 2.34) in the control group,and the data of AI(1.72 ± 0.14)％ and the data of IOD (9.37 ± 4.64) in the metformin hydrochloride group (P ＞ 0.05).Conclusions HBO could protect the mitochondrial membrane,alleviate mitochondrial lesion induced by hyperglycemia,and furthermore could inhibit apoptosis of islet cells in the rats with type 2 diabetes,and the expression of caspase-3 as well.Therefore,it would be beneficial for treatment of diabetes mellitus.