Gonorrhea, caused by Neisseria gonorrhoeae, is one of the most frequently reported infectious diseases. With the increasing antibiotic resistance in Neisseria gonorrhoeae, gonorrhea has become a major public health problem worldwide, making it imperative to develop a safe and effective vaccine. Lipooligosaccharides (LOS), which exist on the outer surface of gram-negative bacteria, contain many important antigenic determinants. In recent years, a large number of studies have shown that LOS may become the most potential target of Neisseria gonorrhoeae vaccine and immunotherapy. This article reviewed the structure of LOS, its role in Neisseria gonorrhoeae infection, research progress in LOS vaccine and the challenges faced in vaccine development, aiming to provide reference for further study.

Objective:To analyze the clinical characteristics and prognosis of patients infected with novel coronavirus Omicron variant in Shanghai, as to provide a reference for epidemic prevention, clinical diagnosis, and treatment.Methods:Altogether 4 264 novel coronavirus Omicron variant-infected patients with positive results of nucleic acid admitted to Shanghai New International Expo Center N3 Mobile Cabin Hospital from April 2 to May 7, 2022, were included. The demographic and baseline clinical characteristics, treatment strategy, prognosis, and different factors affecting the length of hospital stay were analyzed.Results:A total of 4 264 novel coronavirus variant Omicron-infected cases were collected, including 3 111 cases (73.0%) asymptomatic infections and 1 153 cases (27.0%) mild infections. The overall median age was 45 (33, 55) years old with a range from 2 years old to 81 years old. The male to female ratio was 1.37∶1. Altogether 3 305 cases (77.5%) had been vaccinated, of which 3 166 cases completed more than 2 doses. The upper respiratory tract symptoms such as cough and expectoration were the most common clinical manifestations of these infected patients. During the course of the disease, patients with asymptomatic infection were mainly treated with traditional Chinese medicine (TCM, 55.1%) and clinical observation (36.8%), and those with mild infection were mainly treated with TCM (42.2%) or integrated Chinese and Western medicine (30.4%). All patients were cured and discharged. The overall median length of hospital stay and the negative conversion time of nucleic acid were 9 (6, 10) days and 8 (5, 9) days, respectively. Compared with the asymptomatic infected patients, the hospitalization duration and the nucleic acid negative conversion time of the mildly infected patients were slightly longer [days: 10 (8, 11) vs. 9 (5, 10); 8 (6, 10) vs. 7 (4, 9), both P < 0.001]. Multiple linear regression analysis showed that the increasing age and mild infection were associated with longer hospitalization duration, and the treatment of TCM or integrated Chinese and Western medicine was associated with shortened length of hospital stay (all P < 0.05). Conclusions:The current novel coronavirus Omicron variant epidemic in Shanghai mainly caused asymptomatic and mild infections. The young and middle-aged population had a relatively high infection rate. The upper respiratory tract symptoms such as cough and expectoration were the most common clinical symptoms. Elderly and confirmed patients had prolonged hospitalization duration, while for patients receiving TCM treatment, the hospitalization duration was shortened.

To rapidly and accurately manipulate genome such as gene deletion, insertion and site mutation, the whole genome of a very virulent strain Md5 of Marek's disease virus (MDV) was inserted into bacterial artificial chromosome (BAC) through homogeneous recombination. The recombinant DNA was electroporated into DH10B competent cells and identified by PCR and restriction fragment length polymorphism analysis. An infectious clone of Md5BAC was obtained following transfection into chicken embryo fibroblast (CEF) cells. Furthermore, a lorf10 deletion mutant was constructed by two step Red-mediated homologous recombination. To confirm the specific role of gene deletion, the lorf10 was reinserted into the original site of MDV genome to make a revertant strain. All the constructs were rescued by transfection into CEF cells, respectively. The successful packaging of recombinant viruses was confirmed by indirect immunofluorescence assay. The results of growth kinetics assay and plaques area measurement showed that the lorf10 is dispensable for MDV propagation in vitro. Overall, this study successfully constructed an infectious BAC clone of MDV and demonstrated its application in genome manipulation; the knowledge gained from our study could be further applied to other hepesviruses.
Animals ; Chick Embryo ; Chickens ; Chromosomes, Artificial, Bacterial ; DNA, Recombinant ; Herpesvirus 2, Gallid/genetics* ; Marek Disease

Objective:To explore the effect and molecular mechanism of capsaicin receptor(TRPV1) on neuronal autophagy and depression-like behavior in mice.Methods:Using the method of random number table, 87 C57 male mice were divided into Sham operation group (Sham group), cerebral ischemia/reperfusion group (I/R group) and capsazepine(CPZ) preconditioning cerebral ischemia/reperfusion group (I/R+ CPZ group), with 28 mice in each group due to 3 incompatible.Mice in the I/R group were subjected to right middle cerebral artery occlusion (MCAO) to establish a cerebral ischemia-reperfusion model.Mice in the I/R+ CPZ group were injected with CPZ in the lateral ventricle prior to moulding.Mice in the Sham group had only wire plugs inserted and no arterial embolization was performed.The mNSS score was used to evaluate the degree of neurological deficits.The depression-like behaviour of mice was detected by the tail suspension test and forced swimming test.The infarct volume was observed by TTC staining.The pathological changes in the amygdala were observed by HE staining, and the expression of Beclin-1, LC3, p62 and p-PI3K, p-AKT and p-mTOR proteins were detected by Western blot.Statistical analysis was performed using SPSS 23.0 software.The t-test was used for comparison between two groups and one-way ANOVA was used for comparison of multiple group. Results:The neurological deficit score in I/R+ CPZ group (9.77±2.32) was significantly lower than that in I/R group (12.85±2.73) ( t=3.10, P<0.01). Compared with I/R group, the tail suspension immobility time of I/R+ CPZ Group ((93.28±50.69)s, (143.80±35.61) s; t=2.94, P<0.01) and the forced swimming immobility time ((139.50±13.33)s, (175.30±19.78)s; t=2.94, P<0.01) were significantly reduced.The results of TTC staining showed that the cerebral infarct volume in I/R+ CPZ group was significantly lower than that in I/R group ((19.30±5.19)%, (33.60±3.90)%; t=5.40, P<0.01). HE staining showed that the number of cells in the amygdala region of mice in the I/R+ CPZ group increased compared with that in the I/R group, with tighter arrangement and reduced deep staining of nuclear fixation.Western blot showed that compared with I/R group, the expression levels of autophagy related proteins Beclin-1( t=2.94, P<0.05) and LC3 ( t=3.16, P<0.05) in amygdala of I/R+ CPZ group were down-regulated, while the expression levels of p62( t=3.60, P<0.05), p-PI3K ( t=7.79, P<0.01), p-AKT ( t=4.15, P<0.01) and p-mTOR ( t=6.15, P<0.01) were up-regulated. Conclusion:Cerebral ischemia/reperfusion activates neuronal autophagy, and CPZ may regulate the PI3K-AKT-mTOR pathway, thus inhibits excessive activation of autophagy, thereby acting as a neuroprotective agent and improving post-stroke depression-like behaviour.

OBJECTIVE: To investigate the inhibitory effect of ketogenic diet (KD) on growth of neuroblastoma in mice. METHODS: BALB/c-nu mouse models bearing neuroblastoma xenografts were established by subcutaneous injection of human neuroblastoma cell line (SH-SY5Y). When the tumor volume reached 250 mm3, the mice were randomized into SD group with standard diet and PBS treatment, KD group with ketogenic diet and PBS treatment, and CP+KD group with ketogenic diet and cyclophosphamide (60 mg·kg·day) treatment, =8. The tumor volume, body weight, blood glucose, ketone body (β-Hydroxybutyrate) levels, and hepatic steatosis in the mice were assessed. The expressions of caspase-3 and caspase-8 were detected by Western blotting, and Ki67 expresison was detected using immunohistochemistry (IHC). Transmission electron microscopy (TEM) was employed for the autophagosomes, and the autophagic protein Beclin1, LC3A/B and P62 were detected by IHC and Western blotting. RESULTS: On day 28 post tumor cell injection, the mice in KD and CP+KD groups could prolong the overall survival rates than that in SD group ( < 0.001). On day 22 post the injection, the tumor volume in KD group was smaller than that in SD group ( < 0.05); on 16, 19, and 22 day post the injection, the tumor volume in CP+KD group was smaller than that in SD group ( < 0.01). The mice in SD group showed greater body weight on day 19 and higher blood glucose level on day 13 post the injection than those in the other two groups ( < 0.05). Blood ketone level and hepatic steatosis score were higher and glucose ketone index (GKI) was lower in KD and CP+KD groups than those in SD group (all < 0.05). The expressions of Ki67 and apoptotic proteins were detected in the tumor tissues of all groups. TEM revealed more autophagosomes in the tumor tissues of KD group than that of SD group. P62 expression was lowered ( < 0.01) and Beclin1 and LC3A/B expressions were up-regulated in the tumor tissues of KD group ( < 0.05), which is consisitent with IHC. CONCLUSIONS KD has a strong anti-tumor effect in the xenograft mouse model possibly by regulating cell autophagy.
3-Hydroxybutyric Acid ; Animals ; Blood Glucose ; Cell Line, Tumor ; Diet, Ketogenic ; Humans ; Mice ; Mice, Inbred BALB C ; Neuroblastoma

In the nucleus, chromatin is folded into hierarchical architecture that is tightly linked to various nuclear functions. However, the underlying molecular mechanisms that confer these archi-tectures remain incompletely understood. Here, we investigated the functional roles of H3 lysine 9 dimethylation (H3K9me2), one of the abundant histone modifications, in three-dimensional (3D) genome organization. Unlike in mouse embryonic stem cells, inhibition of methyltransferases G9a and GLP in differentiated cells eliminated H3K9me2 predominantly at A-type (active) genomic compartments, and the level of residual H3K9me2 modifications was strongly associated with B-type (inactive) genomic compartments. Furthermore, chemical inhibition of G9a/GLP in mouse hepatocytes led to decreased chromatin-nuclear lamina interactions mainly at G9a/GLP-sensitive regions, increased degree of genomic compartmentalization, and up-regulation of hundreds of genes that were associated with alterations of the 3D chromatin. Collectively, our data demonstrated essential roles of H3K9me2 in 3D genome organization.

Objective To examine the efficacy and safety of 125Iseed implantation for treating neuroblastoma (NB) in animal models.Methods A total of 45 nude mice models of neuroblastoma were constructed and divided into the 125Igroup.control group.and blank group at 15 mice per group.The long and short diameters of the tumor were measured every 3 days.and the tumor inhibition rate was calculated every 9 days.Apoptotic and proliferative protein expression levels in tumor tissue and peritumoral tissue.as well as endocrine markers and bone marrow of the nude mice.were analyzed.The independent sample t test was used to compare the mean scores.and ANOVA was used for comparison between multiple groups.Results Tumor volume inhibition rate was significantly higher in the 125Igroup than in the control group and blank group on days 9.18.and 27(all P<0.05).Caspase-3 expression in tumor tissues was significantly higher in the 125Igroup than in the control group and blank group (all P<0.05).whereas proliferating cell nuclear antigen (PCNA) expression was significantly lower in the 125Igroup than in the control group and blank group (all P<0.05).There was no significant difference in Caspase-3 and PCNA expression between the control group and blank group (all P>0.05).In addition.no significant difference in the expression of Caspase-3 and PCNA in peritumoral tissue was observed between the 125Igroup.control group.and blank group (all P>0.05).Cell apoptosis in tumor tissue was significantly lower in the blank group and control group than in the 125Igroup (all P<0.05).while there was no significant difference between the blank group and the control group (P>0.05).There was no significant difference in endocrine markers between the three groups (P>0.05).There was no significant bone marrow suppression in the 125Igroup.and this observation was similar to those in the control group and blank group (all P>0.05).Conclusions 125Iseeds have significant toxicity to NB.125Iseed implantation is safe in nude mice with NB within the therapeutic doses.

Objective To explore the clinicopathological characters of T2 gastric cancer and the value of MSCT in the preop‐erative TNM staging of T2 gastric cancer .Methods A total of 93 patients with T2 gastric cancer were included in our study and un‐derwent preoperative MSCT staging ,who were confirmed by pathologic results .Then the results were compared with those of path‐ologic TNM staging .Also the clinicopathological features of the T2 gastric cancer were analyzed .Results There were no statistical‐ly significant differences in the clinicopathological characters among T2a and T2b patients (P>0 .05) .Comparing with pathologic TNM stage ,the T staging accuracy of MSCT was 91 .40% (85/93) ,the N staging accuracies of CT was 66 .67% (62/93) ,in which , 68 .18% (30/44) ,65 .00% (26/40) ,60 .00% (3/5) and 75 .00% (3/4) were for pN0 ,pN1 ,pN2 and pN3 .And the TNM staging ac‐curacies of CT was 67 .74% (63/93) ,in which ,68 .18% (30/44) ,64 .10% (25/39) ,60 .00% (3/5) and 100% (5/5) were for stageⅠ ,Ⅱ ,Ⅲ and Ⅳ .Conclusion There are no significant different on clinicopathology features among T2a and T2b patients .MSCT can clearly determine the preoperative TNM staging of T2 gastric cancer .

Background and objective Cetuximab is a monoclonal antibody directed against epidermal growth fac-tor receptor. Emerging evidence showed improved effcacy with the addition of cetuximab to chemotherapy in advanced non-small cell lung cancer (NSCLC), but the data in oriental population are limited. hTe aim of this study is to investigate the eff-cacy of cetuximab in combination with chemotherapy in Chinese patients with advanced NSCLC.Methods NSCLC patients receiving cetuximab in combination with chemotherapy in Cancer Hospital, Chinese Academy of Medical Sciences & Peking Union Medical College were enrolled and retrospectively analyzed. Clinical characteristic, effcacy, outcome and toxicity data were analyzed.Results A total of 40 patients were enrolled into this study in which 29 were male, 36 with adenocarcinoma. In the 23 patients who had received palliative chemotherapy previously (with a median of 2 prior chemotherapy regimens), the median progression-free survival (PFS) atfer the last prior chemotherapy regimen was 2.3 months. For the overall population, 13 (32.5%) patients achieved partial response atfer cetuximab in combination with chemotherapy. Response rate were 52.9% (9/17) and 17.4% (4/23) in chemotherapy-naive patients and chemotherapy-treated patients, respectively (P=0.018). hTe median PFS was 4.8 months for the overall population. In chemotherapy-naive patients and chemotherapy-treated patients, the median PFS was 8.4 months and 4.1 months, respectively (P=0.062). hTe estimated median overall survival was 17.1 months. Toxicities were generally manageable and no treatment-related deaths occurred.Conclusion Cetuximab in addition to che-motherapy appears to be associated with promising effcacy and acceptable toxicity proifle in Chinese patients with advanced NSCLC. Further validation is needed.