恶性疟原虫113肽抗原基因重组的减毒鼠伤寒沙门菌在家兔中免疫应答的研究

我们已经在减毒鼠伤寒沙门菌ＳＬ３２６１以融合蛋白的形式表达了人工合成的恶性疟原虫杂合１１３肽基因ＡＢ（ＧＺ－ＡＢ）。活菌以２×１０９ＣＦＵ经口服免疫新西兰家兔，用ＥＬＩＳＡ测定抗体水平，结果于首次免疫或加强免疫后都可检测到一定水平的特异性抗体。所免疫的家免可以诱发针对恶性疟原虫抗原及ＧＺ－ＡＢ的迟发性超敏反应（ＤＴＨ）。我们的研究表明，含有多个恶性疟原虫抗原表位的人工合成基因可以在减毒鼠伤寒沙门菌中表达，活菌可诱发家兔产生特异的体液免疫及细胞免疫，为恶性疟口服活菌苗的制备打下基础。     

Association of the CTLA-4 gene with rheumatoid arthritis in Chinese Han population

Cytotoxic T lymphocyte-associated antigen 4 (CTLA-4) is important for downregulation of T-cell activation, and CTLA-4 gene polymorphisms have been implicated as risk factors for rheumatoid arthritis (RA). Previous studies of the association between the +49 polymorphism of the CTLA-4 gene in RA have provided conflicting results. In order to determine association of the CTLA-4 gene with RA in Chinese Han population, we used denaturing gradient gel electrophoresis (DGGE) to genotype polymorphisms of four SNPs (MH30, +49, CT60 and JO31) of the CTLA-4 gene in 326 RA patients and 250 healthy controls. Furthermore, meta-analysis of all available studies relating +49 polymorphism to the risk of RA was performed to confirm the disease association. Among the SNPs examined, the genotype frequencies of CTLA-4 +49 and CT60 in RA patients differed significantly from controls (P=0.028 and 0.007). In addition, the distribution of four haplotypes constructed by these two SNPs was significantly different between patients and controls (chi(2)=10.58, d.f. =3, P=0.014). The meta-analysis also revealed that in both European and Asian populations, the CLTA-4 +49 G allele was associated with the risk of RA. These results suggested that the CTLA-4 gene might be involved in the susceptibility to RA in the Chinese Han population and both +49 and CT60 of CTLA-4 gene might be the causal variants in RA disease.     

Rapid, accurate genotyping of the common -alpha(4.2) thalassaemia deletion based on the use of denaturing HPLC

AIMS: To develop an alternative assay for specific genotyping of the -alpha(4.2) thalassaemia deletion based on the DNA sequence features surrounding the breakpoint. METHODS: The 5' and 3' ends of the breakpoint regions of the -alpha(4.2) allele and the normal homologous segments were sequenced in Chinese individuals. A sequence haplotype composed of four single nucleotide variations within the X2/X1 box of the -alpha(4.2) breakpoint region was found in all of the 10 Chinese -alpha(4.2) thalassaemia alleles studied. Based on these findings, a novel polymerase chain reaction (PCR)/denaturing high performance liquid chromatography (DHPLC) assay was developed for rapid genotyping of the -alpha(4.2) allele instead of traditional Southern blotting or Gap-PCR. This method involves amplification of the alpha globin target sequence encompassing these four polymorphic sites, followed by a partially denaturing HPLC analysis using the transgenomic WAVE DNA fragment analysis system. RESULTS: The three major genotypes (-alpha4.2/alphaalpha, -alpha(4.2)/--SEA, and alphaalpha/alphaalpha) could be distinguished through the characteristic chromatograms generated by the WAVE system. The accuracy of this technique was evaluated blindly, and the results were 100% (40 of 40) concordant with the genotypes previously characterised by Southern blotting or Gap-PCR. CONCLUSIONS: This study validates the PCR/DHPLC approach as a simple, rapid, highly accurate, and cost effective method, potentially adaptable for use in epidemiological surveys, genetic screening, and diagnosis of silent alpha+ thalassaemia and Hb H disease.     

Primary papillary carcinoma arising in a thyroglossal duct cyst

We report a case of papillary carcinoma arising in a thyroglossal duct cyst, presenting with an anterior neck mass of a 31-year-old woman. The tumor was judged to be a primary lesion on the basis of intraoperative examination of the thyroid and pathologic findings of the mass. One year later, a small nodular mass in the left thyroid gland and lymph node enlargement of the right cervical lymph node were noted by follow-up imaging studies. Total thyroidectomy, right modified radical neck dissection and central neck dissection were performed. The thyroid gland revealed nodular hyperplasia without evidence of malignancy. On the other hand, the dissected neck lymph nodes revealed metastatic papillary carcinoma. Taken together, these findings suggested the tumor was a primary papillary carcinoma arising in the thyroglossal duct cyst.     

The Plasmodium circumsporozoite protein is involved in mosquito salivary gland invasion by sporozoites

Plasmodium sporozoites develop in oocysts on the midgut wall of the mosquito and are released into the hemocoel. Approximately 15-20% of oocyst sporozoites will successfully attach to and invade salivary glands, their target organ. We have previously shown that the major surface protein of sporozoites, the circumsporozoite (CS) protein, binds specifically to salivary glands and not to other mosquito organs exposed to circulating hemolymph. In addition, a peptide from the N-terminal portion of CS protein inhibits binding of the protein to the glands. In this study, we have extended these findings and show that both the protein and the peptide can inhibit sporozoite invasion of salivary glands.     

吗氯贝胺与米帕明治疗抑郁症多中心双盲对照试验

目的 :以经典抗抑郁药物米帕明为阳性对照药采用随机双盲双模拟方法对吗氯贝胺和米帕明治疗抑郁症的疗效和安全性进行研究。方法 :共纳入病人 2 0 0例 ,分别口服吗氯贝胺 3 0 0 -60 0mg d或米帕明75 -2 5 0mg d。结果 :两组病人Hamilton抑郁量表 (HAMD)以及Hamilton焦虑量表 (HAMA)总分在治疗结束时均显著下降 (P <0 0 0 1)。两组之间疗效无显著差异 (p >0 0 5 )。治疗结束时HAMD减分率分别为吗氯贝胺组 0 74± 0 2 4,米帕明组 0 74± 0 2 4(P >0 0 5 ) ;有效率吗氯贝胺组 79 4% ,米帕明组 85 4% (P >0 0 5 )。吗氯贝胺组有 10种不良反应发生频率显著低于米帕明组 ,主要是抗胆碱能、中枢神经系统及心血管系统不良反应。吗氯贝胺的疗效指数也显著高于米帕明组。结论 :吗氯贝胺是一种安全有效的抗抑郁药物     

Genetic study of Apolipoprotein E gene,alpha‐1 antichymotrypsin gene in sporadic Parkinson disease

Several lines of evidence have suggested some common genetic risk factors for Alzheimer disease (AD) and Parkinson disease (PD) because there are some overlapping pathologies in these two neurodegenerative diseases. In the present study, we investigated the role of Apolipoprotein E gene polymorphism and the signal peptide polymorphism in alpha‐1 antichymotrypsin (ACT) gene in idiopathic sporadic PD. The study was performed in a sample consisting of 68 PD cases and 160 healthy subjects in Shanghai China. We found no significant differences of ACT gene polymorphic distribution between PD cases and controls. The ApoE gene ε2/ε4 genotype was significantly more frequent in PD subjects (χ² = 7.126, df = 1, P = 0.008) and conferred a 12.70 times susceptibility for PD (OR = 12.62, 95% CI: 1.445–110.17, χ² = 5.259, P < 0.05, AF = 4.59%). No interaction of ApoE and ACT genes was detected in PD. Therefore, our data suggested that the ApoE ε2/ε4 genotype might be a susceptibility variant of moderate effect for sporadic idiopathic PD in our samples, whereas the ACT gene signal peptide polymorphism might not. © 2002 Wiley‐Liss, Inc.