Synthesis of a new carrier for immunization: polytuftsin

Sequential poly(Arg-Thr-Lys-Pro) consisting mainly of the repeat of tuftsin Thr-Lys-Pro-Arg was synthesized by condensing the p-nitrophenyl ester of Arg(HCI)-Thr-Lys-(2-CI-Z)-Pro in the presence of HOBt . Two haptenic sequences of the Pre-S region of hepatitis B virus antigen (10–26 and 39–55) were prepared by solid phase and coupled to polytuftsin via glutaraldehyde. The peptides, either free or coupled to polytuftsin, were administrated to mice and the antisera were assayed by ELISA . Coupling the peptides to the polypeptide significantly improved the anti-peptide antibody titer in Freund complete adjuvant or in NaCI 0.9%. Cross-reaction between antibodies induced by the peptides and the native protein was also improved. Polytuftsin alone is very poorly immunogenic.     

Hepatitis B virus genetic diversity and its impact on diagnostic assays

Summary.  Hepatitis B virus (HBV) circulates in blood as closely related, but genetically diverse molecules called quasispecies. During replication, HBV production may approach 10¹¹ molecules/day, although during peak activity this rate may increase 100–1000 times. Generally, DNA polymerases have excellent fidelity in reading DNA templates because they are associated with an exonuclease which removes incorrectly added nucleotides. However, the HBV-DNA polymerase lacks fidelity and proofreading function partly because exonuclease activity is either absent or deficient. Thus, the HBV genome and especially the envelope gene, is mutated with unusually high frequency. These mutations can affect more than one open reading frame because of overlapping genes. The S gene contains an exposed major hydrophilic region (residues 110–155), which encompasses the 'a' determinant that is important for inducing immunity. Nucleotide substitutions in this region are common and result in reduced binding or failure to detect hepatitis B surface antigen (HBsAg) in diagnostic assays. Adaptive immunity also depends on the recognition of HBsAg by specific antibody and variants pose a threat if they interfere with binding to antibody. Finally, genomic hypervariability allows HBV to escape selection pressures imposed by antiviral therapies, vaccines and the host immune system, and is responsible for creating genotypes, subgenotypes and subtypes.     

狭叶五味子中化合物扁枝杉香豆素和(-)-表儿茶酸体外抗乙型肝炎病毒活性研究

目的 研究从狭叶五味子Schisandra lancifolia中分离化合物扁枝杉香豆素(phyllocoumarin)和(-)-表儿茶酸[(-)-epicatechin]的体外抗乙型肝炎病毒(HBV)活性.方法 为了筛选和确认扁枝杉香豆素和(-)-表儿茶酸体外抗HBV活性,以HepG2.2.15细胞为体外研究HBV模型,分别用RPMI 1640完全培养基稀释不同质量浓度的药物作用于细胞,培养3 d后收集上清,采用MTT法检测药物对HepG2.2.15细胞的生长影响和ELISA法检测培养上清中HBsAg和HBeAg的水平,评价扁枝杉香豆素和(-)-表儿茶酸对HBsAg和HBeAg的影响.结果 扁枝杉香豆素和(-)-表儿茶酸具有一定的体外抗HBV活性,其细胞毒性非常小,CC_(50)均大于200μg/mL.扁枝杉香豆素具有较强的抑制HBsAg和HBeAg分泌作用.阳性对照药物阿德福韦酯也抑制HBVHBsAg和HBeAg分泌,但在相同质量浓度(1.6μg/mL)下其抑制作用较扁枝杉香豆素弱.结论 狭叶五味子中化合物扁枝杉香豆素和(-)-表儿茶酸具有一定体外抑制HBV HBsAg和HBeAg分泌的作用,从而起到抗HBV作用.     

肝病治疗仪治疗高原慢性乙型肝炎患者的临床观察

目的观察WGLY-801型电脑肝病治疗仪对慢性乙型肝炎的治疗效果。方法随机选取慢性乙型肝炎患者144例,分为治疗组66例,在常规治疗基础上加用肝病治疗仪;对照组78例,采用常规治疗,观察两组治疗效果。治疗三疗程共45天(每疗程15天),观察临床症状、肝功能的动态变化,并对最终效果进行评价。结果经治疗后,两组患者临床症状、肝功能较前均有好转,但治疗组起效快,疗程明显缩短,疗效好,差异有明显统计学意义(p<0.05)。结论肝病治疗仪,操作简单,疗效确切,值得进一步推广应用。     

Identification of new immunogenic peptides in conserved regions of hepatitis C virus (HCV) 1b with the potentiality to generate cytotoxic T lymphocytes in HCV1b+ HLA-A24+ patients

Aim: Hepatitis C virus (HCV) 1b is resistant to standard interferon therapy and has a high risk of developing into hepatocellular carcinoma at the late stage of infection. Therefore, new therapeutic modalities for HCV1b infection must be developed. One approach would be active specific immunotherapy with highly immunogenic HCV1b peptides. Methods: HCV1b-derived 44 synthetic peptides were selected based on their binding scores to HLA-A24. Peptide-specific IgG were measured by ELISA. Peptide-specific cytotoxic T-lymphocytes (CTLs) were induced in vitro by repeated peptide-stimulation. Results: We identified three novel candidate peptides of HCV1b proteins containing HLA-A24 binding motifs. Each of them had the ability to induce HLA-A24-restricted and peptide-specific CTL activity, and IgGs specific to each of them were detected in the plasma of HCV1b patients. Among these three peptides, a peptide NS5A 2132-2142 was recognized by both cellular and humoral immunities in the majority of blood samples of patients tested. More importantly, the peptide-stimulated peripheral blood mononuclear cells (PBMCs) showed cytotoxicity against cells cotransfected with NS5A and HLA-A2402 genes in an HLA-restricted manner. This is an additional report to our previous study. Conclusion: These findings may provide a new insight into the development of a peptide-based specific immunotherapy for HCV1b-infected patients.     

骨髓输液在PICU的应用探讨

目的　探讨骨髓输液在PICU的适应证、方法及临床效果。方法　选择PICU危重症建立静脉通道困难患儿 30例 ,采用 7号骨穿针或 7～ 9号头皮针于胫骨粗隆下 1～ 2cm穿刺、固定 ,接入医嘱液体 ,记录穿刺所需时间、入液速度及生命体征变化、并发症等。结果　 2 8例 1次成功 ,2例用头皮针者有堵塞 ,换针后重新穿刺成功 ,穿刺、固定到接入液体平均时间 (30± 10 )s。速率 :一般压力 (8± 3)ml (kg体重·h) ,加压下 (17± 6 )ml (kg体重·h) ,所有病例均达到了医嘱要求。骨髓输液持续时间 3～ 2 2h ,无 1例出现并发症。结论　骨髓输液在PICU危重症抢救中可迅速建立液体通道 ,争取抢救时间。头皮针比骨髓穿刺针易于固定 ,使用更方便     

A case of acute hepatitis E associated with multidrug hypersensitivity and cytomegalovirus reactivation

A 65-year-old Japanese man was hospitalized because of acute hepatitis and severe cholestasis due to hepatitis E virus (HEV) infection combined with a drug reaction to a cold preparation. He died of disseminated intravascular coagulation and severe intestinal bleeding due to systemic cytomegalovirus reactivation following the development of severe eruptions with marked eosinophilia due to drug hypersensitivity to taurine and ursodeoxycholate preparations. The close interaction between viral infection or reactivation and drug hypersensitivity was considered as a pathophysiology in this case, which emphasizes the need for further study of the immunological mechanism of the interaction.     

C4d in Acute Rejection After Liver Transplantation—A Valuable Tool in Differential Diagnosis to Hepatitis C Recurrence

Hepatitis C is the most common indication for liver transplantation. Recurrence of HCV is universal leading to graft failure in up to 40% of all patients. The differentiation between acute rejection and recurrent hepatitis C is crucial as rejection treatments are likely to aggravate HCV recurrence. Histological examination of liver biopsy remains the gold standard for diagnosis of acute rejection but has failed in the past to distinguish between acute rejection and recurrent hepatitis C. We have recently reported that C4d as a marker of the activated complement cascade is detectable in hepatic specimen in acute rejection after liver transplantation. In this study, we investigate whether C4d may serve as a specific marker for differential diagnosis in hepatitis C reinfection cases. Immunohistochemical analysis of 97 patients was performed. A total of 67.7% of patients with acute cellular rejection displayed C4d-positive staining in liver biopsy whereas 11.8% of patients with hepatitis C reinfection tested positive for C4d. In the control group, 6.9% showed C4d positivity. For the first time we were able to clearly demonstrate that humoral components, represented by C4d deposition, play a role in acute cellular rejection after LTX. Consequently C4d may be helpful to distinguish between acute rejection and reinfection after LTX for HCV.     

江门市区实施乙型肝炎免疫策略16年的效果评价

目的：对江门市区1986年1月1日起全面实施的乙型肝炎(乙肝)免疫策略进行效果评价。方法：运用血清流行病学调查和疫情资料对比分析，比较实施“免疫策略”前后江门市区0～15岁人群乙肝发病率和感染率变化情况和乙肝表面抗体(抗-HBs)增长情况。结果：实施“免疫策略”后16年，0～15人群的乙肝发病率由1985年的367．39／10万，降至2001年的21．10／10万，下降94．26％；HBsAg阳性率由1985年的9．17％降至2002年的0．6％，下降93．46％；乙肝病毒总感染率由1985年的35．82％降至2002年的1．20％，下降96．65％；抗-HBs阳性率由1985年的24．64％上升到2002年的93．00％，上升2．77倍。结论：江门市区现行乙肝免疫策略效果显，能有效预防和控制地区性大面积的乙肝流行与传播。经过一代人的努力，能彻底改变人口乙肝高发病率和HBV高感染率及高携带率的状况。     

重型病毒性肝炎合并急性胰腺炎的临床分析

目的通过对重型病毒性肝炎合并急性胰腺炎的病例进行分析,以找出其临床特点.方法对上述病例的临床症状、实验室检查、治疗情况、病情的发生发展及预后进行分析.结果少数患者表现不典型或胰腺炎的症状被重型肝炎的严重症状所掩盖,容易发生漏诊及误诊;且病情发展快、预后差.结论只有对相应患者尽早做血、尿淀粉酶的测定并反复复查,才能做到及时诊断和治疗.