Inactivated influenza vaccine formulated with single-stranded RNA-based adjuvant confers mucosal immunity and cross-protection against influenza virus infection

Influenza vaccination is considered the most valuable means to prevent and control seasonal influenza infections, which causes various clinical symptoms, ranging from mild cough and fever to even death. Among various influenza vaccine types, the inactivated subunit type is known to provide improved safety with reduced reactogenicity. However, there are some drawbacks associated with inactivated subunit type vaccines, with the main ones being its low immunogenicity and the induction of Th2-biased immune responses. In this study, we investigated the role of a single-stranded RNA (ssRNA) derived from the intergenic region in the internal ribosome entry site of the Cricket paralysis virus as an adjuvant rather than the universal vaccine for a seasonal inactivated subunit influenza vaccine. The ssRNA adjuvant stimulated not only well-balanced cellular (indicated by IgG2a, IFN-γ, IL-2, and TNF-α) and humoral (indicated by IgG1 and IL-4) immune responses but also a mucosal immune response (indicated by IgA), a key protector against respiratory virus infections. It also increases the HI titer, the surrogate marker of influenza vaccine efficacy. Furthermore, ssRNA adjuvant confers cross-protective immune responses against heterologous influenza virus infection while promoting enhanced viral clearance. Moreover, ssRNA adjuvant increases the number of memory CD4⁺ and CD8⁺ T cells, which can be expected to induce long-term immune responses. Therefore, this ssRNA-adjuvanted seasonal inactivated subunit influenza vaccine might be the best influenza vaccine generating robust humoral and cellular immune responses and conferring cross-protective and long-term immunity.     

模拟舰船磁场与噪声、高温复合对机体作用的方差分析

目的 研究模拟舰船两种剂量水平磁场复合噪声、高温对机体联合作用的特点。方法 采用有交互作用的三因素二水平的正交试验设计方法及方差分析法，按正交表L8（2^7）的要求安排8种复合暴露剂量组合，分别将兔和大鼠分为8个复合暴露组和8个对照组。结果 兔球结膜毛细血管管径、大鼠肝和脾脏HSP70的分析结果显示出磁场是对其影响的主因素（均为P〈0．01），其次是高温（均为P〈0．05）,大鼠下丘脑AVP和大鼠脑组织HSP70的分析结果显示出磁场是对其影响的主因素（均为P〈0．05）。兔血浆内皮素的分析结果显示出磁场与噪声交互作用所对应的F值有非常显著性意义（P〈0．01），磁场与噪声、高温三者之间交互作用所对应的F值也有显著性意义（P〈0．05）。结论 磁场是对上述指标影响的主因素，而高温也是重要因素；磁场与噪声有交互作用，磁场与噪声、高温三者之间也有交互作用；应该重视舰船环境因素对舰船人员的复合作用。     

Sensitive skin: correlation with skin surface microrelief appearance

BACKGROUND/PURPOSE: Sensitive skin is a condition associated with reduced tolerance to environmental factors and/or the application of topical products, such as cosmetics. Its pathophysiology has not been fully elucidated and few data are available on its prevalence. The aim of this study was to investigate possible correlation between objective sensitivity and skin surface microrelief. METHODS: During an epidemiological survey conducted for a campaign promoted by International Society of Plastic Dermatology in Italy, 243 adult healthy subjects of both sexes with no evident dermatological disorder but positive to the lactic acid stinging test, were submitted to cyanoacrylate stratum corneum stripping from the volar forearm for the determination of the irregularity of the skin surface microrelief (irregularity skin index (ISI)). RESULTS: A significant correlation was found between intensity of symptoms in stingers and ISI (r(s)=-0.47; P<0.001). CONCLUSION: Sensitive skin is common in the healthy population. ISI can contribute towards the identification of subjects with sensitive skin and the development of more specific skin treatments for this prevalent condition.     

hs-CRP、TAS联合血脂检测在早老性痴呆症诊断中的应用研究

[目的]研究超敏C反应蛋白（hs-CRP）、总抗氧化状态（TAS）联合血脂检测在早老性痴呆症诊断中的应用价值：[方法]选择浦东新区精神卫生中心早老性痴呆专科门诊患者54例，作超敏C反应蛋白、总抗氧化状态与血脂检测。[结果]与对照组比较，实验组hs-CRP、TAS差异非常显著，t1=4．55，t2=2．79，P1〈0．001，P2〈0．01；血脂中甘油三酯、低密度脂蛋白胆固醇、载脂蛋白B、Lp（a）差异显著；t1=3.01，P1〈0．01，t2=2．21，P2〈0．05，t3=2．64，P3〈0．01，t4=1．91，P4〈0．05。[结论]超敏C反应蛋白、总抗氧化状态联合血脂（甘油三酯、低密度脂蛋白胆固醇、载脂蛋白B、Lp（a））检测对实验室诊断早老性痴呆症具有较好敏感性和特异性，临床应用前景乐观。     

Development of a new sensor based on micro-electro-mechanical systems for objective in vivo measurement of the cutaneous temperature: application to foundations

BACKGROUND/AIMS: The purpose of this work was to develop a new sensor for objective in vivo measurement of the cutaneous temperature based on micro-electro-mechanical systems (MEMS), and to compare these performances with those of a classical thermocouple. Research on this new sensor was carried out to allow the quantification of the thermal properties of the made-up skin. METHODS: Sixteen female subjects divided into two different age groups (18-35 and >50 years old) were recruited for this study. Several zones of the face and forearms were made up at random with foundations containing or not a thermoregulator raw material. The quantity of foundation applied on the skin was standardized and measurements were carried out first before make-up, and then 10 s and 5 min after make-up. The new sensor and the thermocouple were used successively on each zone. The cutaneous temperature was expressed in degrees celsius. RESULTS/CONCLUSION: The two systems are similar in terms of repeatability and reproducibility, with some differences in sensibility. The data measured by the MEMS sensor appear lower than those measured by the thermocouple. After make-up, the MEMS sensor detects a progressive increase of the temperature in time whereas the thermocouple detects a decrease. We found the same evolution on the face but in a more attenuated way. These results tend to show that the devices do not measure the same phenomenon. The thermocouple appears more sensitive to the thermal response of the made-up surface whereas the MEMS sensor appears more sensitive to the heat transfers in the interface between the skin and make-up.     

An experimentally supported, mathematical explanation of the gas chromatographic elution behaviour of the long-chain carbon members of the homologous series

By substituting the saturated vapour phase tension of the pure normal hydrocarbons described by the Clausius-Clapeyron law into the accepted expression of the specific retention volume (V_g,T), a theoretically coherent and relatively simple mathematical evidence of the elution behaviour of the homologous members has been deduced. It gives exponential retention time dependence on carbon number for isothermal, and nearly equidistant (i.e., approximately linear retention-time dependence on carbon number) elution for linear temperature programmed gas chromatographic runs. The final equations are in close correlation with the experimental results. Special emphasis is placed on the fact that a good approximation—not strict physical laws—have been found.     

103例角膜溃疡的病因和病原及药物敏感试验的统计分析

对１９９５年１—１２月间我院门诊１０３例角膜溃疡的病因、病原和药物敏感试验进行统计分析。病因：外伤５９例（５７．２８％），继发感染３４例（３３．０１％），原因不明８例（７．７７％），戴接触镜２例（１．９４％）。病原：真菌３５例（３３．９８％），绿脓杆菌１８例（１７．４８％），金黄色葡萄球菌１５例（１４．５６％），表皮葡萄球菌９例（８．７４％），淋球菌２例（１．９４％）。对１９例真菌性角膜溃疡同时进行细菌培养，有７例为混合感染，占３６．８４％。对几种主要检出菌的药物敏感试验表明：它们对普通抗菌素均可产生一定的耐药性     

How far do patients with sensory ataxia benefit from so-called “proprioceptive rehabilitation”?

A rehabilitation program including foot sensory stimulation, balance and gait training with limited vision was performed in 24 patients with clinically defined sensory ataxia. There were 15 patients with bilateral somatosensory loss related to chronic neuropathy and nine patients with unilateral loss-related to multiple sclerosis. After training, balance control assessed using the Berg Balance Test improved similarly in both groups, and Romberg's sign disappeared in some patients, suggesting an improvement in dynamic balance and in the proprioceptive contribution. Conversely, balance assessed on a static force platform remained similar in the open-eyes condition and improved in the closed-eyes condition only in patients with unilateral sensory loss. These results show that ataxic patients can improve their balance with better results in dynamic conditions and that the relative contribution of proprioceptive and visual inputs may depend on the extent of somatosensory loss.     

Non-invasive temperature imaging of muscles with magnetic resonance imaging using spin-echo sequences

The application of spin-echo magnetic resonance imaging sequences on non-invasive temperature imaging for temperature mapping of human limbs is investigated. In an in vitro expriment performed on a meat sample, the equilibrium magnetisation P and the spin-lattice relaxation time T₁ are calculated from the values for the repetition time TR and the signal intensities obtained by a spin-echo sequence at different tissue temperatures tures as measured by a fibre-optic probe. T₁ is linearly correlated to the tissue temperature, and P is linearly correlated to the reciprocal value of the absolute temperature. Both effects, taken together, lead to a non-linear dependency of the signal intensity on temperature. Therefore a TR leading to maximum temperature dependency of the signal intensity is calculated and used in the futher experiments. In the in vivo experiments, the lower legs of two volunteers are cooled from outside. Images are acquired with a spin-echo sequence (1.5T, TR=1200 ms, TE=10 ms). A rise in signal intensity in the muscle with falling skin temperature is observed, particularly in more peripheral muscle layers. This study shows that spin-echo sequences can be used to monitor temperature changes and temperature differences in living muscle tissue.     

Cholera Toxin B-Mediated Targeting of Lipid Vesicles Containing Ganglioside GM1 to Mucosal Epithelial Cells

Purpose. To determine whether the non-toxic pentameric B subunit of Cholera toxin (CTB) binding to ganglioside GM1 on both the lipid vesicles and epithelial cells may provide a means to target lipid vesicles to mucosal cells expressing surface GM1. Methods. Sonicated lipid vesicles containing ganglioside GM1 were prepared. Inter-vesicle cross-linking due to pentameric CTB binding to these GM1 vesicles was determined with a sub-micron particle analyzer. Association of CTB to GM1 vesicles was analyzed with continuous sucrose gradient centrifugation. CTB-mediated binding of GM1 vesicles to human mucosal epithelial cells (Caco-2 and HT-29), mucous membranes of mouse trachea, and nasal tissues were detected with fluorescent labeled vesicles. Results. An increase in lipid particle size due to binding of CTB to lipid vesicles and inter-vesicles cross-linking was detected. At a 30-to-1 mole ratio of membrane-bound GMl-to-CTB, optimum increase in GM1 vesicle aggregation, was detected. Under such conditions, all the added CTB molecules were associated with GM1 vesicles. Time course analysis showed that inter-vesicles cross linking by CTB was detectable within 10 min. and reached a maximum value at 60 min. CTB associated GM1-vesicles bind to mucosal epithelial cells HT-29 and Caco-2 with similar affinity [K_d = 7.8 × 10^–4 M lipid (Caco-2) and 7.6 × 10^–4 M lipid (HT-29)]. GM1 mediated binding specificity was demonstrated by blocking with anti-GMl antibody and the insignificant degree of CTB-associated GM1 vesicle binding to GM1 deficient C6 cells. Conclusions. The CTB-mediated GM1 binding to multiple membrane surfaces provides selective localization of GM1 vesicles to GM1 expressing mucosal cells and tissues. The strategy may be useful in localizing drugs and proteins to gut and respiratory tract mucosa.