Gaps in Serologic Immunity against Contemporary Swine-Origin Influenza A Viruses among Healthy Individuals in the United States

Influenza A Viruses (IAV) in domestic swine (IAV-S) are associated with sporadic zoonotic transmission at the human–animal interface. Previous pandemic IAVs originated from animals, which emphasizes the importance of characterizing human immunity against the increasingly diverse IAV-S. We analyzed serum samples from healthy human donors (n = 153) using hemagglutination-inhibition (HAI) assay to assess existing serologic protection against a panel of contemporary IAV-S isolated from swine in the United States (n = 11). Age-specific seroprotection rates (SPR), which are the proportion of individuals with HAI ≥ 1:40, corresponded with lower or moderate pandemic risk classifications for the multiple IAV-S examined (one H1-δ1, one H1-δ2, three H3-IVA, one H3-IVB, one H3-IVF). Individuals born between 2004 and 2013 had SPRs of 0% for the five classified H3 subtype IAV-S, indicating youth may be particularly predisposed to infection with these viruses. Expansion of existing immunologic gaps over time could increase likelihood of future IAV-S spillover to humans and facilitate subsequent sustained human-to-human transmission resulting in disease outbreaks with pandemic potential.     

Depression and depressive symptoms in rheumatoid arthritis patients: an analysis of their occurrence and determinants

The objectives were to determine the differences in depressive symptoms and depression between rheumatoid arthritis (RA) and osteoarthritis (OA) patients, and to analyse the contribution of sociodemographic and clinical variables to depression in RA patients. The responses of 60 Egyptian RA patients and 40 patients with OA of the knees to the Symptom Checklist-90-R Depression subscale were compared. The proportions of patients from both groups confirmed by a psychiatric interview to be clinically depressed according to the DSM-III-R criteria were also compared. The contributions of sociodemographic and disease variables to depressive symptoms and clinical depression in RA patients were explored by multiple linear and logistic regression, respectively. RA patients showed significantly higher depression scores than OA patients (P = 0.001). The difference was unaffected by controlling for the effects of age, sex, disease duration and the sociodemographic covariates. A depressive disorder was clinically confirmed in 23% of RA patients and 10% of OA patients. The erythrocyte sedimentation rate (ESR), being unmarried and an urban residence were significant predictors of depressive symptoms (P < 0.05), while being unmarried (P < 0.05, OR = 2.1) and HAQ disability (P < 0.01, OR = 3.8) were significant predictors of clinical depression in RA patients. RA patients have significantly more depressive symptoms and tend to be more clinically depressed than OA patients. The contribution of some sociodemographic and clinical variables to depression in RA patients was modest, albeit significant.      

Rising incidence of type 1 diabetes in Scottish children, 1984-93. The Scottish Study Group for the Care of Young Diabetics

OBJECTIVES: To calculate the incidence of type 1 diabetes in Scottish children aged less than 15 years between 1984 and 1993; to examine changes in incidence; and to calculate the prevalence of diabetes at the end of this period. DESIGN: Three data sources were used to construct the Scottish Study Group for the Care of Young Diabetics register: active reporting of all new cases; reports from the Scottish Morbidity Register 1; and local registers. SUBJECTS: All children resident in Scotland diagnosed with primary insulin dependent diabetes mellitus when less than 15 years of age between 1984 and 1993. MAIN OUTCOME MEASURES: Annual incidence and prevalence rate for Scotland; time trend in incidence over the 10 years; differences in incidence between the three different age groups; and completeness of the register. RESULTS: The average annual incidence for Scotland was 23.9/100,000 children. The prevalence rate was 1.5/1000 in 1993. A total of 2326 cases was identified from the three sources. Capture-recapture analysis suggests a case ascertainment of 98.6%. The annual incidence rates increased at a rate of 2% each year (rate ratio = 1.02, 95% confidence interval (CI) 1.01 to 1.03). The incidence was higher in boys than girls (rate ratio = 1.08, 95% CI 1.00 to 1.18), and the incidence rates increased with age: 15.3/100,000/year for age 0-4 years, 24.4/ 100,000/year for age 5-9 years, and 31.9/ 100,000/year for age 10-14 years. CONCLUSIONS: The incidence of type 1 diabetes in Scotland is increasing and the prevalence is relatively high. These findings have important implications for health service resource allocation. The Scottish Study Group for the Care of Young Diabetics' register provides a base for monitoring and research.     

Cloning and expression of the gene involved in Sanfilippo B syndrome (mucopolysaccharidosis III B)

Sanfilippo B syndrome is caused by a deficiency of alpha-N- acetylglucosaminidase, a lysosomal enzyme involved in the degradation of heparan sulphate. Accumulation of the substrate in lysosomes results in degeneration of the central nervous system with progressive dementia often combined with hyperactivity and aggressive behaviour. In order to clone the deficient gene, we purified the enzyme from human placenta and obtained amino acid sequence information. Alignment of one of the CNBr generated internal peptides to sequence from the database revealed the chromosomal location of the gene in the 5' upstream flanking region of the gene for 17-beta-hydroxysteroid-dehydrogenase at 17q21.1. The available DNA sequence was used to clone the cDNA coding for alpha-N- acetylglucosaminidase and analyse its gene structure. The gene is fully contained in the 5' upstream flanking region of the gene for 17-beta- hydroxysteroid-dehydrogenase and interrupted by five introns. The cDNA clone has a length of 2575 bp and encodes a protein of 743 amino acids. Chinese hamster ovary cells transfected with the cDNA construct show alpha-N-acetylglucosaminidase activity about 17-fold over background. This will allow correction studies with NAG deficient Sanfilippo B cell lines and facilitate the development of enzyme replacement therapy for these patients.      

B cell responses to H5 influenza HA in human subjects vaccinated with a drifted variant

B cell responses after immunization with a drifted H5 influenza/A/Vietnam/1203/04 vaccine were characterized in the peripheral blood of human subjects primed with experimental recombinant H5 influenza A/Hong Kong/156/97 vaccine. Antibody secreting cells were assayed by ELISPOT against a panel of recombinant hemagglutinin and control proteins. Increased frequencies of H5 HA-specific antibody secreting and memory B cells could be observed within 7 days of re-vaccination. Furthermore, these responses were cross-reactive to both H5 HA variants, but not H3 or avian H6 HA strains. These observations suggest prior vaccination against H5 influenza HA induces cellular immune responses that cross-react among drifted variants, without precluding a response to new, or existing HA strains.     

山东泰安地区两个自然村人群血脂状况调查

目的:调查了解山东泰安地区农村人群的血脂水平,为该地区农民心脑血管疾病的预防提供基础数据。方法:实验于2006-06随机选取泰安市两个自然村650人进行健康检查,男270人,女380人,年龄2～88岁。①650人均于早晨空腹采集静脉血3mL,静置凝固后,2h内分离血清,采用全自动生化分析仪常规测定患者血脂指标总胆固醇、三酰甘油水平。②总胆固醇>5.2mmol/L判定为高胆固醇血症,三酰甘油>1.7mmol/L判定为高三酰甘油血症。结果:650人全部完成血样采集与血脂指标检测。①不同性别血脂水平比较:被检人群男性三酰甘油水平显著高于女性[(1.16±1.47),(0.95±0.84)mmol/L,P<0.05];男女总胆固醇水平基本相似(P>0.05)。②不同年龄段血脂水平比较:8人因具体年龄段不祥被排除,剩余642人分为3个年龄段:2～30岁、31～50岁、51～88岁。结果31～50岁人群三酰甘油水平显著高于2～30岁人群[(1.14±1.47),(0.88±0.70)mmol/L,P<0.05],略高于51～88岁人群(P>0.05);51～88岁人群总胆固醇水平>31～50岁人群>2～30岁人群,相邻年龄段间比较差异均有显著性意义(P<0.001)。③各年龄段男女间血脂水平比较:2～30岁人群和51～88岁人群三酰甘油水平性别间差异均无显著性意义(P>0.05),但总胆固醇水平女性均显著高于男性[(2.38±1.47),(1.85±1.26)mmol/L,P<0.05;(4.48±0.92),(4.18±0.76)mmol/L,P0.01]。31～50岁人群男性三酰甘油水平显著高于女性[(1.51±2.06),(0.90±0.80)mmol/L,P<0.01],总胆固醇水平基本相似(P>0.05)。④各年龄段男女高血脂症构成比:31～50岁人群高三酰甘油血症构成比显著高于2～30岁、51～88岁人群(23.1%,5.5%,9.3%,P<0.01);随着年龄增高,各年龄段高胆固醇血症构成比逐渐升高,相邻年龄段间差异均有显著性意义(2.7%,8.6%,15.6%,P<0.01)。31～50岁人群男性高三酰甘油血症、高胆固醇血症的构成比显著高于女性(P<0.01);2～30岁、51～88岁人群男女间高血脂症的构成比基本相似(P>0.05)。结论:①山东泰安地区农村人群高三酰甘油血症,31～50岁年龄段患病率最高;高胆固醇血症患病率随年龄增长逐步上升,提示中年人健康体检尤为重要。②高脂血症应从青少年开始加大预防和保健力度,进行广泛和反复的健康教育,倡导健康的生活方式和生活行为。     

肝脏可溶性复合物不同剂量、不同途径移植对肿瘤细胞增殖抑制的体内外实验

目的:肝脏可溶性复合物具有保护肝脏、刺激肝组织再生等生物学活性,观察天然物质肝脏可溶性复合物对肿瘤细胞生长增殖的抑制作用.方法:实验于2006-05/2007-02在四川大学华西医院生物治疗国家重点实验室实验肿瘤研究室完成.①分离人胚胎、成年及新生小鼠肝脏组织,生理盐水清洗、剪碎、筛网过滤,用生理盐水制备混悬液,3 000 r/min离心,收集上清,制备肝脏可溶性复合物.②体外实验:用上述不同来源的肝脏可溶性复合物体外处理肿瘤细胞,四甲基偶氮唑盐比色法测定其对乳腺癌细胞EMT6增殖的影响.③体内实验:观察成年鼠肝脏可溶物质对乳腺癌细胞EMT6体内生长的抑制作用及其对荷瘤鼠生存状况的影响,包括不同给药剂量及不同给药途径两个实验,给药途径包括在接种肿瘤细胞部位的对侧腋下、同侧腋下、腹腔注射及灌胃等.结果:①体外实验显示不同来源的肝脏可溶性复合物能明显抑制肿瘤细胞EMT6增殖率,肿瘤增殖抑制率均显著高于血清白蛋白处理组(P＜0.05),并呈剂量依赖性.②成年鼠肝脏可溶物质8mg/L组抑瘤率高于2,4 mg/L组(P＜0.05),未观察到明显毒副效应.③比较不同给药途径,成年鼠肝脏可溶物质同侧注射组的抑瘤率较其他3组的抑瘤率高(P＜0.05),各成年鼠肝脏可溶物质给予组的体质量增长率比相应生理盐水对照组高(P＜0.05).④与相应生理盐水对照组比较,在同侧腋下注射成年鼠肝脏可溶物质的小鼠生存期明显延长(P＜0.05).结论:肝脏可溶性复合物具有抑制肿瘤细胞生长的作用,并且呈一定的剂量依赖性.不同的给药途径中,在接种肿瘤细胞部位的同侧腋下给药抑瘤效果最好.