A simple and rapid approach for screening of SARS-coronavirus genotypes: an evaluation study

Background  

The Severe Acute Respiratory Syndrome (SARS) was a newly emerged infectious disease which caused a global epidemic in 2002–2003. Sequence analysis of SARS-coronavirus isolates revealed that specific genotypes predominated at different periods of the epidemic. This information can be used as a footprint for tracing the epidemiology of infections and monitor viral evolution. However, direct sequencing analysis of a large number of clinical samples is cumbersome and time consuming. We present here a simple and rapid assay for the screening of SARS-coronavirus genotypes based on the use of fluorogenic oligonucleotide probes for allelic discrimination.     

Functional correction of short-chain acyl-CoA dehydrogenase deficiency in transgenic mice: implications for gene therapy of human mitochondrial enzyme deficiencies

We report the therapeutic effects of liver-specific expression of a short-chain acyl-CoA dehydrogenase (SCAD) transgene in the SCAD- deficient mouse model. Transgenic mice were produced with a rat albumin promoter/enhancer driving a mouse SCAD minigene (ALB-SCAD) on both the SCAD normal genetic background and a SCAD-deficient background. In three transgenic lines produced on the SCAD-deficient background, recombinant SCAD activity and antigen in liver mitochondria were found up to 7-fold of normal control values. All three lines showed a markedly reduced organic aciduria and fatty liver, which are sensitive indicators of the metabolic abnormality seen in this disease found in children. We found no detrimental effects of high liver SCAD expression in transgenic mice on either background. These studies provide important basic and practical therapeutic information for the potential gene therapy of nuclear-encoded mitochondrial enzyme deficiencies, as well as insights into the mechanisms of the disease.      

人乳头瘤病毒11型主要衣壳蛋白L1基因的克隆及序列分析

目的 从临床尖锐湿疣标本克隆人乳头瘤病毒（HPV）11型主要衣壳蛋白L1基因,进行序列测定及序列分析比较,以为研究该临床病毒株的免疫原性及流赞美同学奠定基础。方法 以临床尖锐湿疣标本总DNA为模板,用L1基因保守区简并引物以PCR方法分段扩增衣壳蛋白L1基因在部,重组入pGEM-3zf(-)质粒载体,以双脱氧法双向测定插入片段序列,拼接出L1基因序列,通过BLAST2.0与已报道序列进行比较。结果 从西安地区一尖锐湿疣临床标本克隆到的一株HPV11型L1蛋白编码序列与一文献报道大部分相同,但有些位点有点突变,结论 构建的pGEM-3zf(-)重组质粒为进一步通过杂交、体内分段表达等手段研究研究该株病毒L1蛋白的免疫学和流行病学性质创造了条件。     

Membrane plasmalogen composition and cellular cholesterol regulation: a structure activity study

Background  

Disrupted cholesterol regulation leading to increased circulating and membrane cholesterol levels is implicated in many age-related chronic diseases such as cardiovascular disease (CVD), Alzheimer's disease (AD), and cancer. In vitro and ex vivo cellular plasmalogen deficiency models have been shown to exhibit impaired intra- and extra-cellular processing of cholesterol. Furthermore, depleted brain plasmalogens have been implicated in AD and serum plasmalogen deficiencies have been linked to AD, CVD, and cancer.     

前列腺基底细胞增生的诊断与鉴别

目的：探讨前列腺基底细胞增生的诊断及鉴别，以免误诊为癌。方法：选择原诊断有疑义的６ 个中国病例，应用组织病理学和免疫组化标记方法观察。结果：没有不典型增生，５ 例３４βＥ１２ 全部强阳性。结论：此病变需与不典型增生、上皮内瘤、腺癌、腺病和腺体萎缩鉴别     

A multicenter study of viral hepatitis in a United States hemophilic population

Hemophilia A and B patients seen at nine US regional treatment centers were tested for serologic markers of hepatitis B virus (HBV), hepatitis C virus (HCV), and hepatitis delta virus (HDV) during 1987 and 1988. Because human immunodeficiency virus (HIV) infection, a potentially confounding variable, was present in 53% of the group, the population was divided by HIV status for analysis purposes. In the HIV-positive group (N = 382), less than 1% had not been infected with HBV, HCV, or HDV, whereas 75% had evidence of infection with HBV and 98% with HCV. HBsAg, a marker of active HBV infection, was present in 12% of subjects; 96% of these were HCV positive. Anti-HDV was detected in 35 subjects (9.1%); all were anti-HBc positive. Ten of the 35 (29%) also were positive for IgM anti-HDV, indicating current infection. All 10 were HBsAg positive and 7 of the 9 tested were HDV RNA positive. Severe/moderate hemophilia B patients were more likely to have experienced an HBV infection and to be anti-HDV positive than were similar hemophilia A patients (22% v 8%, P < .05). In the HIV-negative group (N = 345), the subjects were younger and had less severe hemophilia than the HIV-positive patients. No evidence of HBV, HCV, or HDV infection was found in 18%, whereas 33% had experienced HBV infection and 79% were anti-HCV positive. Within this group, 4% were HBsAg positive. All 13 subjects with anti-HDV (4% of the HIV-negative group) also possessed anti-HBc. One (7.7%) was IgM anti-HDV positive and the serum from another contained HDV RNA. Both of these individuals were HBsAg positive. As in the HIV-positive group, severe/moderate hemophilia B patients were more likely to be HBV and HDV positive than were hemophilia A patients (9% v 3%, P < .05). A prevalence study of viral hepatitis in a large US hemophilic population showed that active infection with HCV is common, occurring in 89% of all study patients regardless of HIV status. Evidence of active HBV infection was found in 8%; 19% of these were actively infected with HDV. HDV was more common in hemophilia B patients after controlling for disease severity.     

The role of Toll‐like receptors in periodontitis

Periodontitis is a common infectious disease. Recent studies have indicated that the progression of periodontitis may be regulated by interactions between host immunity and periodontopathic bacteria. Although periodontopathic bacteria can destroy periodontal tissue, a dysfunctional host immune response triggered by the bacteria can lead to more severe and persistent destruction. Toll‐like receptors (TLRs), a type of pattern recognition receptor (PRR) that recognizes pathogens, have been implicated in host innate immune responses to periodontopathic bacteria and in the activation of adaptive immunity. TLR‐targeted drugs may hold promise to treat periodontal disease. This review summarizes recent studies on the role of TLRs in periodontitis and discusses areas needing further research. We believe TLRs may be an effective biomarker for the prevention, diagnosis, and treatment of periodontitis in the near future.