Production of monoclonal antibodies against thermostable direct hemolysin of Vibrio parahaemolyticus and application of the antibodies for enzyme-linked immunosorbent assay

A total nine hybridoma cell lines that produced monoclonal antibodies against thermostable direct hemolysin (Vp-TDH), a possible pathogenic toxin, of Kanagawa phenomenon-positive Vibrio parahaemolyticus was isolated and characterized. These monoclonal antibodies (mAbs) were divided into a minimum of five different specificity groups, including mAbs specific to Vp-TDH and common to Vp-TDH and Vp-TRH, a Vp-TDH-related hemolysin produced by Kanagawa phenomenon-negative V. parahaemolyticus. An enzyme-linked immunosorbent assay (ELISA) using mAb-1-D, a mAb specific for Vp-TDH, was developed for specific detection of Vp-TDH. On the other hand, the ELISA using mAb-9-D, and mAb common to both Vp-TDH and Vp-TRH, could be used for detection of both Vp-TDH and Vp-TRH. Thus, by combining these two ELISAs differential detection of Vp-TDH and Vp-TRH can be performed. Hence, the two ELISAs were applied for various strains of V. parahaemolyticus and it was found that most Kanagawa phenomenon-positive and -negative clinical isolates produced Vp-TDH and Vp-TRH, respectively, but all environmental strains, that were Kanagawa phenomenon-negative, produced neither toxin.Supported by a Grant-in-Aid for Scientific Research and a Grant-in-Aid for Developmental Scientific Research from the Ministry of Education, Science, and Culture of Japan     

C-reactive protein is not only an inflammatory marker but also a direct cause of cardiovascular diseases

Inflammatory processes play a pivotal role in the pathogenesis of atherosclerosis and mediate many of the stages of atheroma development from initial leukocyte recruitment to eventual rupture of the unstable atherosclerotic plaque. C-reactive protein (CRP), an acute phase reactant that reflects different degree of inflammation, has been indicated an independent risk factor in a variety of cardiovascular disease (CVD), especially in unstable coronary syndrome. Our data have showed that increased level of CRP in patients with unstable angina was associated with short-term clinical outcomes, response for conventional therapy, and activation of nuclear factor-kappa B (NF-kappaB), but it is not correlated to coronary artery stenosis as well as lipid profile. Traditionally, CRP has been thought of as a bystander marker of vascular inflammation, without playing a direct role in the CVD. More recently, accumulating evidence suggest that CRP may have direct proinflammatory effects, which is associated with all stages of atherosclerosis. In our recent study, the results demonstrate that monocytes exhibit an enhanced production of interleukin-6 (IL-6) in response to CRP, and this response is significantly inhibited by simvastatin in a dose-dependent manner. This may be of important interest in the connection between CVD and CRP. Based on those evidence, we hypothesis that CRP is not only an inflammatory marker but also a direct cause of CVD, and treatments that reduce CRP should be benefit for primary and secondary prevention of CVD. Administration of several agents, especially statin has been showed to modify CRP concentrations with a concurrent fall in cardiovascular events. Our clinical investigation suggested that treatment with a single high-dose or a short-term common dose of simvastatin could rapidly reduce CRP level. Those data indicated that the benefit to the vascular endothelium might occur quickly in patients with CVD, which is critical issue for high-risk subgroup. Other interventions, such as lifestyle changes, weight loss, and stop smoking are also warrant attention.     

慢性乙肝患者血清趋化因子RANTES水平与肝功能生化指标等的相关性研究

Objective To investigate the level of the serum chemokine RANTES and its correlation with serum biochemical indices of liver function test, HBeAg and HBV DNA load in patients with chronic hepatitis B.Methods 144 patients with chronic hepatitis B (observed group) and 18 normal cases (control group) were enrolled in this study. The serum level of chemokine RANTES was detected with an ABC-ELISA assay. Statistical analysis was performed on the software of SPSS13.0. Results The serum chemokine RANTES level in the observed group (3930.12 ng/ml±2856.96) ng/ml was significantly higher than that in the control group (329.46 ng/ml±152.23) ng/ml. The results from the observed group indicated the positive correlation of serum RANTES level with indices of liver function test, including ALT (r=0. 197, P=0.018), AST(r=0.239, P=0.004) and TBil (r=0.316, P=0.001), but did not with PTA (r=-0.078, P=0.357). Neither difference of serum chemokine RANTES level between HBeAg-positive group and HBeAg-negative group nor that between high HBV DNA load group (≥105 copies/ml) and low HBV DNA load group (< 105 copies/ml) were statistically significant (P=0.407 and 0.185, respectively). Conclusions Serum chemokine RANTES level in patients with chronic hepatitis B elevates significantly and is not affected by HBeAg or HBV DNA load. Its positive correlation with indices of liver function test indicates that RANTES might play an important rule in the pathogenesis of chronic hepatitis B.     

Association of genetic polymorphisms and haplotypes in hMLH1 and hMSH3 gene with the risk of papillary thyroid carcinoma

OBJECTIVE: To explore the relationship of the genetic polymorphisms and the haplotypes in hMLH1 and hMSH3 gene with the risk of papillary thyroid carcinoma (PTC) in Chinese Hans. METHODS: A hospital based 1:1 matched case-control study was carried out. The polymorphisms for 204 pairs of PTC cases and healthy controls were identified by polymerase chain reaction-restriction fragment length polymorphism (PCR-RFLP) and allele specific oligonucleotide (PCR-ASO) assays. RESULTS: (1) The PTC risk was marginally increased in the hMLH1 1151TA genotype, with odds ratio (OR) of 2.15 (95%CI: 0.99-4.85); the PTC risk was significantly increased in the mutant genotype 1151TA+AA, with OR of 2.15 (95%CI: 1.02-4.69); (2) The haplotypes of -93G, 1151A, 655A in the hMLH1 gene could increase the PTC risk, with OR of 2.67 (95%CI: 1.16-6.53, P=0.011), compared with the haplotype of -93G, 1151T, 655A; (3) Compared to 3124A, 2835G haplotype in hMSH3 gene, the 3124G, 2835A haplotype could increase the PTC risk marginally, with OR of 3.08 (95%CI: 0.92-13.25). CONCLUSION: The 1151T/A polymorphism in hMLH1 was associated with PTC; both the haplotype of -93G, 1151A, 655A in hMLH1 and the 3124G, 2835A haplotype in hMSH3 were associated with PTC.     

Development of dendritic cells from GM-CSF-/- mice in vitro : GM-CSF enhances production and survival of cells

The production of dendritic cells (DC) from haemopoietic progenitors maintained in long term stroma-dependent cultures (LTC) of spleen or bone marrow (BM) occurs independently of added granulocyte/macrophage colony stimulating factor (GM-CSF). The possibility that cultures depend on endogenous GM-CSF produced in low levels was tested by attempting to generate LTC from spleen and BM of GM-CSF-/- mice. Multiple cultures from GM-CSF-/- and wild type mice were established and compared for cell production. GM-CSF-/- LTC developed more slowly, but by 16 weeks produced cells resembling DC in numbers comparable to wild type cultures. LTC maintained distinct populations of small and large cells, the latter resembling DC. Cells collected from GM-CSF-/- LTC were capable antigen presenting cells (APC) for T cell stimulation and morphologically resembled DC. Large cells expressed the CD11b, CD11c, CD86, 33D1 and Dec-205 markers of DC. Addition of GM-CSF to GM-CSF-/- LTC increased the proportion of large, mature DC present in culture. Stromal cells from GM-CSF-/- LTC could support the differentiation of DC from early progenitors maintained in LTC without addition of GM-CSF. However, GM-CSF is not a critical factor in the in vitro generation of DC from progenitors. It can, however, substitute for stromal cells in increasing the survival of mature DC.     

用反卷积法校正X线图像散射的方法

在数字Ｘ线摄影中，散射造成了图像对比度的下降，在影像增器－电视链成像系统中来自病人的散射和来自探测器系统的眩光更是恶化图像质量的主要原因。为了提高数字Ｘ线图像的质量，我们利用高斯曲线近似散射点扩展函数，并在一特定的系统上用实验的方法确定了散射量ρ和散射分布参数σ，     

长沙地区无偿献血人群隐匿性乙型肝炎病毒感染情况分析

目的 了解长沙地区无偿献血人群隐匿性乙型肝炎病毒感染(occult hepatitis B virus infection,OBI)流行情况,探讨HBV基因型分布特征和S区氨基酸突变的情况。方法 对长沙地区检测结果为HBsAg-/HBV DNA+的无偿献血血液样本进行HBV血清标志物检测,对其中的OBI样本进行HBV病毒载量检测和S区基因扩增,分析血清学标志物抗HBs与病毒载量检出与否的关系,并对扩增产物进行HBV基因分型和突变位点分析。结果 2019年1月—2020年1月长沙地区173 893份无偿献血标本共确认58例OBI样本,OBI流行率为0.033%;共发现7种血清学模式,抗HBc单独阳性最多,占38.98%,所有样本中抗HBc阳性率为89.83%;16例样本能检测出病毒载量,其中14例样本浓度小于100 IU/ml;抗HBs阳性组和阴性组间的病毒载量检出率无统计学差异;75.0%(12/16)样本扩增出S区序列,基因型均为B型,均发生突变,其中11例的HBsAg抗原决定簇及周边主要亲水区域(major hydrophilic region, MHR)发生氨基酸突变。结论 长沙地区无偿献血者中的OBI感染率在全国属于偏低水平;HBV基因型主要是B型,MHR区的氨基酸突变可能是造成OBI的原因,突变有本地特点。     

老年患者日间手术全程质量管理模式研究

目的探索老年患者日间手术全程质量管理模式。方法通过医院病历系统采集2015年-2020年应用老年患者日间手术全程质量管理模式前后患者信息,进行对比分析。结果老年患者应用日间手术全程质量管理模式后,≥65岁老年患者日间手术人数逐年上升,占比从13.52%上升至18.62%,差异有统计学意义（χ2=6.450,P=0.011）;日间手术住院时间＞5 d的比例从0.72%下降至0.50%,差异有统计学意义（χ2=338.088,P<0.001）;不良事件发生率从3.77‰下降至1.56‰,差异有统计学意义（χ2=5.156,P=0.023）,其中严重不良事件发生率从2.08‰下降至0.35‰,差异有统计学意义（χ2=7.019,P=0.008）。结论应用日间手术全程质量管理模式能够有效提高老年患者日间手术的安全性,值得借鉴与推广。     

The Frequency and Context of Snacking among Children: An Objective Analysis Using Wearable Cameras

Snacking is a common eating behaviour, but there is little objective data about children’s snacking. We aimed to determine the frequency and context of children’s snacking (n = 158; mean age = 12.6 years) by ethnicity, gender, socioeconomic deprivation and body mass index (BMI) children. Participants wore wearable cameras that passively captured images of their surroundings every seven seconds. Images (n = 739,162) were coded for snacking episodes, defined as eating occasions in between main meals. Contextual factors analysed included: snacking location, food source, timing, social contact and screen use. Rates of total, discretionary (not recommended for consumption) and healthful (recommended for consumption) snacking were calculated using negative binomial regression. On average, children consumed 8.2 (95%CI 7.4, 9.1) snacks per day, of which 5.2 (95%CI 4.6, 5.9) were discretionary foods/beverages. Children consumed more discretionary snacks than healthful snacks in each setting and at all times, including 15.0× more discretionary snacks in public spaces and 2.4× more discretionary snacks in schools. Most snacks (68.9%) were sourced from home. Girls consumed more total, discretionary and healthful snacks than boys, and Māori and Pacific consumed fewer healthful snacks than New Zealand (NZ) Europeans. Results show that children snack frequently, and that most snacking involves discretionary food items. Our findings suggest targeting home buying behaviour and environmental changes to support healthy snacking choices.     

小剂量倍他乐克治疗扩张型心肌病临床观察

目的观察小剂量倍他乐克治疗扩张性心肌病(DCM)的疗效.方法在常规抗心衰治疗的基础上,加用小剂量倍他乐克6.25mg/d,逐步增加到治疗剂量25～50mg/d,随访观察6个月,治疗前后应用彩色超声多普勒测定左室舒张末及收缩末内径、左室收缩功能,同时测量血压、心率、心胸比率.结果小剂量倍他乐克使扩张性心肌病患者的心率由治疗前92.5±8.1次/分降至71.2±7.2次/分(P＜0.01);心功能改善,左室射血分数由治疗前33.7±11.2%提高至41.9±9.8%(P＜0.01);左室舒张末内径(LVEDd)由治疗前67.5±5.8mm缩小至58.3±4.9mm(P＜0.01),左室收缩末内径(LVEDs)由49.3±5.2降至40.2±5.4(P＜0.01).结论长期应用小剂量倍他乐克可改善扩张性心肌病患者的心功能,且付作用少.