“Sokuluk” virus,a new group B arbovirus isolated from Vespertilio pipistrellus Schreber, 1775, bat in the Kirghiz S.S.R.

Summary A virus strain was isolated fromVespertilio pipistrellus Schreber, 1775 while examining bats in Sokuluksk region of the Kirghiz S.S.R. in 1970. Hemagglutination inhibition tests indicated that the virus ranged among group B arboviruses. It differed essentially in complement fixation and neutralization tests from 30 viruses of the B group: Entebbe bat; Bukalasa bat; Dakar bat; Kadam; Modoc; Spondweni; Ilheus; Japanese, St. Louis, Murray Vallay and tick-borne encephalitis; Kyasanur Forest disease; Powassan; Langat; Tyuleniy; West Nile; Bussuquara; Cowbone Ridge, Uganda S; SAH-336; Kokobera; yellow fever; Dengue, types 1 and 2; Wesselsbron; Edge Hill; Alfuy; Stratford; Zika; Potuskum. It may be concluded that Sokuluk virus is a new group B virus. Complement-fixing antibodies were not found in sera of 150 cows and 200 sheep but they were detected in 0.6 percent of 579 human sera in the Kirghiz S.S.R.     

Synthesis and characterization of amphiphilic and microphase-separated graft copolymers, 1. Synthesis and bulk characterization of polystyrene-graft-ω-stearyl-poly(ethylene oxide)

Using the rigid and hydrophobic polystyrene (PS) chain as backbone, onto which flexible and hydrophilic stearyl-poly(ethylene oxide) (SPEO) chains are grafted, a new kind of amphiphilic, microphase-separated graft copolymer was synthesized using the macromonomer technique. Stearyl-poly(ethylene oxide) macromonomers with acryloyl end-group (SPEO-A) were prepared through an end-group exchange reaction of α-stearyl-ω-hydroxypoly(ethylene oxide) (SPEO-OH) and acryloyl chloride in the presence of triethylamine. The radical copolymerization of styrene with SPEO-A was carried out under various experimental conditions. Following a careful examination of their purity, the structure of the prepared copolymers was characterized by means of IR, ¹H NMR and GPC analyses. A new feasible method using first derivative UV spectrometry was developed for quantitative determination of the bulk composition of the graft copolymers. Copolymers with a wide range of bulk composition and satisfactory grafting degree were obtained.     

Identification of carmine allergens among three carmine allergy patients

BACKGROUND: There have been several reports of carmine allergy; however, identification of the responsible carmine allergens has not been widely documented. METHODS: Three female patients presented with a history of anaphylaxis and/or urticaria/angioedema after ingestion of carmine-containing foods. All three patients had 4+ skin prick tests to carmine. Among them, two patients were confirmed to have carmine allergy by blinded, placebo-controlled food challenges to carmine. SDS-PAGE of cochineal insects and carmine, immunoblotting for IgE antibody with sera from all three patients, and immunoblotting inhibition with carmine were performed. RESULTS: SDS PAGE of minced cochineal insects revealed several protein bands of 23-88 kDa. Several of these bands were variably recognized by our three patients' sera, and this reactivity was inhibited by carmine. Although no protein bands could be visualized on SDS-PAGE of carmine in Coomassie brilliant blue staining, three protein bands were recognized by two of the three patients' serum. CONCLUSIONS: These results suggest that commercial carmine retains protein-aceous material from the source insects. These insect-derived proteins (possibly complexed with carminic acid) are responsible for IgE-mediated carmine allergy. Patient reactivity to these proteins may vary.     

八珍汤对血虚模型小鼠造血调控因子影响的实验研究

探讨八珍汤对由环磷酰胺引起的小鼠骨髓造血功能抑制的调控作用。采用环磷酰胺致小鼠血虚模型 ,测定八珍汤对骨髓抑制小鼠外周血象及其细胞因子产生的影响。结果表明 ,八珍汤对环磷酰胺所致血虚模型小鼠骨髓细胞有促进增殖作用 ;经八珍汤诱导制备的巨噬细胞、脾细胞、肺条件培养液和骨骼肌条件培养液能促进血虚模型小鼠骨髓细胞增殖 ,促进血虚模型小鼠骨髓基质细胞分泌肿瘤坏死因子 (TNF)。八珍汤对环磷酰胺所致化疗损伤的造血调控作用可能与直接或间接刺激造血微环境的基质细胞分泌正性和负性造血生长因子有关。