Hepatitis B virus core antigen as a carrier for Chlamydia trachomatis MOMP multi-epitope peptide enhances protection against genital chlamydial infection

Chlamydia trachomatis (Ct) is the leading cause of sexually transmitted diseases worldwide. There is no safe and effective vaccine to control the spread of Ct. In development of Ct vaccine, selection of appropriate candidate antigens and an effective delivery system may be the main challenges. Multi-epitope of major outer membrane protein (MOMPm) is the most suitable candidate for a Ct vaccine, while hepatitis B virus core antigen (HBcAg) has unique advantages as vaccine delivery system. Therefore, in this study, we evaluated the immunogenicity and protective immune response of a novel candidate vaccine in a murine model of chlamydial genital infection. This candidate vaccine comprises MOMPm peptide delivered with HBcAg. Our results of Ct-specific serum IgG and secretory IgA assay, cytokine assay, and cytotoxic T-lymphocyte assay revealed that immunogenicity of the candidate vaccine was much better than that of the corresponding synthetic MOMPm peptide. Furthermore, the protective effect of the candidate vaccine was also shown much better than that of the synthetic peptide by calculating the isolation of Chlamydia from vaginal swabs and histopathological analysis. Taken together, our results indicate that HBcAg carrying Ct MOMPm could be an effective immune prophylactic for chlamydial infection.     

GB virus type C E2 protein inhibits human immunodeficiency virus type 1 Gag assembly by downregulating human ADP-ribosylation factor 1

GB virus type C (GBV-C) glycoprotein E2 protein disrupts HIV-1 assembly and release by inhibiting Gag plasma membrane targeting, however the mechanism by which the GBV-C E2 inhibits Gag trafficking remains unclear. In the present study, we identified ADP-ribosylation factor 1 (ARF1) contributed to the inhibitory effect of GBV-C E2 on HIV-1 Gag membrane targeting. Expression of GBV-C E2 decreased ARF1 expression in a proteasomal degradation-dependent manner. The restoration of ARF1 expression rescued the HIV-1 Gag processing and membrane targeting defect imposed by GBV-C E2. In addition, GBV-C E2 expression also altered Golgi morphology and suppressed protein traffic through the secretory pathway, which are all consistent with a phenotype of disrupting the function of ARF1 protein. Thus, our results indicate that GBV-C E2 inhibits HIV-1 assembly and release by decreasing ARF1, and may provide insights regarding GBV-C E2''s potential for a new therapeutic approach for treating HIV-1.     

Ultrasound-guided interventional therapy for recurrent ovarian chocolate cysts

The aim of this study was to determine the effectiveness of ultrasound-guided interventional therapy in the treatment of postoperative recurrent chocolate cysts. The 198 patients enrolled in this study were divided into three groups. In group 1, the saline washing group, the cavity of the cyst was washed thoroughly with warm saline. In group 2, the ethanol short-time retention group, after washing with saline, the cyst was injected with 95% ethanol with a volume of half of the fluid aspirated from the cyst. Ten minutes later, the rest of the ethanol was aspirated. In group 3, the ethanol retention group, the procedures were the same as with the ethanol short-time retention group, except that 95% of the ethanol was retained in the cyst. An ultrasound examination was performed in the third, sixth and 12th months after therapy. The chocolate cyst cure rate was significantly higher in the ethanol retention group (96%, 66/69) than in the ethanol short-time retention group (82%, 56/68) and no case was cured in the first group (saline washing). We conclude that ultrasound-guided injection and 95% ethanol retention are an effective therapy for the treatment of postoperative recurrent chocolate cysts.     

补肾健脾化瘀法治疗男性骨质疏松症疼痛的效果

目的:观察补肾健脾基础上加强化瘀药物制成补肾壮骨中药对男性骨质疏松患者疼痛程度的影响。方法:①选择1998-07/2004-07解放军广州军区广州总医院住院及门诊就诊的男性老年性骨质疏松症患者198例,年龄65～83岁。符合骨质疏松症综合诊断评分标准,且均对治疗方案知情同意。②按随机数字表法将患者分为2组;补肾壮骨中药组101例,降钙素组97例。补肾壮骨中药组:均囗服补肾壮骨中药(由生地、山药、山萸肉、泽泻等药物组成,广东一方制药厂生产,批号:980705,100g/包),1包/次,2次/d。降钙素组:均肌肉注射降钙素(诺华公司产品,生产批号980823,990523,011121,50IU/支),其中第1周100IU,1次/d,第2,3,4周100IU,每周2次。两组均治疗4周。③分别于治疗前,治疗1,2,3,4周后及停药后2周记录疼痛强度(共计0～10,0为无痛,10为剧烈疼痛)、疼痛缓解度(共计0～4度,0度为无缓解,4度为完全缓解),计算镇痛有效率:显效(明显缓解 完全缓解),有效(中度缓解),总有效率(显效 有效)。④计量和计数结果差异比较分别采用t检验和χ2检验。结果:男性老年性骨质疏松症患者198例均进入结果分析。①骨质疏松症疼痛强度:补肾壮骨中药组治疗后2,3,4周和停药后2周和降钙素组治疗后1,2,3,4周和停药后2周疼痛强度明显低于治疗前(t=2.35～2.93,P<0.05),补肾壮骨中药组治疗1和2周后疼痛强度明显高于降钙素组(5.32±1.21,3.26±1.32;3.49±1.39,2.21±1.28,t=2.98,2.36,P<0.05)。②骨质疏松症疼痛缓解情况:治疗2周后,补肾壮骨中药组完全缓解率明显低于降钙素组(5.9%,18.6%,χ2=6.25,P<0.05)。补肾壮骨中药组及降钙素组治疗1,3,4周后和停药后2周疼痛完全缓解率、明显缓解率、中度缓解率差异不明显(P>0.05)。③镇痛有效率:治疗2周后,补肾壮骨组镇痛显效率明显低于降钙素组(44.6%,58.8%,χ2=5.721,P<0.05),有效率和总有效率与降钙素组相近(P>0.05)。补肾壮骨中药组和降钙素组治疗4周后和停药后2周镇痛总有效率、显效率、有效率比较,差异不明显(P>0.05)。结论:补肾壮骨中药可明显缓解男性患者骨质疏松症疼痛,作用效果基本与降钙素相当。     

A line immunoassay utilizing recombinant nucleocapsid proteins for detection of antibodies to human coronaviruses

Most coronaviruses infecting humans cause mild diseases, whereas severe acute respiratory syndrome (SARS)-associated coronavirus is an extremely dangerous pathogen. Here, we report the development of a serologic assay for detection of antibodies to human coronaviruses (HCoVs) based on recombinant nucleocapsid (N) proteins of all known pathogenic strains (229E, NL63, OC43, HKU1, SARS). The novel immunoassay is highly useful for epidemiologic surveys, where use of nucleic acid diagnostics often is limited. Purified recombinant antigens were immobilized on nitrocellulose membranes and applied in a line immunoassay, which allows rapid detection of antibodies to 5 different HCoVs in a single experiment. For assay evaluation, serum samples from persons infected with 229E or OC43 (acute/convalescent), recovered SARS patients and healthy donors were analyzed. Screening for nucleocapsid (N)-specific immunoglobulin G (IgG) in convalescent sera reached 100% sensitivity. With this new technique, we found that recently identified NL63 and HKU1 contribute significantly to the overall spectrum of coronavirus infections. Possibly, cross-reactive antibody responses were observed using 229E and OC43 serum pairs. However, the potential of this assay could clearly be demonstrated employing SARS-positive serum samples, where nonspecific binding to nucleocapsids of other HCoVs was not observed. This coronavirus strain-specific line immunoassay represents a powerful tool for serologic diagnostics.     

简易智力测试量表的效度及信度研究

目的　探讨简易智力测试量表 (AMT)的效度和信度 ,为临床应用提供客观依据。方法　 2组受试对象参加了测试 ,一组为病例组 (38例 ) ,另一组为对照组 (30例 )。 1周内对 2组对象用AMT和简易精神状态量表 (MMSE)进行 2次评估。将AMT结果与MMSE作相关性检验来验证AMT的效度 ;对 2次AMT结果作组间相关性分析来测试AMT的重复测试信度。结果　AMT和MMSE的总分和各分项分的Pearson相关系数r =0 .70 6～ 0 .833;AMT各项内容 2次重复测试结果的组间相关系数ICC =0 .810～ 0 .996;病例组和对照组的AMT总分分别为 (7.60± 2 .5 5 )分、(9.64± 0 .81)分 ,2者间差异有显著性 (P <0 .0 5 )。结论　AMT具有良好的效度和信度 ,可对受试者的认知功能进行快速筛选和初步评价     

抗血管内皮细胞抗体和细胞间粘附分子-1与系统性红斑狼疮血管病变

抗血管内皮细胞抗体（AECA）和细胞间粘附分子-1（ICAM-1）是近年来研究发现与系统性红斑狼疮血管损害密切相关的因素,针对二者的研究有助于阐明狼疮血管损害的发病机理,并对其活动性加以监测.     

Amygdala abnormalities across disease stages in patients with sporadic amyotrophic lateral sclerosis

To examine selective atrophy patterns and resting‐state functional connectivity (FC) alterations in the amygdala at different stages of amyotrophic lateral sclerosis (ALS), and to explore any correlations between amygdala abnormalities and neuropsychiatric symptoms. We used the King''s clinical staging system for ALS to divide 83 consecutive patients with ALS into comparable subgroups at different disease stages. We explored the pattern of selective amygdala subnucleus atrophy and amygdala‐based whole‐brain FC alteration in these patients and 94 healthy controls (HCs). Cognitive and emotional functions were also evaluated using a neuropsychological test battery. There were no significant differences between ALS patients at King''s stage 1 and HCs for any amygdala subnucleus volumes. Compared with HCs, ALS patients at King''s stage 2 had significantly lower left accessory basal nucleus and cortico‐amygdaloid transition volumes. Furthermore, ALS patients at King''s stage 3 demonstrated significant reductions in most amygdala subnucleus volumes and global amygdala volumes compared with HCs. Notably, amygdala‐cuneus FC was increased in ALS patients at King''s stage 3. Specific subnucleus volumes were significantly associated with Mini‐Mental State Examination scores and Hamilton Anxiety Rating Scale scores in ALS patients. In conclusions, our study provides a comprehensive profile of amygdala abnormalities in ALS patients. The pattern of amygdala abnormalities in ALS patients differed greatly across King''s clinical disease stages, and amygdala abnormalities are an important feature of patients with ALS at relatively advanced stages. Moreover, our findings suggest that amygdala volume may play an important role in anxiety and cognitive dysfunction in ALS patients.     

Finite Element Analysis of Elastoplastic Elements in the Iwan Model of Bolted Joints

The Iwan model is composed of elastoplastic elements and is widely used to represent the stiffness degradation of bolted joints under mixed-mode loading (normal and tangential loading). The latest static methods of parameter identification established the relationship between the elastoplastic elements and the contact pressure under normal loading. Under mixed-mode loading, the parameters of the Iwan model are dynamic for the evolution of contact conditions. Therefore, static parameter identification methods are not suitable for the dynamic Iwan model. A new technique was proposed to identify the parameters of the elastoplastic elements in this paper. Firstly, several different finite element models were established. The influence of the contact method and the thread structure were analyzed, and a reliable and efficient bolted-joint modeling method was proposed. Secondly, the evolution of contact conditions was studied. The dynamic elliptical contact model and the ellipticity discrete method were proposed. Finally, the residual stiffness of the Iwan model was analyzed to establish the mapping between the residual stiffness and the bending of the screw. The results can provide a technique for identifying the parameters of the dynamic Iwan model.     

Effect of Hot Rolling on the Microstructure and Mechanical Performance of a Mg-5Sn Alloy

A Mg-5Sn alloy was hot rolled at 380 °C with three different rolling reductions (30%, 50%, and 70%), and its effect on the microstructure and mechanical performance was examined. Grain size decreases, whereas the area fraction of Mg₂Sn particles and dislocation density increase with the increase in rolling reduction. Therefore, the yield strength (YS) and ultimate tensile strength (UTS) exhibit an ascending trend, whereas the elongation (EL) shows a descending trend with increasing rolling reduction. The alloy hot rolled for 70% possesses a high strength of 310 MPa and an EL of 8.4%. The strength enhancement is mainly ascribed to precipitation strengthening, grain refinement strengthening, and dislocation strengthening.