Hypoxia can contribute to the induction of the Epstein-Barr virus (EBV) lytic cycle.

BACKGROUND: Like other herpes viruses, latent Epstein-Barr virus (EBV) infection can be reactivated to lytic replication. Reactivation can be achieved by treatment with various reagents, including tetradecanoyl phorbol acetate (TPA) and Ca2+ ionophores. Relatively little is known about the physiological factors related to reactivation of EBV. Previous studies have demonstrated that G0/G1 cell cycle arrest is associated with EBV activation, and that hypoxic conditions can induce cell cycle arrest. In the present study we investigated the effect of hypoxia on reactivation of EBV. OBJECTIVE AND METHODS: Hypoxic culture conditions were established and the expression of Zta protein and the number of EBV DNA copies were measured in B95-8 cells maintained under these conditions. RESULTS: Hypoxia treatment not only increased the expression of the EBV immediate-early protein Zta (which mediates the switch between the latent and lytic form of infection), but also increased the number of EBV DNA copies in B95-8 cells. CONCLUSIONS: EBV in latent infection can be activated to lytic infection by hypoxia treatment.     

The interaction of the SARS coronavirus non-structural protein 10 with the cellular oxido-reductase system causes an extensive cytopathic effect.

The pathological mechanism of SARS-CoV infection was investigated. The gene for the SARS-CoV non-structural protein 10, which is located in the open reading frame of pp1a/pp1ab gene, was synthesized and used to screen for the specific cellular gene coding for the protein interacting with this nsp10 protein in a human embryo lung cDNA library using a yeast trap method. The results indicated that apart from the two subunits of cellular RNA polymerase complex, BTF3 and ATF5, this nsp10 protein was also able to interact specifically with the NADH 4L subunit and cytochrome oxidase II. Further study revealed that the activity of the NADH-cytochrome was altered and the inner mitochondrial membrane was depolarized in the transfected human embryo lung fibroblast by the nsp10 protein gene. The cytopathic effect of the Coronavirus 229E strain appeared more extensive in these cells than in the control cells.     

B细胞特异性激活蛋白Pax-5在淋巴瘤组织中的表达

目的探讨B细胞特异性激活蛋白(BSAP)／Pax-5在淋巴瘤的表达情况及应用价值。方法按2001年WHO关于淋巴造血组织肿瘤分类标准收集102例弥漫性大B细胞淋巴瘤(DLBCL)、3例滤泡型淋巴瘤(FL)、3例黏膜相关淋巴组织结外边缘区B细胞淋巴瘤(MALT淋巴瘤)、1例结节性淋巴细胞为主型的霍奇金淋巴瘤(NLPHL)、10例间变性大细胞淋巴瘤(ALCL)和10例浆细胞瘤,用免疫组织化学LSAB法同步检测比较BSAP与CD20的表达情况。结果102例DLBCL全部表达CD20,100例表达BSAP,3例FL、3例MALT淋巴瘤和1例NLPHL BSAP和CD20全部阳性表达,10例ALCL、10例浆细胞瘤BSAP和CD20全部阴性表达。BSAP与CD20的表达差异无统计学意义。结论。BSAP/Pax-5是一种新的B细胞标记,阳性信号定位于细胞核,抗BSAP抗体在常规外科病理诊断工作中的应用价值有限。     

Small intestinal organoid-derived SP cells contribute to repair of irradiation-induced skin injury

Side population (SP) cells, characterized by their ability to efflux the fluorescent dye Hoechst 33342, were isolated from the small intestine of mice. In the abdominal irradiation model, small intestinal organoid-derived SP (sioSP) cells from ROSA 26 mice were submucosally injected into the small intestinal of the irradiated C57BL/6 mice. In contrast to the control mice, mice receiving sioSP cell transplantation demonstrated far less skin injury. Most importantly, hairs in the irradiated body part of the transplanted mice almost remained black, whereas the counterpart in the control mice almost turned white. Histochemistry studies showed the donor cells gave rise to skin cells in the irradiated skin. Thus, our study demonstrated for the first time that stem cells from the small intestine can differentiate into skin cells under local cues and thus supports the theory of stem cell plasticity.     

Different applications of polymerases with and without proofreading activity in single-nucleotide polymorphism analysis

With the completion of the human genome project, single-nucleotide polymorphisms (SNPs) have become the focus of intense study in biomedical research. Polymerase-mediated primer extension has been employed in a variety of SNP assays. However, these SNP assays using polymerase without proofreading function are compromised by their low reliability. Using a newly developed short amplicon harboring restriction enzyme site, EcoR-I, we were able to compare the single-base discrimination abilities of polymerases with and without proofreading function in primer extension in a broad range of annealing temperatures. Thermodynamic analysis demonstrated a striking single-nucleotide discrimination ability of polymerases with proofreading function. Using unmodified 3'-end allele-specific primers, only template-dependent products were generated by polymerase with proofreading activity. This powerful single-base discrimination ability of exo(+) polymerases was further evaluated in primer extension using three types of 3' terminally modified allele-specific primers. As compared with the poor fidelity in primer extension of polymerases lacking 3' exonuclease activity, this study provides convincing evidence that the use of proofreading polymerases in combination with 3'-end modified allele-specific primers can be a powerful new strategy for the development of SNP assays.     

主诉腰痛女性患者骨密度和骨质疏松患病率分析

目的研究主诉腰痛女性患者腰椎和髋部骨密度(BMD)测量的临床意义及骨质疏松(OP)患病率。方法采用扇形束双能X线骨密度仪(DEXA)测量主诉为腰痛的女性患者的腰椎和髋部BMD,并与对照组的BMD比较,同时比较其相应骨质疏松(OP)患病率。结果临床主诉以腰痛为主的女性病人腰椎及髋部BMD比以关节痛或全身痛为主诉者的低,(P＜0.05);主诉腰痛者各骨骼部位的OP检出率明显高于关节痛或全身痛者,且均与正常对照组有显著性差异(P＜0.05)。结论骨质疏松是女性腰痛病人就诊的主要原因之一,腰痛患者OP患病率较高;腰椎BMD测定是诊断骨质疏松症的重要手段。     

梯度胶电泳法测定冠心病患者血浆小密低密度脂蛋白

目的 建立实用的小密低密度脂蛋白(sdLDL)测定方法, 观察冠心病患者血浆中sdLDL和脂类成分的变化及相互关系。方法 采用2%～16%非变性聚丙烯酰胺梯度胶电泳和凝胶成象分析系统, 测定了105名冠心病患者和90名健康对照者血浆sdLDL、 血脂。结果 sdLDL＞50%的检出率, 冠心病组为38.1%, 对照组为11.1%(P＜0.01);sdLDL增多患者的甘油三酯水平(2.43±1.22) mmol/L明显高于sdLDL正常者(1.46±0.64) mmol/L, P＜0.01。结论 sdLDL与冠心病发生发展有关, 且与甘油三酯关系密切;sdLDL测定可作为预测冠心病危险性的指标之一。