Screening HCV genotype-specific epitope peptides based on conserved sequence analysis and B cell epitope prediction in HCV E2 region

The high mutation rate of the hepatitis C virus (HCV) genome increases the genotype diversity and renders the detection of the virus more difficult. Therefore, prediction and assessment of highly conserved and strongly antigenic epitope polypeptide sequences have become a focus of current research. The E2 region is the target binding region of neutralizing antibodies. HCV genomics, especially the high mutation rate of E2 region sequence, makes its genotyping more and more diverse, and the detection of HCV and genotype is becoming more and more strict. In this study, four HCV B cell epitope polypeptides were constructed based on assessment of conserved sequences in the HCV E2 region and prediction of B cell epitopes, including sequences specific to genotype 1A (DC-13: 434-DTGWLAGLFYYHK-446), genotype 1B (HC-13: 434-HTGFLAALFYAKS-446), genotype 4D (NC-13: 434-NTGFLASLFYTHK-446), and a consensus sequence (FC-9: 447-FNSSGCPER-455). Epitope polypeptides combined with serum from 29 HCV-infected or 25 non-HCV-infected individuals were assayed by enzyme-linked immunosorbent assay (ELISA), and differences were analyzed by T/T’ test methods in SPSS v20.0 software. Binding levels of genotype 1A, 4D, and consensus epitope polypeptides with sera of HCV-infected patients were higher than those of non-infected individuals. Moreover, binding of genotype 1B epitope polypeptides with serum of HCV 1B-infected patients was higher than that of HCV 2A-infected patients. While the screening results of HCV genotype-specific epitope polypeptides were preliminary, these findings indicated that we successfully established an HCV and genotype serological ELISA detection method. Such an approach would facilitate the discovery of epitope polypeptides which may become new antigen candidates in peptide vaccine development for the prevention of HCV infection.     

上海部分地区健康人群血清促甲状腺素受体抗体参考区间的建立

目的 建立上海部分地区健康人群血清促甲状腺素受体抗体(thyrotrophin receptor antibody,TRAb)的参考区间.方法 选择上海部分地区的健康人群1468名.采用电化学发光法检测促甲状腺素受体抗体水平,SPSS19.0软件对检测结果进行分析,获得上下限,中位数,百分位数.结果 1468名健康人血清促甲状腺素受体抗体呈偏态分布,采用百分位数法(95％分布区间)确定参考区间.男性与女性各年龄组血清促甲状腺素受体抗体之间水平差异均无统计学意义(P＞0.05),可建立统一参考区间(0.30 ～0.82IU/L).结论 建立适合本地区健康人群的促甲状腺素受体抗体参考区间.     

Molecular detection and genetic diversity of Theileria orientalis in cattle in China

Parasitology Research - The apicomplexan parasite Theileria orientalis is a tick-borne intracellular protozoan parasite that is widely distributed throughout China. It causes bovine theileriosis in...     

新型运动心电图检测系统及初步临床应用

目的为了更加全面地诊断心肌是否存在潜在的缺血,评估心肺功能和诊断相关疾病,本文研制了一款新型运动心电检测系统,并初步验证其临床应用的可靠性。方法该系统在传统运动心电系统的基础上,引入呼吸力学监测、二氧化碳监测以及氧浓度监测,并采用新型QRS波起点和终点检测算法和自适应滤波等避免血压值和心电参数受到运动的干扰。最后进行了标准符合性测试和临床试验对该新型运动心电系统进行了测试和验证。结果标准符合性测试表明该运动心电系统共模抑制比、输入噪声等关键技术指标满足标准要求;临床运动试验得到的HR、ST、ST/HR、SP/DP参数值和医生手动测量参数值偏差的标准差分别是0.798次/min、0.008 8 m V、0.071μV/(次/min)、1.135/0.919 mm Hg(1mm Hg=133.322 Pa)。结论该系统稳定可靠,且ECG、血压等参数计算准确,为心肺功能评估提供了可靠的参考,具有较高的临床应用价值。     

Neural Crest‐Specific TSC1 Deletion in Mice Leads to Sclerotic Craniofacial Bone Lesion

Tuberous sclerosis complex (TSC) is an autosomal dominant disorder caused by mutations in either TSC1 or TSC2. TSC has high frequency of osseous manifestations such as sclerotic lesions in the craniofacial region. However, an animal model that replicates TSC craniofacial bone lesions has not yet been described. The roles of Tsc1 and the sequelae of Tsc1 dysfunction in bone are unknown. In this study, we generated a mouse model of TSC with a deletion of Tsc1 in neural crest‐derived (NCD) cells that recapitulated the sclerotic craniofacial bone lesions in TSC. Analysis of this mouse model demonstrated that TSC1 deletion led to enhanced mTORC1 signaling in NCD bones and the increase in bone formation is responsible for the aberrantly increased bone mass. Lineage mapping revealed that TSC1 deficient NCD cells overpopulated the NCD bones. Mechanistically, hyperproliferation of osteoprogenitors at an early postnatal stage accounts for the increased osteoblast pool. Intriguingly, early postnatal treatment with rapamycin, an mTORC1 inhibitor, can completely rescue the aberrant bone mass, but late treatment cannot. Our data suggest that enhanced mTOR signaling in NCD cells can increase bone mass through enlargement of the osteoprogenitor pool, which likely explains the sclerotic bone lesion observed in TSC patients. © 2015 American Society for Bone and Mineral Research.     

肥胖与良性前列腺增生

良性前列腺增生(BPH)是老年男性常见病,发病率逐年升高。研究发现肥胖,特别是中心性肥胖在BPH的发生发展过程中扮演着重要角色。本文对近年来肥胖与BPH的流行病学相关性以及作用机制作一综述。