增强型绿色荧光蛋白原核表达载体的构建及表达

目的 构建以增强型绿色荧光蛋白(EGFP)为标记的原核表达栽体,并观察EGFP基因在大肠杆菌中的表达情况.方法 据已知的EGFP基因序列,设计引物,并引入Nde Ⅰ和Xho Ⅰ酶切位点.采用PCR技术从含有EGFP的质粒pEGFP-C1中克隆EGFP编码序列;将其亚克隆入表达载体pTWIN1,得到以EGFP为标记的原核表达载体pTWIN-EGFP.转化大肠杆菌ER2566菌株,IPTG诱导EGFP基因表达.结果 经过IPTG诱导后,细菌培养物在长波紫外线的照射下,发出明亮的绿色荧光.结论 成功构建了原核表达载体pTWIN-EGFP,为应用EGFP作为报告基因和筛选标记奠定了实验基础.     

稳定敲低SIGIRR的人肾小管上皮细胞的构建及其初步功能的研究

目的：建立稳定敲低单免疫球蛋白白介素1相关受体(SIGIRR)基因的人肾小管上皮细胞株(HKC),并初步研究其功能。方法针对SIGIRR基因的有效靶点设计shRNA序列,与 GV248-GFP-Puro 慢病毒载体连接产生重组体( GV248-GFP-Puro-shSIGIRR)。将测序验证正确的重组体与包装质粒(pMDL、pRev、pVSVG)共转染293T细胞进行病毒包装,收集病毒并感染HKC细胞。实时荧光定量PCR( qRT-PCR)和Western blot法分析检测HKC细胞中SIGIRR干涉效率。应用白细胞介素-1β( IL-1β)刺激成功敲低SIGIRR的HKC细胞及对照细胞, Western blot法检测其下游核转录因子NF-κB(p65)的磷酸化水平,qRT-PCR分析单核细胞趋化蛋白-1(MCP-1)、正常 T细胞表达和分泌的活化调节蛋白( RANTES) mRNA水平。结果成功构建重组慢病毒载体GV248-GFP-Puro-shSIGIRR。 qRT-PCR 和 Western blot 法均证实在HKC细胞中成功敲低SIGIRR的表达。此外, IL-1β刺激后,与对照细胞相比,敲低SIGIRR的HKC细胞( HKC/shSIGIRR)的p65磷酸化水平上调, MCP-1和 RANTES mR-NA表达水平升高。结论 HKC的炎症反应中,SIGIRR蛋白对Toll样受体/白介素1受体(TLR/IL-1R)通路起“刹车”作用。该研究为狼疮性肾炎的治疗提供了新的潜在的靶点。     

向量值有理插值的构造方法

本文给出一种构造二元向量值有理插值的新方法,构造原理简便易行,灵活性强,计算量比现有的连分式方法小,而且避免了连分式方法所受的条件制约.本文方法建立的插值函数形式简洁且无条件限制,便于在计算机上实现,具有较强的实际应用价值.     

人卵泡抑素基因全长cDNA的克隆

目的 克隆人卵泡抑素(FS)全长cDNA基因。方法 采用逆转录多聚酶链反应(RT-PCR)从人肝组织中扩增FS cDNA。构建PMD18-T载体，采用BamHⅠ、HindⅢ双酶切以及DNA测序进行鉴定。结果 RT-PCR扩增长度为968bp的基因片段，BamHⅠ、HindⅢ双酶切结果显示重组T载体中含有目的基因片段，测序结果显示编码区无基因突变。结论 人FS全长cDNA基因克隆成功，并构建了重组PMD18-T载体。     

基于微粒群优化算法和支持向量机的软测量建模

在分析基本微粒群优化算法(PSO)和支持向量机(SVM)原理的基础上,采用带有末位淘汰机制的微粒群优化算法优化支持向量机的参数,建立了延迟焦化装置粗汽油干点软测量的微粒群支持向量机模型.该方法利用支持向量机结构风险最小化原则和PSO算法快速全局优化的特点,用于软测量建模.仿真实验表明:所建模型的泛化性能较好,模型具有较高的精度.     

Comparison of Endemic and Epidemic Vesicular Stomatitis Virus Lineages in Culicoides sonorensis Midges

Vesicular stomatitis virus (VSV) primarily infects livestock and is transmitted by direct contact and vectored by Culicoides midges (Diptera: Ceratopogonidae). Endemic to Central and South America, specific VSV lineages spread northward out of endemic regions of Mexico and into the U.S. sporadically every five to ten years. In 2012, a monophyletic epidemic lineage 1.1 successfully spread northward into the U.S. In contrast, the closest endemic ancestor, lineage 1.2, remained circulating exclusively in endemic regions in Mexico. It is not clear what roles virus-animal interactions and/or virus-vector interactions play in the ability of specific viral lineages to escape endemic regions in Mexico and successfully cause outbreaks in the U.S., nor the genetic basis for such incursions. Whole-genome sequencing of epidemic VSV 1.1 and endemic VSV 1.2 revealed significant differences in just seven amino acids. Previous studies in swine showed that VSV 1.1 was more virulent than VSV 1.2. Here, we compared the efficiency of these two viral lineages to infect the vector Culicoides sonorensis (Wirth and Jones) and disseminate to salivary glands for subsequent transmission. Our results showed that midges orally infected with the epidemic VSV 1.1 lineage had significantly higher infection dissemination rates compared to those infected with the endemic VSV 1.2 lineage. Thus, in addition to affecting virus-animal interactions, as seen with higher virulence in pigs, small genetic changes may also affect virus-vector interactions, contributing to the ability of specific viral lineages to escape endemic regions via vector-borne transmission.     

Clinical Characteristics and Risk Factors for Mortality in Critical Coronavirus Disease 2019 Patients 50 Years of Age or Younger During the Delta Wave: Comparison With Patients > 50 Years in Korea

BackgroundNumerous patients around the globe are dying from coronavirus disease 2019 (COVID-19). While age is a known risk factor, risk analysis in the young generation is lacking. The present study aimed to evaluate the clinical features and mortality risk factors in younger patients (≤ 50 years) with a critical case of COVID-19 in comparison with those among older patients (> 50 years) in Korea.MethodsWe analyzed the data of adult patients only in critical condition (requiring high flow nasal cannula oxygen therapy or higher respiratory support) hospitalized with PCR-confirmed COVID-19 at 11 hospitals in Korea from July 1, 2021 to November 30, 2021 when the delta variant was a dominant strain. Patients’ electronic medical records were reviewed to identify clinical characteristics.ResultsDuring the study period, 448 patients were enrolled. One hundred and forty-two were aged 50 years or younger (the younger group), while 306 were above 50 years of age (the older group). The most common pre-existing conditions in the younger group were diabetes mellitus and hypertension, and 69.7% of the patients had a body mass index (BMI) > 25 kg/m². Of 142 younger patients, 31 of 142 patients (21.8%, 19 women) did not have these pre-existing conditions. The overall case fatality rate among severity cases was 21.0%, and it differed according to age: 5.6% (n = 8/142) in the younger group, 28.1% in the older group, and 38% in the ≥ 65 years group. Age (odds ratio [OR], 7.902; 95% confidence interval [CI], 2.754–18.181), mechanical ventilation therapy (OR, 17.233; 95% CI, 8.439–35.192), highest creatinine > 1.5 mg/dL (OR, 17.631; 95% CI, 8.321–37.357), and combined blood stream infection (OR, 7.092; 95% CI, 1.061–18.181) were identified as independent predictors of mortality in total patients. Similar patterns were observed in age-specific analyses, but most results were statistically insignificant in multivariate analysis due to the low number of deaths in the younger group. The full vaccination rate was very low among study population (13.6%), and only three patients were fully vaccinated, with none of the patients who died having been fully vaccinated in the younger group. Seven of eight patients who died had a pre-existing condition or were obese (BMI > 25 kg/m²), and the one remaining patient died from a secondary infection.ConclusionAbout 22% of the patients in the young critical group did not have an underlying disease or obesity, but the rate of obesity (BMI > 25 kg/m²) was high, with a fatality rate of 5.6%. The full vaccination rate was extremely low compared to the general population of the same age group, showing that non-vaccination has a grave impact on the progression of COVID-19 to a critical condition. The findings of this study highlight the need for measures to prevent critical progression of COVID-19, such as vaccinations and targeting young adults especially having risk factors.     

Efficacy of a spatial repellent for control of Aedes-borne virus transmission: A cluster-randomized trial in Iquitos,Peru

Over half the world’s population is at risk for viruses transmitted by Aedes mosquitoes, such as dengue and Zika. The primary vector, Aedes aegypti, thrives in urban environments. Despite decades of effort, cases and geographic range of Aedes-borne viruses (ABVs) continue to expand. Rigorously proven vector control interventions that measure protective efficacy against ABV diseases are limited to Wolbachia in a single trial in Indonesia and do not include any chemical intervention. Spatial repellents, a new option for efficient deployment, are designed to decrease human exposure to ABVs by releasing active ingredients into the air that disrupt mosquito–human contact. A parallel, cluster-randomized controlled trial was conducted in Iquitos, Peru, to quantify the impact of a transfluthrin-based spatial repellent on human ABV infection. From 2,907 households across 26 clusters (13 per arm), 1,578 participants were assessed for seroconversion (primary endpoint) by survival analysis. Incidence of acute disease was calculated among 16,683 participants (secondary endpoint). Adult mosquito collections were conducted to compare Ae. aegypti abundance, blood-fed rate, and parity status through mixed-effect difference-in-difference analyses. The spatial repellent significantly reduced ABV infection by 34.1% (one-sided 95% CI lower limit, 6.9%; one-sided P value = 0.0236, z = 1.98). Aedes aegypti abundance and blood-fed rates were significantly reduced by 28.6 (95% CI 24.1%, ∞); z = −9.11) and 12.4% (95% CI 4.2%, ∞); z = −2.43), respectively. Our trial provides conclusive statistical evidence from an appropriately powered, preplanned cluster-randomized controlled clinical trial of the impact of a chemical intervention, in this case a spatial repellent, to reduce the risk of ABV transmission compared to a placebo.

Aedes-borne viral diseases (ABVDs) [e.g., dengue (DENV), chikungunya, Zika (ZIKV), and yellow fever] are devastating, expanding global public health threats that disproportionally affect low- and middle-income countries. DENV, one of the most rapidly increasing vector-borne infectious diseases, results in ∼400 million infections each year (1, 2), with 4 billion people at risk for infection annually (3). Currently, the primary means for ABVD prevention is controlling the primary mosquito vector, Aedes aegypti. Existing vector control interventions, however, have failed to prevent ABV transmission and epidemics (4–6).There is an urgent need to develop evidence-based guidance for the use of new and existing ABV vector control tools. The evidence base for vector control against ABVs is weak, despite considerable government investments in World Health Organization (WHO)-recommended control of larval habitats (larviciding, container removal) and ultra-low-volume insecticide spraying (4, 5, 7–9). These strategies continue to be implemented despite the lack of rigorously generated data from controlled clinical trials demonstrating they reduce ABV infection or disease (6). The only ABV intervention with a proven epidemiological impact in a cluster-randomized control trial (cRCT) assessed community mobilization to reduce mosquito larval habitats (10). A recent test-negative trial with Wolbachia-infected mosquitoes reported a significant reduction of DENV illness in Indonesia (11).Spatial repellents (SRs) are devices that contain volatile active ingredients that disperse in air. The active ingredients can repel mosquitoes from entering a treated space, inhibit attraction to human host cues, or disrupt mosquito biting and blood-feeding behavior and, thus, interfere with mosquito–human contact (12–14). Any of these outcomes reduce the probability of pathogen transmission. Pyrethroid-based SRs have shown efficacy in reducing malaria infections in China (15) and Indonesia (16). There have, however, been no clinical trials evaluating the protective efficacy (PE) of SRs against ABV infection or disease.To generate evidence for public health consideration, we conducted a double-blinded, parallel cRCT to demonstrate and quantify the PE of a transfluthrin-based SR to reduce ABV infection incidence over 2 y in a human cohort in Iquitos, Peru.     

Changes in Facial Morphology Using Poly-L-lactic Acid Application According to Vector Technique: A Case Series

BackgroundThe search for nonsurgical cosmetic procedures has increased considerably in recent years. A new injection technique, using vector direction, has shown good results in improving facial aesthetics but to date has only been performed with hyaluronic acid which can be associated with a risk of vascular complications. Therefore, in clinical practice, it would be interesting to assess this technique with a liquid product already widely used in the facial region, and at the same time bring the same aesthetic benefits, but with greater durability than hyaluronic acid.ObjectiveTo investigate the improvement of facial morphology in patients with facial flaccidity submitted to the vector technique using poly-L-lactic acid (PLLA) (Sculptra^®; Galderma, Lausanne, Switzerland).Case SeriesHere we report the outcomes of three cases of female patients, aged between 41 and 55 years, seeking improvement of facial flaccidity. In each patient, PLLA was applied in the posterior temporal region as a bolus, in three points, with a 2-mL injection in the upper region, 1.5mL in the midpoint, and 1.5mL at the bottom point. Each of the three patients showed an improvement in face morphology, with concomitant improvement in the support and stretching of the face and improvement in skin sagging in the upper, middle, and bottom regions.ConclusionThe vector technique with PLLA is a viable alternative for the treatment of patients with facial skin flaccidity, providing harmonious and progressive improvement in the face morphology.