Genome and antigenic analysis of influenza A (H3N2) viruses isolated from an epidemic in a closed community of Carmelite nuns

Eighteen influenza A (H3N2) viruses were isolated during a single outbreak in a closed community of Carmelite nuns. Serological analysis of the virus haemagglutinin (HAs), using a panel of monoclonal antibodies, demonstrated antigenic microheterogeneity. In contrast, no significant biochemical differences were detected in viral genes by RNA:RNA hybridisation or in structural or nonstructural polypeptides analysed by high-resolution polyacrylamide gel electrophoresis (PAGE) or by limited proteolysis followed by PAGE. Influenza A (H3N2) viruses isolated in the vicinity of the convent were distinguishable from each other and from the epidemic viruses isolated in the convent both antigenically and biochemically.     

Ethnic variation in the HER-2 codon 655 genetic polymorphism previously associated with breast cancer

HER-2, a protooncogene located on chromosome 17q21, encodes a transmembrane glycoprotein (p185) with tyrosine kinase activity. Alterations of the HER-2 gene have been implicated in the carcinogenesis and prognosis of breast cancer and other solid tumors. It is also a cancer-therapeutic target for antibody-based therapy against the HER-2 protein. A single-nucleotide polymorphism (SNP) at codon 655, resulting in a G-to-A transition (Ile655Val) in the transmembrane domain-coding region of this gene has been associated with an increased risk of breast cancer, particularly among younger women. To understand the importance of this finding throughout the world, we evaluated this polymorphism in Ghanaian, Kenyan, Sudanese, Caucasian, African–American, Saudi, and Filipino subjects using a polymerase chain reaction-restriction fragment length polymorphism assay. The frequency of the Val allele, which is associated with increased breast cancer risk, was highly variable between populations (0%–24%). Continental African populations had a lower frequency of the Val allele than did Saudi, Chinese, Filipino, Caucasian, and African–American subjects. The data suggest that this SNP has variable frequency in different ethnic groups. The findings in this study correspond with the lower incidence and lower risk of breast cancer in African women compared with Caucasian and African–American women. Received: December 13, 2001 / Accepted: January 16, 2002     

用RACE技术对一株肠道病毒3''端进行扩增和序列分析

目的 应用3′RACE技术对一株本室分离肠道病毒基因组3′末端进行扩增，并对其核苷酸序列进行比较分析。方法 提取病毒总RNA，以锚定oligdT（17）引物进行逆转录，用特异引物及锚定引物进行3′RACE扩增，将PCR产物进行克隆、测序和序列分析。结果 获得了该病毒的3′端核苷酸序列，同源性分析结果显示该肠道病毒的核苷酸序列与肠道病毒76、89、90、91型的同源性最高为90％左右，而与其他型别的肠道病毒的同源性均小于80％；推导的氨基酸同源性与肠道病毒76、89、90、91型均在90％以上。结论 用RACE技术对肠道病毒3′端进行扩增及序列分析，证明该病毒属新型肠道病毒类，为进一步研究该病毒的分子生物学特性奠定了基础。     

Assessment of Baroreceptor Reflex Function During Mental Stress and Relaxation

This paper describes a method of measuring baroreceptor cardiac reflex sensitivity noninvasively from spontaneous patterns of blood pressure and interbeat interval, and the application of this technique in psychophysiology. Baroreflex function was assessed in 24 female volunteers during relaxation and performance of the cold pressor test and a non-verbal mental arithmetic task. Blood pressure and interbeat interval were monitored continuously from the finger using the vascular unloading technique. Sequences of three or more cardiac cycles were identified over which systolic blood pressure increased progressively in conjunction with lengthening interbeat interval, or systolic blood pressure decreased as interbeat interval was reduced. The regression between systolic blood pressure and interbeat interval was computed as an index of baroreflex sensitivity. Relaxation was associated with a small prolongation of interbeat interval, whereas baroreflex sensitivity increased from 17.1 to 19.8 ms/mmHg. Baroreflex sensitivity was reduced significantly during mental arithmetic (mean 14.2 ms/mmHg) but not during the cold pressor test (mean 17.4 ms/mmHg). The difference between mental arithmetic and the cold pressor test may be related to the relative intensity of cardiac and vascular responses in the two situations. The implications of these results for the understanding of behavioural influences on haemodynamic function are discussed and the advantages of noninvasive methods are considered.     

脑动脉DSA形态分析及其意义

目的：探讨脑血管造影各主要动脉的投影规律及其分支的显示率，为脑血管疾病的影像诊断和介入治疗提供重要参考。方法：随机抽取140例全脑血管DSA系列图像，选择其中无脑血管疾病的51例进行观察。分别统计颈内动脉和椎动脉造影时正常脑血管各主要分支的显示率；归纳大脑前动脉A1段、大脑中动脉M1段及大脑后动脉P1段在平面上的投影规律并分析总结了脑动脉的正常解剖学特征及其变异。结果：①脑底动脉变异较大；②颈内动脉照影时OA、AChA、ACoA、PCoA、ACA和MCA的显示率分别为96.1％、92．2％、52．9％、69．6％、100％和100％；③椎动脉造影时PICA、AICA、BA、SCA、PCA和PCoA的显示率分别为66．7％、62．7％、100％、70．6％、80．4％和41．2％。结论：①尽管脑底血管实际解剖关系较为复杂，但造影时反映到平面上可简捷的用“水平、上升、下降”等来描述血管的形态和走行；②虽然是平面图像，通过调整投照体位仍可非常逼真的反映血流的动态变化。     

The Foot and Mouth Disease Virus Type O Outbreak of 1992 Is Not Related to Vaccine Strain (O/R2/75)

Vaccination is the only pragmatic approach to control foot and mouth disease in India. Strict quality control measures are essential to supply potent vaccine to the field application, in addition to monitoring the performance of the vaccine in the field. During the process of monitoring, an outbreak of FMD in vaccinated animals caused by type “O” virus in Tanjavur district of Tamil Nadu and a type “O” virus from unvaccinated herd of Karnataka were studied. Field isolates and vaccine virus were sequenced and analyzed. Data indicated that the virus from the outbreak in vaccinated cattle was a variant which could escape neutralization by antibodies against vaccine virus. This revised version was published online in August 2006 with corrections to the Cover Date.     

Antigenic variation of the Epstein–Barr virus nuclear antigen EBNA1 as revealed by monoclonal antibodies

The Epstein–Barr virus (EBV) nuclear antigen EBNA1 plays an essential role in the replication of EBV episomes in latently infected cells and is the only viral protein that is consistently expressed in all programs of latent EBV gene expression. In this study, four monoclonal antibodies (MoAbs) directed to a region (amino acid residues 442–530) of EBNA1 were generated. Competitive enzyme-linked immunosorbent assay (ELISA) experiments using biotinylated MoAbs showed that they recognized distinct epitopes. Reactivity of these MoAbs with various laboratory EBV strains and field EBV isolates was shown to be heterogeneous in that EBNA1 from certain strains (isolates) was recognized and that from others was not. All four MoAbs showed such heterogeneous reactivity, and moreover, each MoAb showed a distinct spectrum of reactivity with these EBV strains (isolates). These results demonstrate an extensive structural variation in this region of EBNA1 as predicted by previous sequencing studies. These MoAbs will be useful as probes to dissect this structural heterogeneity of EBNA1.     

Absence of the left inferior thyroid artery: clinical implications

Dissection of an adult male cadaver revealed an absence of the left inferior thyroid artery; its usual area of distribution to the thyroid gland was supplied by the right inferior thyroid artery. Absence of the left inferior thyroid artery occurs in 1-6% of cases. The inferior thyroid artery arises commonly from the thyrocervical trunk, passes posterior to the carotid sheath and supplies the inferior pole of the corresponding lobe of the thyroid gland; its branches can course anterior or posterior to or between branches of the recurrent laryngeal nerve. During thyroid surgery it is imperative to identify the relationship of the inferior thyroid artery to the recurrent laryngeal nerve or to establish its absence because injury to the nerve can be a major complication; awareness of significant variations of the surgical anatomy of the thyroid gland is vital for preserving the integrity of important structures.     

贵州与中国大陆其它地区空肠弯曲菌MLST特征的比较分析

目的 了解贵州省鸡源空肠弯曲菌的分子流行特征,阐明各地菌株间的亲缘关系和进化特征。方法 在贵州省随机抽取7个大型养鸡场,共采集210份鸡的新鲜粪便样本,分离培养出38株空肠弯曲菌,采用多位点序列分型对分离株的序列型及克隆复合体进行构成和聚类分析,与PubMLST数据库中来自国内的分离株分子特征进行比较。结果 贵州省38株鸡源空肠弯曲菌分为23种ST型和8个克隆复合体,其中9种是目前中国大陆地区已有的ST型,2个等位基因和8种序列型为新发现的。ST型构成比前四位分别是ST - 45、ST - 161、ST - 354、ST - 4 324,与数据库中已有的6株贵州来源菌株相比,不存在共同的ST型。优势克隆复合体（CC - 45、CC - 354、CC - 52）与数据库中鸡源分离株的前三位克隆复合体没有重叠。菌株遗传进化树显示,本研究中属于优势克隆复合体的18株菌与国内部分人源、猪源、野生鸟源、鹅源分离株有较近的遗传距离。结论 贵州省鸡源空肠弯曲菌具有高度遗传多样性,在一定程度上表现出地域流行特征。序列型与国内华东地区的分离株有较高的交叉性,部分分离株与国内人、野生鸟、鹅等来源分离株遗传距离近,应加强对不同地区、不同宿主来源空肠弯曲菌的动态监测。