Genetic characterization and diversity of porcine circovirus type 2 in non‐vaccinated South African swine herds

The porcine circovirus type 2 (PCV2) is a swine infectious viral pathogen of great significance in global swine herds. It was recently detected at another Province of South Africa sequel to the first detection of North American‐like strain (PCV2a) at Gauteng about two decades ago, but there is a dearth of information about the genomic features and diversity of the viral strains in circulation within the country and the entire sub‐Saharan Africa region. To date, only one complete genome of the virus from South Africa is available on global data base. This current effort is therefore geared towards the full‐genome characterization of the circulating PCV2 strains in the pigs of Eastern Cape Province. With the use of conventional polymerase chain reaction method, fifteen complete PCV2 genomes were successfully amplified, sequenced and assembled from field samples obtained from non‐vaccinated pigs in the region. Neighbor Joining and Maximum Likelihood phylogenetic analyses of the ORF2 gene and full genomes unanimously showed that most of the assembled genomes (11) belong to genotype PCV2b. Furthermore, three of the characterized sequences formed clade with other reference mutant PCV2b and PCV2b subtype 1C (i.e. PCV2d) strains from the USA, China and South Korea. The last sequence, however, clustered with other reference strains belonging to PCV2 intermediate clade 2 (PCV2‐IM2), recently identified in a global PCV2 strains phylogenetic analysis. This study reports the first complete genome sequences of PCV2b, PCV2d and PCV2‐IM2 in pigs from South Africa, and it gives a possible insight into the genetic characteristics and variability of the viral strains presently in circulation within the country. It further emphasizes the need for more stringent measures in curtailing the introduction and spread of transboundary swine pathogens in the country and entire Southern African region.     

Photolysis and ozonolysis of (iso) desmosine-containing crosslinked peptides from porcine aorta elastin

This report describes the use of photolysis and ozonolysis as a means of achieving complete cleavage of the pyridinium ring of (iso)desmosine in crosslinked elastin peptides. Although photolysis leads to the opening of the ring with concomitant formation of lysine, the peptide chains remain attached. Subsequent ozonolysis is able to completely achieve the cleavage of the rest of the ring skeleton, thus leading to the separation of the peptide chains. Formation of new amino acids, i.e. α-aminoadipic and glutamic acids, is emphasized. Localization of these amino acids within the released peptides should be of help in structural investigations on the crosslinking zones involving either isodesmosine or desmosine. However, other amino acids such as tyrosine and phenylalanine are sensitive to this procedure and side reactions occur which are responsible for peptide bond cleavage with the formation of breakdown products.     

抗感染重组合异种骨对犬污染性桡骨缺损的一期植骨修复作用

目的探讨抗感染重组合异种骨(anti-infective reconstituted bone xenograft,ARBX)对犬污染性桡骨缺损的一期植骨修复的效果. 方法在重组合异种骨(reconstituted bone xenograft,RBX)基础上,结合抗生素局部缓释技术,制备具有较强抗感染能力和较高成骨作用的ARBX.取成年杂种犬8只,于双侧桡骨中上段制成15 mm节段性骨缺损,在缺损处注入5×106 CFU/ml金黄色葡萄球菌1 ml,静置15分钟后,于双侧缺损区分别植入ARBX、RBX,并用钢板固定.术后6个月对存活的6只犬进行取材,通过解剖学、X线片、组织学及细菌学检查,比较ARBX和RBX一期植骨修复犬污染性桡骨缺损的效果. 结果术后6个月,ARBX侧有5只完全修复,1只中央部3 mm缺损未修复,均无骨髓炎表现,标本细菌培养均为阴性.RBX侧有1只部分修复,5只未能修复,残留8～13 mm缺损,均有明显骨髓炎表现,标本细菌培养均为阳性. 结论 ARBX具有较高成骨活性和较强的抗菌能力,能够一期植骨修复细菌污染性骨缺损.     

吲哚美辛对人结肠癌HCT116和SW480细胞的影响

目的：探讨吲哚美辛对人结肠癌HCT116和SW480细胞的影响。方法：体外培养细胞，采用MTT法分别检测吲哚美辛作用后两系细胞的生长情况，计算半抑浓度（IC50）；体内建立裸鼠皮下移植瘤模型，喂服吲哚美辛3 mg/(kg·d)共4周，隔日测瘤结节体积及鼠重，评价吲哚美辛的抑瘤效果。结果：吲哚美辛作用于结肠癌HCT116和SW480细胞48 h后，细胞的生长均受到明显抑制，呈剂量依赖效应，IC50分别为 (318.2±12.7) μmol/L和 (701.4±29.5) μmol/L；吲哚美辛显著减慢裸鼠皮下移植瘤的生长，用药4周后抑瘤率达44.6%，未见明显毒性反应。结论：吲哚美辛能抑制不表达环氧合酶的人结肠癌细胞（HCT116和SW480）生长，间接说明其抗癌作用不完全依赖环氧合酶途径，还存在其它的可能机制。     

Radiofrequency Current Ablation of Porcine Right Atrium: Increased Lesion Size with Bipolar Two Catheter Technique Compared to Unipolar Application In Vitro and In Vivo

Interruption of atrial flutter and fibrillation by RF catheter ablation may be favored by large, elongated lesions. We administered RF current in unipolar and bipolar mode in porcine right atrium. Bipolar ablation was performed between the tip electrodes of two serially coupled catheters. With 4-mm tip electrodes in vitro, lesion length increased from a mean (SD) of 7.9 (1.2) mm at 3 mm-interelectrode distance (IED) to 13.3 (3.3) mm at 9-mm IED, but decreased at 12-mm IED due to nonconfluent lesions (P < 0.0001), With 4 mm distal electrodes and 8 mm IED, bipolar lesions were 65% longer than corresponding unipolar ablations. Switching to bipolar mode increased the lesion length more than increasing electrode tip length to 6 mm in unipolar mode. Power and temperature controlled ablation created equally sized lesions. Twelve anesthetized pigs were randomized to unipolar or two catheter bipolar temperature controlled ablation of the right atrial free wall. Bipolar ablation created confluent lesions with endocardial length × width of 13.5 (5.8) × 7.3 (3.7) mm, unipolar ablation 6.4 (2.8) × 4.6 (1.4) mm (P < 0.001 when comparing length and P = 0.013 for lesion width). The atrial lesions in both groups were transmural and extended into hilar lung lesions with maximal depth of 3.0 (1.1) and 2.6 (1.0) mm, respectively (P = 0.44). Five bipolarly and four unipolarly ablated pigs developed right diaphragmal paresis. We conclude that bipolar ablation may be preferable in situations where large, elongated lesions are favorable. The two catheter technique is feasible in porcine right atrium. Both bipolar and unipolar ablation of the porcine right atrial free wall may frequently be complicated by injury to the phrenic nerve and adjacent lung tissue.     

不同机械通气方式联合猪肺磷脂注射液治疗新生儿呼吸衰竭疗效比较

目的 比较常频机械通气(CMV)、猪肺磷脂注射液联合CMV、猪肺磷脂注射液联合高频振荡通气(HFOV)治疗新生儿呼吸衰竭的疗效。方法 选择2019年1月至2020年12月南阳市中心医院收治的133例呼吸衰竭新生儿为研究对象,根据治疗方式将患儿分为对照组(n=41)、观察组A(n=45)和观察组B(n=47)。对照组患儿给予单纯CMV治疗,观察组A患儿给予猪肺磷脂注射液联合HFOV治疗,观察组B患儿给予猪肺磷脂注射液联合CMV治疗。比较3组患儿机械通气时间、用氧时间、治疗前后的呼吸力学指标[动脉血氧分压(PaO₂)、动脉血二氧化碳分压(PaCO₂)、氧合指数(OI)、呼吸指数(RI)]和血清内皮素-1(ET-1)、肌酸激酶同工酶(CK-MB)、Ⅱ型肺泡表面抗原-6(KL-6)、Clara细胞蛋白16(CC16)水平及不良反应发生情况。结果 3组患儿的机械通气时间和用氧时间比较差异有统计学意义(F=12.658、26.196,P<0.05);观察组A和观察组B患儿的机械通气时间和用氧时间显著短于对照组(P<0.05),观察组A患儿的机...     

Capacitation-dependent concentration of lipid rafts in the apical ridge head area of porcine sperm cells

Lipid architecture of the plasma membrane plays an important role in the capacitation process of the sperm cell. During this process, an increase in membrane fluidity takes place, which coincides with a redistribution of cholesterol to the apical region of the head plasma membrane and subsequently an efflux of cholesterol. Cholesterol is also a major player in the formation of lipid rafts or microdomains in the membrane. Lipid rafts favour specific protein-protein interactions by concentrating certain proteins in these microdomains while excluding others. In this study, we investigated the organization of lipid rafts during in vitro capacitation of boar sperm cells. We report on the presence of the lipid raft-specific proteins caveolin-1 and flotillin-1 in sperm cells. Capacitation induced a change in membrane distribution of these proteins. Lipid analysis on detergent-resistant membranes (DRMs) of sperm cells indicated that capacitation induces a lipid raft concentration rather than a disintegration of lipid rafts, because the total amount of lipid in the DRM fraction remained unaltered. Using a proteomic approach, we identified several major DRM proteins, including proteins involved in capacitation-dependent processes and zona pellucida binding. Our data indicate that sperm raft reorganization may facilitate capacitation-specific signalling events and binding to the zona pellucida.     

Arterial endothelial function in a porcine model of early stage atherosclerotic vascular disease

Cardiovascular disease (CVD) is the leading cause of morbidity and mortality in the United States and is projected to become the leading cause of mortality in the world. Atherosclerosis is the most important single factor contributing to this disease burden. In this study, we characterize relationships between endothelial dysfunction and vascular disease in an animal model of diet-induced, early-stage atherosclerotic vascular disease. We tested the hypothesis that hypercholesterolaemia induces vascular disease and impairs endothelium-dependent relaxation (EDR) in conduit arteries of adult male Yucatan pigs. Pigs were fed a normal fat (NF) or high fat cholesterol (HFC) diet for 20-24 weeks. Results indicate that, while the HFC diet did not alter EDR in femoral or brachial arteries, EDR was significantly decreased in both carotid and coronary arteries. Sudanophilic fatty streaks were significantly present in the abdominal aorta and common carotid artery. Histopathology revealed increased intima-media thickness (IMT) and foam cell accumulation in Stary Stage I-III lesions in the abdominal aorta, common carotid artery and femoral arteries. In the coronary arteries, the accumulation of foam cells in Stary Stage I and II lesions resulted in a trend for increased IMT. There was no evidence of vascular disease in the brachial arteries. These results indicate that early stages of CVD (Stary Stage I-III) precede decreases in EDR induced by HFC diet, because femoral arteries exhibited foam cell accumulation and an increased IMT but no change in endothelial function.     

静态与动态下脱细胞猪主动脉瓣种植人成纤维细胞初步研究

目的 探索在脱细胞猪主动脉瓣膜材料上种植人成纤维细胞的方法与效果；材料和方法 采用在脱细胞猪主动脉瓣膜材料上静态与动态种植人成纤维细胞，并对其结果进行比较研究。结果 静态种植不能在猪主动脉瓣叶的两侧形成完整的单层人成纤维细胞融合层；而经过动态种植，在一定条件下可以在猪主动脉瓣叶两侧形成完整的单层人成纤维细胞融合层；结论 动态种植较之静态种植易达到形成完整均匀的细胞种植效果。