ABSTRACT
Objective To investigate the seroprevalence of Toxoplasma gondii infections among neonates in Fujian Province, so as to provide insights into the development of interventions for the prevention and control of congenital toxoplasmosis. Methods A total of 1 045 neonates delivered in Fujian Province from 2017 to 2018 were recruited, including 387 preterm infants and 658 full-term infants. Umbilical cord blood was sampled from all neonates, and the seroprevalence of anti-T. gondii IgG antibody was detected and compared between preterm and full-term infants. In addition, elbow venous blood samples were collected from neonates’mothers, and the seroprevalence of anti-T. gondii IgG antibody was detected and compared between preterm and full-term infants’mothers. Results The overall seroprevalence of anti-T. gondii IgG antibody was 9.38% among the 1 045 neonates in Fujian Province. The seroprevalence of anti-T. gondii IgG antibody was 18.35% in the 387 preterm infants, and there was no significant difference in the seroprevalence of anti-T. gondii IgG antibody between male and female infants (17.69% vs. 18.75%, χ2 = 0.07, P > 0.05). The seroprevalence of anti-T. gondii IgG antibody was 4.10% in the 658 full-term infants, and there was no significant difference in the seroprevalence of anti-T. gondii IgG antibody between male and female infants (4.14% vs. 4.08%, χ2 = 0, P > 0.05). In addition, the overall seroprevalence of anti-T. gondii IgG antibody was 15.02% in all neonates’ mothers, and the seroprevalence was significantly greater in preterm infants’mothers than in full-term infant’s mothers (20.93% vs. 11.55%, χ2 = 16.79, P < 0.01). Conclusions The seroprevalence of T. gondii infections is significantly higher in preterm infants and their mothers than in full-term infants and their mothers. Prenatal detection of T. gondii infections and health education pertaining to toxoplasmosis prevention and control knowledge are required to be strengthened to effectively reduce the incidence of congenital toxoplasmosis.
ABSTRACT
Molecular imprinting technique (MIT) involves the synthesis of polymer in the presence of a template to produce complementary binding sites in terms of its size, shape and functional group orientation. Such kind of polymer possesses specific recognition ability towards its template molecule. Despite the rapid development of MIT over the years, the majority of the template molecules that have been studied are small molecules, while molecular imprinting of proteins remains a significant yet challenging task due to their large size, structural flexibility and complex conformation. This review, we summarized the research findings over the past years, and discussed the nano-reinforcing materials used to prepare molecular imprinting of proteins and the perspective of these nano-reinforcing materials.
Subject(s)
Binding Sites , Molecular Conformation , Molecular Imprinting , Nanostructures , Chemistry , Polymers , Chemistry , Proteins , ChemistryABSTRACT
<p><b>OBJECTIVE</b>To investigate the effects of antisense oligonucleotides (ASODN) targeting protein kinase C alpha (PKCalpha) on the proliferation of A549 cells.</p><p><b>METHODS</b>PKCalpha ASODN and random oligonucleotides (RODN) were transfected into A549 cells mediated by polyethyleneimine, and the proliferation and clone formation of A549 cells were detected by CCK-8 and clone formation assay, respectively. The expression of PKCalpha in the transfected cells was analyzed by RT-PCR and Western blotting.</p><p><b>RESULTS</b>Compared with those in the control group, PEI group and PEI-RODN group, the proliferation and clone formation of A549 cells treated with ASODN targeting PKCalpha were significantly inhibited (P<0.05). The expressions of PKCalpha mRNA and protein in PKCalpha ASODN-transfected A549 cells were significantly lower than those in the other 3 groups (P<0.05).</p><p><b>CONCLUSION</b>The PKCalpha ASODN mediated by PEI down-regutates the expression of PKCalpha gene and suppress the proliferation and clone formation of A549 cells.</p>