Hepatitis B e antigen perturbs the LPS-stimulated production of inflammatory cytokines by mononuclear-derived dendritic cells / 中华肝脏病杂志

<p><b>OBJECTIVE</b>To investigate whether hepatitis B e antigen (HBeAg) can modulate the ability of dendritic cells (DCs) to produce inflammatory cytokines (IL-12/IL-6) upon stimulation in vitro.</p><p><b>METHODS</b>Purified adherent mononuclear cells isolated by Ficoll-hypaque density gradient centrifugation were cultured in complete medium containing granulocyte macrophage colony-stimulating factor plus interleukin (IL)-4 to generate immature (i)DCs. Microscopic analysis and flow cytometry were performed to define the phenotypic characteristics of the iDCs. Then, different concentrations (1, 2 and 5 mug/ml) of HBeAg were added to the culture medium and for 24 hrs of incubation. To induce iDCs' maturation, the various groups of cells were incubated for 24 hrs in differentiation culture with lipopolysaccharide (LPS). Effects on secreted inflammatory cytokines were determined by enzyme-linked immunosorbent assay of the cells' supernatants.</p><p><b>RESULTS</b>All concentrations of HBeAg led to significant reductions in IL-6 (all P less than 0.05). Similar significant reduction trends were seen for IL-12 at the HBeAg concentrations of 2 and 5 mug/ml (both P less than 0.05), but not at the 1 mug/ml concentration.</p><p><b>CONCLUSION</b>HBeAg may suppress the production of cytokines from DCs; this mechanism may contribute to the immune escape of HBV that supports persistent infection.</p>

Epidemiologicai analysis of plague in Qinghai province from 2001 to 2010 / 中国地方病学杂志

Objective To explore the plague epidemical trend of nearly a 10 years data in Qinghai province to provide basis for making the prevention and control measures. Method The regional distribution and time distribution of animal and human plague, monitoring and plague foci of survey data in Qinghai from 2001 to 2010 were analyzed with Excel software 2003. Results In Qinghai province, a total of 167 strains of Yersinia pestis were isolated from infected animals and insects in 10 years. Yersinia pestis was mainly distributed in Wulan,Delinha, Geermu, and Tianjun, along the Qinghai-Xizang railway. Human plague was occurred every year from 2001 to 2010 except 2002, 2007, 2008, and 2010. In the 10 years, there were 37 plague cases and 16 of these cases died, the mortality was 43.24％. The plague cases were mainly distributed in Nangqian, Qumalai, Chenduo,Zhiduo, Xinghai, Tongde, Tianjun, Wulan and Qilian. And these cases were found mostly in the period from May to October, especially in the period from August to October. Major clinical type of the plague cases was lung-type (62.16％,23/37). Conclusions The plague epidemic situation in Qinghai province is still severe, animal plague occurred year after year, and human plague outbreaks occasionally. Monitoring and early warning in the key areas should be strengthened, and the comprehensive measures of plague prevention and control should be carried out to reduce the incidence and prevalence of plague.

Relationship between the expression of uncoupling protein 2 and the damage by oxygen free radicals in acute liver failure rats / 中华肝脏病杂志

To investigate the relationship between uncoupling protein 2 (UCP2) expression and the damage caused by oxygen free radicals in acute liver failure rat models. Thirty-five male Sprague-Dawley rats were randomly divided into two groups: the control group (15 rats) and liver failure group (20 rats). The rats were injected intraperitoneally with thioacetamide (TAA) to induce models of acute liver failure. The levels of endotoxin (ET) were detected by double antibody sandwich enzyme-linked immunosorbent assay. The expression of liver UCP2 mRNA was detected by reverse transcription polymerase chain reaction. The superoxide dismutase (SOD) and malonaldehyde (MDA) were detected by spectrophotometry. The expression of UCP2 protein was observed by immunohistochemistry. The data of the two groups were compared using Mann-Whitney U test or ANOVA. The expression of UCP2 mRNA in liver failure group was higher as compared to the control group (P value is less than 0.01); the level of MDA and endotoxin of liver failure group were higher than that of the control group (P value is less than 0.01). SOD of the liver failure group was lower (P value is less than 0.01). There was a certain correlation between UCP2 mRNA expression and ET, SOD and MDA (r = 0.952, -0.667, 0. 634 respectively, P value is less than 0.05 or 0.01). UCP2 is highly expressed in the livers of liver failure rats. A certain correlation perhaps existed between the expression of UCP2 mRNA and the serous SOD, MDA and ET.

Identification of 2 strains of suspected Yersinia pestis isolated from Marmot,,himalayana in Dege County,Sichuan Province / 中国地方病学杂志

Objective Throush identify biochemical characteristics and virulence factors of 2 strains suspected Yersinia pestis(Y.pestis)isolated from the dead Marmota himalayana(M.himalayana)to confirm the nature epidemic focus in Dege County,Sichuan Province.Methods Y.pestis was analyzed by specific staining and shape,culturing characteristics,splitting-test by bacteriophage,test of biochemical characteristics and glycolysis ability,virulence factors,virulence,nutritional requirement,plasmid,genetic test and genetic type. Results The tested strains were Gram staining bacilus.The main biochemical characteristics were Arabinose(+)、 Rhamnose(-),Maltose(+),Melibiose(-),Glycerol(+),Denitrification(+).The virulence factors with FI+.VW+, Pgm+,Pst I+;and with the common 6.0×106,45.0×106,65.0×106 plasmids,also with the virulence-relative plasmid gene.Both their absolutely lethal dose(LD100)in mice were 50 bacteria.The nutritional requirement appeared which were depended on Phenylalanine and Methionine.With the Genomovar 5 genotype characteristics of M.himalayana plague foci of Qinghai-Tibet plateau.The difference between tested strains and Yersinia pseudotubercuosis on the 3 different culture medium was obvious.The tested strains had a Y.pestis' specific 3a fragment,Pst I and FI-Ag,at 22 ℃,the strains could be split by bacteriophage completely.Conclusions According to the diagnostic criteria of plague in China,the 2 suspected strains isolated from Dege County,Sichuan Province ale confirmed as Y.pestis.both with powerful virulenceand with the characteristics of the Y.pestis of M.himahtyana in Qinghai-Tibet plateau plague natural focus.

Investigation on the space structure of plague natural foci in the Sanjiangyuan area in Qinghai Province / 中国地方病学杂志

Objective To investigate the space structure of plague natural foci in the area of Lantsang, Yellow and Yangtse River in Qinghai Province to provide references for making decisions to eontrol the occurrence of human plague. Methods Data was collected from the survey on natural foci and surveillance of plague from 1954 to 2006 and descriptive epidemiological method was used to analyze the data. Results Marmata hirnalayana and Microtus fuscua natural foci were known in Sanjiangyuan area. Callopsylla dolabris, Oropsylla silantiewi, Citellophilus sparsilis and Amphipsylla tuta were vectors; Microtus fuscus plague natural foci was in a range of about 9500 km2, distributing in Zhenqin Town, Chengduo County. Marmata himalayana plague natural foci distributed over 13 countries, a range nearly 107 000 km2. By the end of 2006, 450 strains of Yersinia pestis were detected and separated from 6 kinds of rodents, 6 kinds of carnivora, 3 kinds of artiodactyls and 9 insects vectors. Between 1960 and 2006, 238 cases and 134 deaths from plague were reported. Most human plague cases occurred in the months from May to November and usually presented as one of three primary forms-bubonic 17.23%(41/238), septicemic 16.81% (40/238), pneumonic 61.34% (146/238) and other types 4.62% (11/238). However, the first epidemic plague case was mainly the glandular plague. Conclusions Date suggested that plague is still a critical public health problem in Sanjiangyuan area, against which countermaeasure needs to be strengthened in the main epidemic areas. More scientific researches on plague should be carried out. Surveillance networks of reporting suspected plague have been established and reduce the number of human plague cases.

Study on the pathogen of plague in Sanjiangyuan area in Qinghai province / 中华流行病学杂志

Objective To study the biological characteristics of Yersinia pestis and to develop prevention and control program on plague in Sanjiangyuan areas,Qinghai province.Methods To identify the biologic types and molecular biological features of Y.pestis isolated in Sanjiangyuan area from 1954-2007.Results Among the 411 strains ofY.pestis,12 strains belonged to the microtus type Y.pestis with denitrification (-) and donkey-bible gelatin carbohydrate(-) and glycerine(+).399 strains belonged to classic type Y.pestis with denitrification (+) and donkey-hide gelatin carbohydrate (+) and glycerine (+).411 Y.pestis strains had factor F I and Pst I.Among them,VW + strains of Y.pestis accounted for 95.13%(391/411),VW accounted for 4.87%(20/411),Pgm+accounted for 80.78%(332/411 ),Pgm±accounted for 9% (37/411 ) and Pgm-accounted for 10.22% (42/411) respectively.96.82% (213/220) of the Y.pestis strains showed strong virulence to laboratory mice while 3.18% (7/220) of the strains carried medium virulence.90.02% of the tested Y.pestis (370/411) strains had 6×106,45×106,65×106 plasmids.8 types of genome were found among 80 strains of Y.pestis,with 6 of them resembling ZHOU Dongsheng's classification.Two new genome types were found.Conclusion The Y.pestis in the Sanjiangyuan area had the characteristics of plague pathogen,identified in Qinghai-Tibet plateau.It is estimated that human beings are highly susceptible to the disease which spread fast,causing serious signs and symptoms with high death rate.

Study on plague pathogeny in areas along Qinghai-Tibet Railroad in Qinghai from 2001-2006 / 中国地方病学杂志

Objective To study the features of Yersinia pestis(Y.pestis)in areas along Qinghai-Tibet Railroad in Qinghai Province.Methods To identify the biologic types and the molecular biological feathers of Y.pestis isolated from areas along Qinghai-Tibet Railroad in Qinghai from 2001-2006.Results All the tested Y.pestis was biologically of classical type and ecologically of Qinghai-Tibet plateau type.The Y.pestis had high virulence.The Y.pestis of 65×106 plasmids was distributed in the Tanggula area,the Y.pestis of 52×106plasmids,in Tianjun and Delingha areas.The Y.pestis srains carried 52 × 106 plasmids.except the two containing 65 X 106 plasmids in Wulan County.The genetic type of Y.pestis in Tanggula was type 5 and that in Zongwulong of Delingha,Saishike,Keke,Tongpu of Wulan was type 8 except 2 strains of Y.pestis isolated from woodchuck and the patients in Dananwan of Tongpu,Wulan County were type 15.Conclusion The Y.pestis in the area along Qinghai-Tibet Railroad in Qinghai belongs to Qinghai-Tibet plateau type with high virulence.

A molecular epidemiological study on human plague fulminant epidemic in Qinghai, 2004 / 中华流行病学杂志

<p><b>OBJECTIVE</b>To study the epidemiology of genotyping Yersinia pestis isolated in the fulminant epidemics of human plague in Qinghai province in 2004.</p><p><b>METHODS</b>Primer pairs targeting the twenty-three different identified regions (DFRs) were designed to detect the presence or deletion of each DFR in 13 strains of Yersinia pestis isolated from the fulminant epidemic of human plague in Qinghai province in 2004.</p><p><b>RESULTS</b>There were 4 genomovars, i.e. Genomovar 8, 10, 15 and 16 in the 13 strains of Yersinia pestis identified. The genomovar of all the strains of Yersinia pestis isolated from Nangqian county was Genomovar 10. Among the two strains of Yersinia pestis isolated from Wulan county, the genomovar of one strain was Genomovar 8 and the other was Genomovar 10. The genomovars of all the strains of Yersinia pestis isolated from Qilian, Qumalai and Chengduo county belonged to Genomovar 16.</p><p><b>CONCLUSION</b>It was demonstrated that the genotyping of Yersinia pestis appeared to be a powerful tool for investigating human plague epidemics.</p>

Study on the genotyping and microevolution of Yersinia pestis in the Qinghai-Tibet Plateau / 中华流行病学杂志

<p><b>OBJECTIVE</b>To study the distribution of genomovars and microevolution of Yersinia pestis in the Qinghai-Tibet Plateau.</p><p><b>METHODS</b>Primer pairs targeting the twenty-two different regions(DFRs) were designed for detecting the presence or deletion of each DFR in 297 strains isolated from the Qinghai-Tibet Plateau.</p><p><b>RESULTS</b>9 genomovars, i. e. Genomovar 1, 5, 6, 7, 8, 10, 11, new type and Ype-ancestor were identified in the Marmota himalayana plague focus of the Qinghai-Tibet Plateau. Among these genomovars, genomovar 5,8 and 10 were dominant types. The total rate of the three genomovars was 80.6% (204/253) and the genomovars in different regions were different. All of 44 strains of Y. pestis in the Microtus fuscus plague focus of the Qinghai-Tibet Plateau belonged to genomovar 14.</p><p><b>CONCLUSION</b>The distribution of genomovars of Y. pestis in the Qinghai-Tibet plateau had remarkable characteristics geographically. Based on the distribution of genomovars of Y. pestis, the routes of transmission and microevolution of Y. pestis were proposed.</p>