Toxoplasma gondii Induces Apoptosis via Endoplasmic Reticulum Stress-Derived Mitochondrial Pathway in Human Small Intestinal Epithelial Cell-Line

Toxoplasma gondii, an intracellular protozoan parasite that infects one-third of the world’s population, has been reported to hijack host cell apoptotic machinery and promote either an anti- or proapoptotic program depending on the parasite virulence and load and the host cell type. However, little is known about the regulation of human FHs 74 small intestinal epithelial cell viability in response to T. gondii infection. Here we show that T. gondii RH strain tachyzoite infection or ESP treatment of FHs 74 Int cells induced apoptosis, mitochondrial dysfunction and ER stress in host cells. Pretreatment with 4-PBA inhibited the expression or activation of key molecules involved in ER stress. In addition, both T. gondii and ESP challenge-induced mitochondrial dysfunction and cell death were dramatically suppressed in 4-PBA pretreated cells. Our study indicates that T. gondii infection induced ER stress in FHs 74 Int cells, which induced mitochondrial dysfunction followed by apoptosis. This may constitute a potential molecular mechanism responsible for the foodborne parasitic disease caused by T. gondii.

Relationship between serum C-reactive protein concentration and muscle strength, physical performance among the aged in Tianjin / 中华健康管理学杂志

Objective The aim of this study was to investigate the relationship between serum C-reactive protein (CRP) and muscle strength, physical performance in the elderly. Methods A cross-sectional study was conducted in Hangu district of Tianjin from April to June in 2013. Totally 1 131 subjects aged 60 years or older completed the survey. Every subject filled out a standard questionnaire and underwent grip strength test, timed up and go test (TUGT). Serum CRP concentrations were determined using chemiluminescent immunoassay kits. Multivariate analysis was performed to determine the relationship between CRP and muscle strength, physical performance. Results After adjustment for potential confounding factors including age, BMI, smoking status, drinking status, hypertension, diabetes, cardiovascular disease, anemia, cancer and physical activity, the multiple linear regression analysis suggested that CRP levels were inversely related to handgrip strength (β'=-0.11, P<0.01), and the logistic regression analysis showed that compared with subjects in the lowest quintile, the odds ratios and 95%confidence interval of higher quintile of CRP were 1.09 (0.50, 2.39) and 2.70 (1.34, 5.66) (Ptrend<0.05) in males. However, the relationship between CRP and muscle strength, physical performance was not statistically significant in females. Conclusions In males, higher serum CRP levels were independently correlated with lower muscle strength and poor physical performance in older adults. These results suggested that inflammation-signaling pathways may play an important role in the progression of sarcopenia.

Neutrophil/lymphocyte ratio and hypertension in men and women / 中华健康管理学杂志

Objective Neutrophil/lymphocyte ratio (NLR) is a simple and reliable inflammation biomarker but few studies have assessed the relationship between NLR and hypertension in Chinese population. In order to evaluate how NLR is related to the incidence of hypertension, we designed a large scale prospective cohort study in an adult population. Method Participants were recruited from Tianjin Medical University's General Hospital?Health Management Centre. Hypertension?free subjects (men, 13 638;women,15 212) were followed up for a median of 2.7 years. Adjusted Cox proportional hazards regression models were used to assess relationships between the quintiles of NLR and the incidence of hypertension. Result During the follow-up period, 1 348 subjects in men and 476 subjects in women developed hypertension. The hazard ratios of hypertension incidence were evaluated in increasing NLR quintiles both in men and women. In the final multivariate models, the hazard ratios (95% confidence interval) for hypertension across NLR quintiles were 1.00 (Reference), 1.05 (0.87, 1.26), 1.02 (0.85, 1.22), 1.07 (0.90, 1.29) and 1.22 (1.03, 1.45) (P for trend=0.01), in men;1.00 (Reference), 1.11 (0.82, 1.49), 0.79 (0.58, 1.08), 1.13 (0.85, 1.52) and 1.25 (0.94, 1.66) (P for trend=0.07), in women, respectively. Conclusion This study showed that the elevated NLR levels were significantly related to an increased risk of developing hypertension in men, but not in women.

Effect of bone marrow-derived mesenchymal stem cells on fracture healing in an ovariectomized rat model / 国际检验医学杂志

Objective To assess the therapeutic effect of bone marrow‐derived mesenchymal stem cells (BMSCs) on osteoporotic fracture healing .Methods Bone marrow of the rat bilateral femur and tibia bone tissue were collected ,and BMSCs were isolated by the whole bone marrow adherence method .Sixty female 11‐week‐old SD rats were ovariectomized (OVX) to induce osteoporosis followed by bilateral fracture generation .Twenty rats were left without giving any further treatment (OVX controls) ,20 received injection of saline (OVX+placebo control) and 20 were given injection of BMSCs (OVX+BMSCs) .X‐ray scan was performed at 3‐day ,4‐week and 8‐week post‐fracture ,respectively .Results Flow cytometry analysis revealed that the isolated BMSCs express sur‐face antigens similar to those reported previously .X‐ray results showed that compared with OVX and OVX+placebo groups ,BM‐SCs treatment markedly accelerated fracture healing of in osteoporotic rats .Conclusion Transplantation of BMSCs can effectively improve the healing of primary osteoporotic fracture .

Epidemiological investigation and analysis of middleˉaged and senile osteoporotic fracture in Zhanjiang area / 国际检验医学杂志

Objective Through the research and analysis of guangdong medical college affiliated hospital orthopaedic hospitalized patients with a diagnosis of osteoporosis in Zhanjiang,this paper provide theoretical basis for the prevention of osteoporosis frac-ture.Methods The elderly aged over 40 years old,living in this area for a long time.Data was collected from August 2012 to Feb-ruary 2014,hospitalized patients in guangdong medical college affiliated hospital were diagnosed with osteoporosis.Contents include general situation survey,medical examination,venous blood tests and bone mineral density testing.Results Fracture group average age is older than the non fracture group;the fracture group lumbar spine bone mineral density(LSBMD)and femoral neck bone min-eral density(FNBMD)T value and Z value and serum calcium group is greater than the fracture and the differences were statistically significant(P <0.05).Fracture group in gender divided into two groups for comparison,in which women older than men,and the difference was statistically significant(P <0.05),male LSBMD T and Z values and FNBMD T value is greater than the female and the difference was statistically significant(P <0.05).According to the 10 year age group,Each age group compared with the frac-ture number and non fracture number,in the age group of 70-80 fracture number were the most;All age groups in LSBMD,FNB-MD,serum calcium(Ca)and VitD compared,non fracture group is most higher than that of fracture group.The influence factors of the fractures for non conditional Logistic regression analysis,age,LSBMD,FNBMD T value increased were risk factors for fracture, VitD,FNBMD,LSBMD T value increased were protective factors of fracture.Conclusion Need as soon as possible to prevent osteo-porosis,especially before the age of 40,try to improve the peak bone density,to prevent the occurrence of osteoporosis in the future.

Epidemiological Surveillance of P and G Genotypes of Group A Rotavirus Detected from Diarrheic Patients in Daejeon Region

During 3 years surveillance (January 2001 through December 2003) for acute gastroenteritis in human in Daejeon region, 432 out of 4,869 stool samples were selected as rotavirus-positive specimens by means of antigen-capture enzyme-linked immunosorbent assay (ELISA). The P (VP4) and G (VP7) genotypes for 432 stool samples were investigated by reverse transcription polymerase chain reaction (RT-PCR) and nested multiplex PCR. The most prevalent P subtype was P[8] (44.9%), followed by P[4] (25.7%) and P[6] (17.1%). No cases for P[10] and P[9] subtypes were found through the study. In G subtyping, G1 (53.2%) was the most frequently found G type, followed by G2 (23.1%), G3 (9.5%), G4 (6.7%), and G9 (0.9%). The order of detection rates for G2, G3 and G4 was variable by years. The most common G- and P- type combination found in this study was G1P[8] (33.1%), followed by G2P[4] (20.4%), G1P[6] (10.0%), G3P[8] (7.2%) and G4P[6] (4.2%). The mixed types of G and P were observed most frequently in P[8] (1.4%) and G1 (3.2%), respectively. This is the first molecular epidemiological study for Group A rotavirus in Daejeon region. The results might be useful data for evaluating the epidemiological status of rotaviral diarrhea in the region.

Detection and Genetic Characterization of Isolates of Hepatitis E Virus from Pigs and Human in Chungnam Region of Korea

Swine hepatitis E virus (HEV) has been reported as a new zoonotic agent due to its close genomic resemblance to the human HEV. Recently this virus is indicated as one of the important pathogens in xenotransplantation that uses pig as a donor animal. We carried out to investigate the prevalence of HEV infections among the pigs and human population in Chungnam region using a nested RT-PCR for detection of a part of HEV ORF2 gene. The sequences of the amplified DNA were analyzed and the genetical divergency were characterized. A total of 18 HEV strains, comprising 16 strains from pig and 2 strains from human, were genetically isolated from the fecal and serum samples. Among the isolates, 5 strains (2.5%) were detected from 200 swine sera and 2 strains (2.0%) from 100 human sera. All of the 16 swine strains were isolated from the pigs at 3 month of age, but none of age groups revealed the positive for swine HEV RNA. In comparison of the nucleotide sequence between 16 swine HEV and 2 human HEV isolates, the range of identities was 91.5% to 100%. Two human HEV isolates shared 99.7% homology. In phylogenetic analysis, all of the isolates were classified into genotype III, and the 18 isolates were also closely related to the prototype of swine HEV and human HEV strains isolated in the United States and others recently identified from swine in Japan and Netherland.

Detection and Genetic Characterization of Isolates of Hepatitis E Virus from Pigs and Human in Chungnam Region of Korea

Swine hepatitis E virus (HEV) has been reported as a new zoonotic agent due to its close genomic resemblance to the human HEV. Recently this virus is indicated as one of the important pathogens in xenotransplantation that uses pig as a donor animal. We carried out to investigate the prevalence of HEV infections among the pigs and human population in Chungnam region using a nested RT-PCR for detection of a part of HEV ORF2 gene. The sequences of the amplified DNA were analyzed and the genetical divergency were characterized. A total of 18 HEV strains, comprising 16 strains from pig and 2 strains from human, were genetically isolated from the fecal and serum samples. Among the isolates, 5 strains (2.5%) were detected from 200 swine sera and 2 strains (2.0%) from 100 human sera. All of the 16 swine strains were isolated from the pigs at 3 month of age, but none of age groups revealed the positive for swine HEV RNA. In comparison of the nucleotide sequence between 16 swine HEV and 2 human HEV isolates, the range of identities was 91.5% to 100%. Two human HEV isolates shared 99.7% homology. In phylogenetic analysis, all of the isolates were classified into genotype III, and the 18 isolates were also closely related to the prototype of swine HEV and human HEV strains isolated in the United States and others recently identified from swine in Japan and Netherland.

Construction of Recombinant DNA with F and HN Genes of Newcastle Disease Virus and Its Immunogenicity

Recombinant DNA vaccines, based on plasmid vectors expressing an antigen under the control of a strong promotor, have several advantages over traditional vaccines. They have been shown to induce a full spectrum of immune responses for humoral and cellular systems and to secure the higher safety and the simplicity of administration. Thus, establishment of DNA vaccines against Newcastle disease virus (NDV) in poultry has been widely investigated using various virus strains and vector systems. In this study, the F and HN genes of NDV CBP-1 strains isolated from diseased pheasants and attenuated by serial passages in egg embryos were cloned using pSLIA vector and constructed two recombinants of pSLIA-tsF and pSLIA-tsHN. The recombinant plasmids were transfected into COS-7 cell and the expression of HN and F proteins were verified by immunofluorescence, SDS-PAGE and Western blot. The recombinant plasmids were injected intramuscularly and intradermally into C57B/6 mouse and a significant increment of HN and F antibodies was detected by ELISA. According to the results, it was implicative that the recombinant DNA could be utilized for development of recombinant DNA vaccine for NDV.

Genetic Characterization of Porcine Circovirus Type 2 Detected from the Pigs in Commercial Swine Farms in Korea

Porcine circovirus type 2 (PCV-2) has been nowadays recognized as a major agent causing postweaning multisystemic wasting syndrome (PMWS) in pigs worldwide. PMWS most commonly affects the weaned piglets, being of increasing importance to the pig industry in Korea. Seven commercial farms affected with PMWS and 2 farms free from PMWS, located in the southern part of Gyeonggi province, were selected for this study. The peripheral mononuclear cells were tested for the presence of ORF2 gene by PCR, and 54 (68.4%) of 79 samples were positive. All of 9 herds tested included the positive cases. The positive rates by herds were 50 to 100% in the PMWS-affected herds and 40 to 62.5% in the PMWS-free herd. The nucleotide and amino acid sequences of ORF2 gene of 6 strains were characterized. Homologies among 6 strains revealed 92.1 to 100% in the nucleotide and 92.3 to 100% in the amino acid. The overall ranges of homologies for 25 strains comprised 2 Korean and 23 foreign strains were 91.1 to 100% in the nucleotide and 89.7 to 100% in the amino acid. Three regions of greater heterogeneity were found in immunorelevant epitopes of the capsid protein, and the sequences between 57 to 80 aa revealed higher mutation than other areas. In the phylogenetic tree analysis, KOR 71 strain was clustered together with Korean strains previously isolated in Korea. The remaining 5 strains were closely clustered with other European and Asian strains. The results will be valuable for improving our understanding of the molecular epidemiology of PCV-2 in Korea and development of preventive measures for PMWS.