Clinical observation of acupuncture at Huiyin (CV 1) for chronic severe functional constipation / 中国针灸

OBJECTIVE@#To compare the effect of acupuncture at Huiyin (CV 1) and oral administration of western medication in treatment of chronic severe functional constipation (CSFC).@*METHODS@#A total of 64 patients with CSFC were randomly divided into an acupuncture group (32 cases, 5 cases dropped off) and a western medication group (32 cases, 4 cases dropped off). Both groups were given routine basic treatment. The acupuncture group was treated by directly puncture of 20-30 mm at Huiyin (CV 1), once a day for the first 4 weeks, 5 times a week, once every other day for the next 4 weeks, 3 times a week, totally for 8 weeks. The western medication group was treated with 2 mg prucalopride succinate tablets orally before breakfast every day for 8 weeks. The average number of weekly spontaneous bowel movement (SBM) of the two groups were observed before treatment and 1-8 weeks into treatment. The constipation symptom score before and after treatment, and in follow-up of 1 month after treatment, as well as quality of life [patient assessment of constipation quality of life questionnaire (PAC-QOL) score and the proportion of patients of PAC-QOL score difference before and after treatment≥1] before and after treatment were compared in the two groups. The clinical effects of the two groups were evaluated after treatment and in follow-up.@*RESULTS@#Compared before treatment, the average number of weekly SBM in the two groups was increased 1-8 weeks into treatment (P<0.05). The average number of weekly SBM in the acupuncture group was less than that in the western medication group 1 week into treatment (P<0.05), and the average number of weekly SBM in the observation group was more than that in the western medication group 4-8 weeks into treatment (P<0.05). The scores of constipation symptom after treatment and in follow-up and scores of PAC-QOL after-treatment in the two groups were lower than those before treatment (P<0.05), and those in the acupuncture group were lower than the western medication group (P<0.05). The proportion of patients of PAC-QOL score difference before and after treatment≥1 in the acupuncture group was higher than that in the west medication group (P<0.05). The total effective rates after treatment and in follow-up in the acupuncture group were 81.5% (22/27) and 78.3% (18/23), respectively, which were better than 42.9% (12/28) and 43.5% (10/23) in the western medication group (P<0.05).@*CONCLUSION@#Acupuncture at Huiyin (CV 1) can effectively increase the number of spontaneous defecation in patients with CSFC, reduce constipation symptoms, improve the quality of life, and the effect after treatment and in follow-up is better than oral western medication.

Long Non-Coding RNA Expression Profile in Vascular Endothelial Cells before and after Infected by Dengue Virus Type Ι / 中山大学学报(医学科学版)

@#【Objective】 To use high- throughout sequencing technologies for examining differentially expressed long non-coding RNA（lncRNA）in human umbilical vein endothelial cell（HUVEC）infected by dengue virus type Ι（DENV-1）， to analyze and explore the potential molecular mechanisms of HUVEC dysfunction or damage.【Methods】After 24 hours of DENV-1 infection，RNA samples were extracted from control groups and viral groups. Sequencing and the differentially expressed lncRNAs were screened ，and then GO and KEGG enrichment analysis were conducted and a co- expression network map was constructed.【Results】In contrast to the control group，there were 2 623 lncRNA expressed differently， among which 1 441 were up-regulated，while 1 182 were down-regulated. It was found that the differentially expressed lncRNA and the predicted corresponding target genes were mainly distributed in the regions of biological processes of antigen presentation，interferon synthesis，apoptosis and cell adhesion. 【Conclusion】After HUVEC were infected with DENV-1，lncRNA expression profile changes significantly，which is closely related to the occurrence and development of dengue hemorrhagic fever/dengue shock syndrome（DHF/DSS）.

Induction of virus-neutralizing antibodies and T cell responses by dengue virus type 1 virus-like particles prepared from Pichia pastoris / 中华医学杂志(英文版)

<p><b>BACKGROUND</b>Dengue is currently a significant global health problem but no vaccines are available against the four dengue serotypes virus infections. The development of safe and effective vaccines has been hampered by the requirement of conferring complete protection against all four dengue serotypes and the lack of a convenient animal model. Virus-like particles (VLPs) have emerged as a promising subunit vaccine candidate. One strategy of vaccine development is to produce a tetravalent dengue subunit vaccine by mixing recombinant VLPs, corresponding to all four dengue virus serotypes. Towards this end, this study aimed to establish a Pichia pastoris (P. pastoris) expression system for production of dengue virus type 1 (DENV-1) VLPs and evaluate the humoral and cellular immune response of this particle in mice.</p><p><b>METHODS</b>A recombinant yeast P. pastoris clone containing prM and E genes of DENV-1 was constructed and DENV-1 VLPs expressed by this clone were analyzed by sucrose density gradient centrifugation, Western blotting, and transmission electron microscope. Groups of mice were immunized by these particles plus adjuvant formulations, then mice were tested by ELISA and neutralization assay for humoral immune response, and by lymphocyte proliferation and cytokine production assays for a cellular immune response.</p><p><b>RESULTS</b>Our data demonstrated that recombinant DENV-1 VLPs consisting of prM and E protein were successfully expressed in the yeast P. pastoris. Sera of VLPs immunized mice were shown to contain a high-titer of antibodies and the neutralization assay suggested that those antibodies neutralized virus infection in vitro. Data from the T lymphocyte proliferation assay showed proliferation of T cell, and ELISA found elevated secretion levels of interferon IFN-γ and IL-4.</p><p><b>CONCLUSIONS</b>P. pastoris-expressed DENV-1 VLPs can induce virus neutralizing antibodies and T cell responses in immunized mice. Using P. pastoris to produce VLPs offers a promising and economic strategy for dengue virus vaccine development.</p>

Potential infections of H5N1 and H9N2 avian influenza do exist in Guangdong populations of China / 中华医学杂志(英文版)

<p><b>BACKGROUND</b>Southeast China is one of the sites of influenza origin. During 2003--2004, nine avian influenza outbreaks took place in Guangdong Province. But no human case was reported. To examine the status of potential human infection by human influenza (H1N1, H3N2) and avian influenza (H5N1, H7N7, H9N2) in the avian influenza epidemic area of Guangdong Province, China, we conducted a seroepidemiologic survey in the people of this area from April to June of 2004.</p><p><b>METHODS</b>Three out of 9 H5N1 avian influenza affected poultry areas in Guangdong were randomly selected, and the population living within 3 kilometers of the affected poultries were chosen as the survey subjects. One thousand two hundred and fourteen people were selected from 3 villages at random. Human and avian influenza antibody titers were determined by hemagglutination-inhibition (HI) test and microneutralization test (MNT).</p><p><b>RESULTS</b>The positive rate of antibody to H5N1 was 3.03% in the occupational exposure group and 2.34% in general citizens group; that of H9N2 was 9.52% in the occupational exposure group and 3.76% in the general citizens group. Moreover one case in the occupational exposure group was positive for H7N7. One year later, all previously positive cases had become negative except for one H5N1-positive case.</p><p><b>CONCLUSION</b>The observations imply that H5N1 and H9N2 avian influenza silent infections exist in Guangdong populations.</p>

Variability analysis of S2 gene of SARS-CoV / 南方医科大学学报

<p><b>OBJECTIVE</b>To determine the sequence of S2 gene of SARS-associated coronavirus (SARS-CoV) GD322 and analyze the phyletic evolution of S2 gene.</p><p><b>METHOD</b>S2 gene fragment was amplified from SARS-CoV GD322 genome with RT-PCR and ligated to pGEM-T vector for sequence analysis after transformation of the plasmid into E. coli DH5a. The variability of S2 genes and S2 proteins from 12 strains isolated in the early, intermediate and advanced stages of the SARS outbreak were analyzed and the phylogenetic tree was constructed with Lasergene, Clustal X, DNAman and Treeview. T cell antigen epitopes of S2 protein were predicted on the basis of Internet database.</p><p><b>RESULT</b>With the epidemic spread of SARS-CoV, the S2 genes of the virus tended to become stable. Homology of S2 genes of SARS-CoV isolated in advanced stage of the outbreak reached 99.9%. Prediction of T cell antigen epitope showed that mutation at the 57th amino acid effected T cell antigen epitope.</p><p><b>CONCLUSION</b>S2 gene of GD322 SARS-CoV is relatively stable during the epidemic spread of the virus, and mutation at the 57th amino acids of S2 protein may affect the T cell antigen epitope.</p>

Inoculation of plasmid expressing the dengue 2 NS1 gene elicits immunity in mice / 中华实验和临床病毒学杂志

<p><b>OBJECTIVE</b>To study cellular and humoral immune responses to NS1 protein in mice inoculated intramuscularly with recombinant plasmid expressing dengue 2 NS1 gene.</p><p><b>METHODS</b>The eukaryotic expressing plasmid pCNX2-NS1 was injected into tibialis anterior muscle in mice. The mice were subsequently boosted with the same dose and same method twice after the initial inoculation. The mice were killed at four-week intervals and their serum and spleen cells were harvested for further test.</p><p><b>RESULTS</b>Dengue 2 antibodies were detectable in the sera from inoculated animals four weeks after the last boost. The changes of CD4+ T lymphocyte and CD8+ T lymphocyte were also determined by flow cytometry.</p><p><b>CONCLUSION</b>The recombinant plasmid containing dengue 2 NS1 genes is immunogenic in intramuscularly inoculated mice. The vaccinated mice produced dengue-2 specific and long lasting immunity.</p>