Mechanism of cleft palate in C57BL/6N mice induced by 2, 3, 7, 8-tetrachlorodibenzo-p-dioxin / 中华口腔医学杂志

Objective: To explore the molecular mechanism of cleft palate in mice induced by 2, 3, 7, 8-tetrachlorodibenzo-p-dioxin (TCDD). Methods: The pregnant mice were randomly divided into TCDD-treated group (n=42) and control group (n=42). TCDD-treated group was given by gavage a single dose of TCDD (64 μg/kg) at 8: 00 AM on gestation day 10 (GD10) and the control group was given by gavage the isopyknic corn oil. At GD13-GD15, the fetal mice palate development was observed by HE staining. The mouse embryonic palatal mesenchymal cell proliferation was detected by 5-bromo-2-deoxyuridine (BrdU) immunofluorescence. The localization and expression of maternally expressed gene3 (MEG3) in mouse embryonic palatal mesenchymal cells was detected by situ hybridization and real-time PCR (RT-PCR). The key protein expressions of transforming growth factor-β (TGF-β)/Smad signaling pathway in mouse embryonic palatal mesenchyme were analyzed by Western blotting. The interaction of MEG3 and TGF-β receptor Ⅰ (TGF-βRⅠ) was examined by RNA binding protein immunoprecipitation (RIP). Results: At GD13 and GD14, compared with the control group, the ratio of BrdU-positive cells in the palatal mesenchyme of TCDD-treated fetuses decreased significantly (GD13, t=6.66, P=0.003; GD14, t=6.56, P=0.003). However, at GD15, the ratio of BrdU-positive cells was significantly increased (t=-5.98, P=0.004). MEG3 was mainly expressed in the nuclei of fetal mouse palatal mesenchymal cells, and the expression of MEG3 in TCDD group was significantly increased at GD13, GD14 and GD15(GD13, t=39.28, P=0.012; GD14, t=18.75, P=0.042; GD15, t=28.36, P=0.045). At GD14, TCDD decreased the levels of p-Smad2 and Smad4 in embryonic palate mesenchymal cells (p-Smad2, t=9.48, P=0.001;Smad4, t=63.10, P=0.001), whereas the expression of Smad7 was significantly increased at GD14 (t=30.77, P<0.001). The results of the RIP experiment showed that the amount of TGF-βRⅠ-bound MEG3 in mouse embryonic palatal mesenchymal cells in the TCDD group (23.940±1.301) was higher than that in the control group (8.537±1.523)(t=24.55, P<0.001). Conclusions: MEG3 is involved in the suppression of mouse embryonic palatal mesenchymal cell proliferation, functioning at least in part via interacting with the TGF-βRⅠ protein and thereby suppressing Smad signaling in the context of TCDD induced cleft palate.

Salidroside inhibits phenotypic transformation of rat pulmonary artery smooth muscle cells induced by hypoxia / 中国中药杂志

This study investigated the effect of salidroside on phenotypic transformation of rat pulmonary artery smooth muscle cells(PASMCs) induced by hypoxia. Rat pulmonary arteries were isolated by tissue digestion and PASMCs were cultured. The OD values of cells treated with salidroside at different concentrations for 48 hours were measured by cell counting kit-8(CCK-8) to determine the appropriate concentration range of salidroside. The cells were divided into a normal(normoxia) group, a model(hypoxia) group, and three hypoxia + salidroside groups(40, 60, and 80 μg·mL~(-1)). Quantitative real-time PCR(qRT-PCR) was used to detect the mRNA expression of cell contractile markers in each group, such as α-smooth muscle actin(α-SMA), smooth muscle 22(SM22), and calcium-binding protein(calponin), and synthetic marker vimentin. The expression levels of cell phenotypic markers and proliferating cell nuclear antigen(PCNA) were detected by Western blot. The proliferation of cells in each group was detected by the 5-ethynyl-2'-deoxyuridine(EdU) assay. Cell migration was measured by Transwell assay. As revealed by results, compared with the normal group, the model group showed decreased mRNA and protein expression of contractile phenotypic markers of PASMCs and increased mRNA and protein expression of synthetic markers. Compared with the conditions in the model group, salidroside could down-regulate the mRNA and protein expression of synthetic markers in PASMCs and up-regulated the mRNA and protein expression of contractile phenotypic markers. Compared with the normal group, the model group showed potentiated proliferation and migration. Compared with the model group, the hypoxia + salidroside groups showed blunted proliferation and migration of cells after phenotypic transformation. The results suggest that salidroside can inhibit the expression of synthetic markers in PASMCs and promote the expression of contractile markers to inhibit the hypoxia-induced phenotypic transformation of PASMCs. The mechanism of salidroside in inhibiting the proliferation and migration of PASMCs is related to the inhibition of the phenotypic transformation of PASMCs.

Gastrodin injection alleviates lung injury caused by focal cerebral ischemia in rats through NGF/TrkA pathway-mediated activation of the anti-inflammatory pathway / 南方医科大学学报

OBJECTIVE@#To investigate the therapeutic mechanism of gastrodin injection for alleviating lung injury caused by focal cerebral ischemia in rats and the role of the NGF-TrkA pathway in mediating this effect.@*METHODS@#Forty SD rats were equally randomized into normal group, sham-operated group, model group and gastrodin group, and in the latter two groups, rat models of focal cerebral ischemia were established by embolization of the right middle cerebral artery. After successful modeling, the rats were treated with intraperitoneal injection of gastrodin injection at the daily dose of 10 mg/kg for 14 days. After the treatment, the wet/dry weight ratio of the lung tissue was determined, the pathological changes in the lung tissue were observed using HE staining, and the levels of IL-10 and TNF-α in the arterial blood were detected with ELISA. The expressions of NF-κB p65 and TNF-α in the lung tissue were detected with Western blotting, and the expressions of NGF and TrkA were detected using immunohistochemical staining and Western blotting.@*RESULTS@#Compared with the normal control and sham-operated groups, the rats in the model group showed obvious inflammatory lung injury, significantly increased wet/ dry weight ratio of the lungs (P < 0.01), increased TNF-α level in arterial blood (P < 0.01), and significantly up-regulated protein expressions of NF-κB p65 (P < 0.01), TNF-α (P < 0.01), NGF (P < 0.05) and TrkA(P < 0.05) in the lung tissue. Treatment with gastrodin injection obviously alleviated lung inflammation, decreased the wet/dry weight ratio of the lungs (P < 0.05), and significantly lowered TNF-α level (P < 0.01) and increased IL-10 level in the arterial blood in the rat models (P < 0.01); gastrodin injection also significantly decreased the protein expressions of NF-κB p65 and TNF-α (P < 0.05) and up-regulated the expressions of NGF and TrkA in the lung tissue of the rats (P < 0.05).@*CONCLUSION@#The NGF/TrkA pathway may participate in cerebral ischemia-induced inflammatory lung injury, which can be obviously alleviated by gastrodin through the activation of the anti-inflammatory pathway mediated by the NGF/TrkA pathway.

Effect of a novel cold atmospheric plasma jet treatment with different temperatures on resin-dentin bonding / 北京大学学报(医学版)

OBJECTIVE@#To investigate the effect of different treatment temperatures of a novel cold atmospheric plasma jet treatment on the resin-dentin bonding.@*METHODS@#(1) Fifty-two freshly extracted, non-carious and intact third molars were collected. The occlusal one-third of the crown was removed by means of a water-cooled low-speed Isomet saw. One dentin disc [(900 ±100) μm] was prepared for each tooth. The fifty-two dentin discs were randomly divided into control group and experimental groups, of which four were in control group, and forty-eight were divided into four experimental groups according to the different treatment temperatures (4 °C, 10 °C, 20 °C and 30 °C) of the novel radio-frequency atmospheric-pressure glow discharge (RF-APGD) plasma jet, twelve in each group. Each experimental group was divided into three subgroups according to different treatment time (10 s, 20 s and 30 s), with four in each subgroup. The occlusal one-third of the crown was removed by means of a water-cooled low-speed Isomet saw. The morphology of demineralized dentin surfaces was analyzed using field emission scanning electron microscopy. (2) Twenty unerupted, non-carious and intact third molars were randomly divided into five groups, four in each group: control group, untreated; 4 °C, 10 °C, 20 °C and 30 °C experimental groups, each group was treated with the RF-APGD plasma jet for 20 s. The micro-tensile resin dentin bond strength was tested after 20 s RF-APGD plasma jet treatment with different temperatures, using a universal mechanical machine.@*RESULTS@#(1) The field emission scanning electron microscopy results indicated that when compared with the control group, a 10 s RF-APGD plasma jet treatment with 30 °C and 20 °C collapsed the collagen scaffold. Collagen fibrils maintained an uncollapsed three-dimensional structure after the 4 °C RF-APGD plasma jet treatment for even 30 s treatment. (2) The microtensile resin dentin bond strength results of the 4 °C RF-APGD plasma jet treatment group (57.8±0.7) MPa were significantly higher than that of the control group [(47.4±0.5) MPa] and 10 s, 20 s and 30 s RF-APGD plasma treatment group [(51.9±0.7) MPa,(29.7±1.0) MPa and (22.2±1.5) MPa] with statistically significant difference (P<0.05). Compared with the control group, the micro-tensile bond strength increased about 21.9% and 9.5% after 4 °C and 10 °C RF-APGD plasma jet treatment, respectively.@*CONCLUSION@#Compared with other treatment temperatures, this novel RF-APGD plasma jet treatment with the temperature of 4 °C can preserve the three-dimensional morphology of demineralized dentin better, and can improve the resin-dentin bonding.

Review of important clinical advances in diabetes mellitus in 2018 / 中国实用内科杂志

In 2018, American Diabetes Association(ADA), European Association for the Study of Diabetes(EASD), Chinese Diabetes Society(CDS), Chinese Geriatrics Society(CGS) and Chinese Society of Microcirculation(CSM), etc. published several guidelines and statements on diabetes and its complications. The prevention of diabetes, diagnostic criteria of diabetes, the characteristics of blood pressure and blood lipid, integrated management of diabetes, the efficacy and adverse reaction of hypoglycemic drugs were also suggested and recommended. These guidelines and statements play key roles in the prevention, diagnosis, treatment and future research of diabetes mellitus, which is reviewed in this article.

Wear intensity and surface roughness of microhybrid composite and ceramic occlusal veneers on premolars after the thermocycling and cyclic mechanical loading tests / 北京大学学报(医学版)

OBJECTIVE@#To evaluate the wear intensity and surface roughness of occlusal veneers on premolars made of microhybrid composite resin or two kinds of ceramics in vitro after the thermocycling and cyclic mechanical loading tests.@*METHODS@#In the study,24 fresh extracted human premolars without root canal treatment were prepared (cusps reduction of 1.5 mm in thickness to simulate middle to severe tooth wear, the inclinations of cusps were 20°). The prepared teeth were restored with occlusal veneers made of three different materials: microhybrid composite, heat-pressed lithium disilicate ceramic and computer-aided design/computer-aided manufacturing (CAD/CAM) lithium disilicate ceramic in the thickness of 1.5 mm. The occlusal veneers were cemented with resin cement. The specimens were fatigued using the thermocycling and cyclic mechanical loading tests after being stored in water for 72 h. The wear of specimens was measured using gypsum replicas and 3D laser scanner before and after the thermocycling and cyclic mechanical loading tests and the mean lost distance (mm) was used to indicate the level of wear. The surfaces of occlusal contact area were observed and the surface roughness was recorded using 3D laser scanning confocal microscope before and after the fatigue test. Differences between the groups were compared using ONE-way ANOVA(P<0.05).@*RESULTS@#All the specimens successfully survived after the thermocycling and cyclic mechanical loading tests. The mean wear of microhybrid composite group, heat-pressed lithium disilicate ceramic group, and CAD/CAM lithium disilicate ceramic group was (-0.13±0.03) mm, (-0.05±0.01) mm and (-0.05±0.01) mm, the wear of microhybrid composite was significantly higher than the two ceramic groups(P<0.001).The mean surface roughness(Ra)before the fatigue test was(1.24±0.20) μm, (0.75±0.09) μm, (0.73±0.14) μm and it became (1.81±0.24) μm, (1.53±0.26) μm and (1.77±0.23) μm after the test . Before the fatigue test, the surface roughness of microhybrid composite was significantly higher than the two ceramic groups(P<0.001) and after the test, the surface roughness of heat-pressed lithium disilicate ceramic was significantly lower than microhybrid composite(P=0.005) and CAD/CAM lithium disilicate ceramic (P=0.010).@*CONCLUSION@#From the view of wear speed, microhybrid composite was significantly higher than the two kinds of ceramics, but it was similar to enamel when the opposing tooth was natural. The surface roughness before the themocycling and cyclic mechanical loading test of microhybrid composite was significantly higher than that of the two ceramic groups. After the test, the surface roughness of heat-pressed ceramic was significantly lower than that of the other two groups. From the view of surface roughness, heat-pressed ceramic has more advantage.

Two new steroidal saponins isolated from Anemarrhena asphodeloides / 中国天然药物

Two new steroidal saponins, named timosaponin P (1) and timosaponin Q (2), were isolated from the rhizome parts of Anemarrhena asphodeloides Bunge using various chromatographic methods. Their structures and absolute configurations were elucidated by a combination of spectroscopic and spectrometric data, including 1D, 2D NMR, HR-ESI-MS and ECD calculations, and this is the first time the absolute configuration of C-23 of steroidal saponin was confirmed by ECD calculations.

Comparison and discussion of different surgical methods used to treat vesicovaginal fistulas / 北京大学学报(医学版)

Objective:To compare the feasibility and prognosis of different surgical methods used for vesicovaginal fistulas and to explore the value of electrocoagulation treating small ones.Methods:The medical data of 19 patients who had undertaken transvaginal VVF repairs in Peking University People's Hospital between October 2008 and November 2016 were retrospectively collected.The follow-ups were performed.The patients' age ranged from 31 to 55 years with the median age of 48 years and the history length ranged from 1 month to 24 months with the median length of 3 months.Their fistula situation,surgical methods and prognosis were analyzed and the differences and similarities were compared.Results:Three patients (15.79％) was performed by electrocoagulation,4 (21.05％) by transvaginal repair,5 (21.32％) by laparoscopic repair and 7(36.84％) by open operation.Except one patient who rejected urinary catheter and D-J catheters,the rest of the patients discharged with catheters.Twelve patients (63.2％) got full satisfaction with one operation.One of the 3 patients who undertook electrocoagulation repeated the operation for twice and got completely cured within 1 month while the other two undertook the operation once and got dry within 1 month.Three patients who undertook transvaginal repair got dry within 1 month.Two of the 5 patients who undertook laparoscopic repair had readmission for a second operation and the other 3 got dry after operation.Five of the 7 open repair patients got dry while the other 2 attempted other center for treatment.Conclusion:Transvaginal repair has been the main surgery procedure for VVF,but it is limited by the location of fistula and the condition of vaginal.For patients not suitable for transvaginal repair,laparoscopic repair and open surgery are feasible.However both laparoscopic repair and open surgery are more invasive.Based on that,electrocoagnlation becomes a better choice.In our research,patients with small and high location fistula treated by electrocoagulation got a higher cure rate and bear less surgical trauma.Electrocoagulation used in the treatment of VVF showed advantages of less trauma,less bleeding and better satisfaction.Fistulas with low location were more suitable for transvaginal repair.Complex VVF,especially with narrow ureteral open and ureteral fistulas,were more suitable for open and laparoscopic repair.As for single and small fistula,the electrocoagulation can be the first choice.

Steroidal saponins and their pharmacological activities in Solanum plants / 中国中药杂志

The genus Solanum which is the largest genus in Solanaceae consists of more than 2 000 species, most of them are distributed in tropics and subtropics areas, and only a small amount in temperate regions throughout the world. Steroidal saponins could be found in many species of the Solanum, and they are an important group of natural products exhbiting a number of potent beneficent properties, such as anti-tumor, antibacterial, antifungal, anti-inflammatory, antiviral, antioxidant, hypoglycemic, and antihyperlipidemic effects. As supplement, this paper gives a review of different structural categories of steroidal saponins and their pharmacological effects from the solanum plants over the past decade, and it is intended to provide a point of reference for further research on steroidal saponins in Solanum plants.

Phosphatase and tensin homologue genetic polymorphisms and their interactions with viral mutations on the risk of hepatocellular carcinoma / 中华医学杂志(英文版)

<p><b>BACKGROUND</b>Chronic hepatitis B virus (HBV) infection is the major cause of hepatocellular carcinoma (HCC). Some HBV mutants and dysregulation of phosphatase and tensin homolog (PTEN) may promote the development of HCC synergistically. We aimed to test the effects of PTEN genetic polymorphisms and their interactions with important HBV mutations on the development of HCC in HBV-infected subjects.</p><p><b>METHODS</b>Quantitative polymerase chain reaction was applied to genotype PTEN polymorphisms (rs1234220, rs2299939, rs1234213) in 1012 healthy controls, 302 natural clearance subjects, and 2011 chronic HBV-infected subjects including 1021 HCC patients. HBV mutations were determined by sequencing. The associations of PTEN polymorphisms and their interactions with HBV mutations with HCC risk were assessed using multivariate logistic regression analysis.</p><p><b>RESULTS</b>Rs1234220 C allele was significantly associated with HCC risk compared to healthy controls (adjusted odds ratio [AOR] = 1.35, 95% confidence interval [CI] = 1.07-1.69) and HCC-free HBV-infected subjects (AOR = 1.27, 95% CI = 1.01-1.57). rs1234220 C allele was significantly associated with increased frequencies of HCC-risk A1652G, C1673T, and C1730G mutations in genotype B HBV-infected subjects. Rs2299939 GT genotype was inversely associated with HCC risk in HBV-infected patients (AOR = 0.75, 95% CI = 0.62-0.92). The interaction of rs2299939 variant genotypes (GT+TT) with A3054T mutation significantly increased HCC risk (AOR = 2.41, 95% CI = 1.08-5.35); whereas its interaction with C3116T mutation significantly reduced HCC risk (AOR = 0.34, 95% CI = 0.18-0.66). These significant effects were only evident in males after stratification.</p><p><b>CONCLUSIONS</b>PTEN polymorphisms and their interactions with HBV mutations may contribute to hepatocarcinogenesis in males. The host-virus interactions are important in identifying HBV-infected subjects who are more likely to develop HCC.</p>

Effect of PTPRD rs2279776 gene and interaction with hepatitis B virus mutations on the risk of hepatocellular carcinoma / 中华流行病学杂志

Objective To investigate the effect of rs2279776 at the PTPRD and its interactions on hepatitis B virus (HBV) mutations as well as related risk on hepatocellular carcinoma (HCC).Methods A total of 3023 individuals,including t012 healthy controls,990 HCC-free HBV-infected subjects,and 1021 HBV-caused hepatocellular carcinoma patients (HCC) were involved in this study.PTPRD rs2279776 was genotyped,using quantitative PCR.HBV enhancer Ⅱ/basal core promoter/precore (Enh Ⅱ/BCP/preC) and preS regions were amplified by nested PCR and directly sequenced.Logistic regression analysis was performed to test the association among rs2279776 polymorphism,HBV mutations,and their interactions on the risk of HCC.Results The distributions of rs2279776 genotypes and allelic frequencies between HCC patients and healthy controls,HCC patients and HBsAg-positive subjects without HCC,HCC patients and HCC-free population (HBsAgpositive subjects without HCC and healthy controls) showed no statistically significant differences.However,the interactions of GC genotype on HBV mutations T1753V and preS deletion significantly increased on the risk of HCC in female HBV-infected subjects.Same result was also seen for rs2279776 C allele (GC + CC).The interaction of rs2279776 GC genotype with G1896A could reduce the risk of HCC in HBV genotype B infected subjects and the interaction of CC genotype with A1652G significantly reduced the risk of HCC in HBV genotype C infected subjects.Conclusion PTPRD rs2279776 did not directly contribute to the genetic susceptibility on HCC risk.However,it might affect the risk of HCC via interacting with HBV mutations.

Association of genetic polymorphisms of key molecules in JAK/STAT signaling pathway with susceptibility of hepatocellular carcinoma / 中华流行病学杂志

Objective To elucidate the association of genetic polymorphisms of key molecules in JAK/STAT signaling pathway with susceptibility of hepatocellular carcinoma (HCC).Methods A total of 367 HCC patients and 367 healthy controls were recruited in this sex- and age-matched case-control study.Genetic polymorphisms of IL-6 (rs1800796,-572C＞G),STAT3 (rs744166,+ 26312T＞C; rs3816769,+ 42240T＞C; rs6503695,+ 40980T＞C),EGFR (rs11543848,+ 142530A＞G),and mTOR (rs7211818,+ 170278A＞G; rs9674559,+ 196983A＞G; rs11653499,+65678G＞A) were genotyped using a mass spectrometry method.Odds ratio (OR) and 95％ confidence interval (CI) were calculated.Results Genotype frequency of the 8 polymorphisms of IL-6,STAT3,EGFR,and mTOR were not significantly different between the patients with HCC and the controls.When stratified by sex,the female subjects who carried STAT3 +26312CC,+ 42240CC,or + 40980CC had a decreased risk of HCC when compared to those who carried TT allele (OR=0.192,95％CI:0.047-0.784; OR=0.180,95％CI:0.045-0.725;OR=0.198,95％ CI:0.049-0.806,respectively).When compared with AA genotype on the site of EGFR + 142530,the (AG+ GG) genotype reduced the risk of HCC in women (OR=0.422,95％CI:0.179-0.994).Conclusion The polymorphisms of IL-6 (rs1800796) and mTOR (rs7211818,rs9674559,and rs11653499) were not associated with the HCC susceptibility.Those carrying CC allele in three loci (rs744166,rs3816769,and rs6503695) of STAT3 and (AG + GG) in rs11543848 of EGFR had a decreased risk of HCC in women.However,these results need to be validated using larger sample size.

Radiofrequency perforation and balloon valvuloplasty in infants with pulmonary atresia and intact ventricular septum / 中华儿科杂志

<p><b>OBJECTIVE</b>To investigate the efficacy and safety of percutaneous radiofrequency perforation and valvuloplasty in infants with pulmonary atresia with intact ventricular septum (PA/IVS).</p><p><b>METHODS</b>Four infants (body weight 4 - 10 kg) aged 11 months, 9 months, 12 days and 9 months old, respectively, were hospitalized for dyspnea and cyanosis. All patients had a continuous murmur in the left second intercostal space. Doppler echocardiogram showed membranous pulmonary atresia with intact ventricular septum. Right ventriculogram showed a tripartite right ventricle, vasiform infundibulum, and membranous pulmonary valve atresia without ventriculocoronary connections. Descending thoracic aortogram showed good-sized confluent pulmonary arteries being filled from a ductus arteriosus. All the patients were taken up for radiofrequency perforation followed by a balloon dilatation. A 6F Judkins right coronary guiding catheter was positioned in the right ventricular outflow tract and under the atretic pulmonary valve membrane. The radiofrequency perforation catheter along with coaxial injectable catheter was then passed through the right coronary guiding catheter, using it as the guide to the imperforate membrane. The proximal end of the radiofrequency perforation catheter was then connected to radiofrequency generator. After the cusps of pulmonary valve were perforated, the coaxial injectable catheter was moved into the main pulmonary artery. A tiny floppy-tipped coronary guidewire was then passed through the coaxial injectable catheter into the main pulmonary artery and directed through the patent ductus arteriosus into the descending thoracic aorta or directed into pulmonary arteriola. Thereafter, serial balloon dilation catheters were introduced across the pulmonary valve, and dilations were sequentially performed with increasing balloon diameters. The balloon was dilated until the concave of the balloons disappeared. The radiofrequency energy (5 to 8 W) was delivered for 2 to 5 seconds once, but commonly twice, to perforate the valves. After a predilation with a 3 mm x 20 mm to 5 mm x 20 mm balloon at 6 - 14 atm pressure, the valve was subsequently dilated with 10 mm x 30 mm to 14 mm x 30 mm balloon once or twice. The duration of procedures was 120 to 150 min and exposure time was 25.4 to 43.9 min.</p><p><b>RESULTS</b>The primary procedure was successful in all the infants except one who died early of cardiac perforation with tamponade. After a follow-up period ranging from 2 to 8 months (mean 4.3 m), the remaining 3 survivors achieved complete biventricular circulation. Two of them were awaiting occlusion of the patent ductus arteriosus and 1 needed right ventricular outflow tract reconstruction because of infundibular obstruction.</p><p><b>CONCLUSION</b>PA/IVS consists of 0.7% to 3.1% of congenital heart defects. 85% of the untreated patients die within half a year. Surgical repair for the infants with PA/IVS is associated with a high mortality. In carefully selected patients with PA/IVS, radiofrequency perforation and balloon dilatation of the pulmonary valve is feasible and may represent a new alternative to surgery due to its low mortality and avoidance of cardiopulmonary bypass.</p>

Enhancement of DNA vaccine-induced immune responses by a 72-bp element from SV40 enhancer / 中华医学杂志(英文版)

<p><b>BACKGROUND</b>Although DNA vaccine is considered as the next generation of vaccine, most DNA vaccine candidates are still suffering from the relatively weak immunogenicity despite the increased dosage of plasmid DNA administered. In order to enhance the immune responses elicited by a codon-optimized HIV gag DNA vaccine, a modified plasmid vector pDRVI1.0 and a booster immunization with replicating Tiantan vaccinia (RTV) strain expressing the same gene were employed.</p><p><b>METHODS</b>Vector pDRVI1.0 was constructed through inserting the 72-bp element from the SV40 enhancer, which was reported promoting nuclear transport of plasmid DNA, to the upstream of cytomegalovirus enhancer/promoter region of the plasmid vector pVR1012. Gene expression levels from expression plasmids based on pDRVI1.0 and pVR1012 were tested. Humoral and cellular immune responses induced by DNA vaccine alone or DNA prime-RTV boost regimen were determined in mice.</p><p><b>RESULTS</b>It was shown that the 72-bp element significantly enhanced the gene expression level in non-dividing cells. gag-specific humoral and cellular immune responses induced by DNA vaccination were both significantly improved, while the Th1/Th2 balance was not obviously affected by the 72-bp element. RTV boosting further significantly enhanced DNA vaccine-primed antibody and T cell responses in a Th1-biased manner.</p><p><b>CONCLUSIONS</b>The 72-bp SV40 enhancer element should be included in the DNA vaccine vector and RTV strain is a very efficient live vector for boosting immunization.</p>

Risk factors for early arrhythmias post transcatheter closure of perimembranous ventricular septal defects / 中华心血管病杂志

<p><b>OBJECTIVE</b>To analyze the risk factors for early arrhythmias after transcatheter closure of perimembranous ventricular septal defect (PVSD).</p><p><b>METHODS</b>A total of 358 patients [161 males, aged from 3 to 54, mean (10.9 +/- 8.1) years, body weight from 12 to 90, mean (32.8 +/- 17.2) kg] who underwent transcatheter closure of PVSD from August 2002 to February 2006 were included in this retrospective analysis. Electrocardiogram was performed daily after transcatheter closure for seven days. Relationships between arrhythmias and those risk factors such as the defect characteristics and the device size and types were explored by logistic regression analysis. Left ventriculography showed 195 out of 358 patients with PVSD were complicated with membranous aneurysm. The PVSD diameter ranged from 2 to 18 (6.5 +/- 3.1) mm in left ventricular side and from 2 to 12 (4.2 +/- 2.3) mm in right ventricular side. A total of 140 nonsymmetrical and 218 symmetrical occluders with diameter 4 to 18 (8.1 +/- 2.5) mm were used to close those defects.</p><p><b>RESULTS</b>Procedure was successful in all patients. Early arrhythmias after transcatheter closure of PVSD were observed in 135 (37.7%) patients and serious cardiac arrhythmias in 23 (6.4%) patients. The early arrhythmias after transcatheter closure of PVSD were significantly correlated with device size [> or = (8.6 +/- 2.7) mm] and type (nonsymmetrical device), the span between the defect and tricuspid (< or = 3 mm), and the presence of aneurysm.</p><p><b>CONCLUSION</b>Larger device size, nonsymmetrical device, narrow span between the defect and tricuspid and the presence of aneurysm are the risk factors for early arrhythmias after transcatheter closure of PVSD.</p>