Structure, Immunogenicity and Clinical Value of Chlamydiaphage Capsid Protein 3 / 病毒学报

We wished to assess the role of chlamydia micro virus capsid protein Vp3 in recombinant molecules, chart its molecular evolution, screen the wild-type strain, and reveal its value in clinical research. Using a protein BLAST multiple-alignment program, we compared various strains of Chlamydia micro virus capsid protein Vp3 sequences. Using a "distance tree" of those results, we created a phylogenetic tree. We applied the Karplus-Schulz method of flexible-region analyses for highly conserved alignments of amino-acid sequences. Gamier-Robson and Chou-Fasman methods were employed to analyze two-level structures of sequences. The Emini method was used for analyses of the accessibility of surface epitopes. Studies of hydrophilic proteins were undertaken using Kyte-Doolittle and Hopp-Woods methods. Analyses of antigen epitopes helped to reveal the antigen index using the Jameson-Wolf method. All sequences in the six strains of chlamydia micro virus capsid protein Vp3 were highly conserved, with the main differences being between Vp3 protein in Chp1 and the other five strains of the micro virus. The viral strain of Vp3 protein was based mainly on micro-alpha helix structures, and multiple epitopes were noted in highly conserved regions. Vp3 protein was highly conserved structurally, and was an important protein of the chlamydiaphage capsid. Vp3 protein has a complicated molecular structure, highly conserved regions with strong immunogenicity, and has considerable research value.

The Clinical Value of Chlamydia Phage Vp2 Protein / 天津医药

Objective To evaluate the effect of chlamydiaphage virus protein 2(Vp2) on the recombinant virus and virus screening research, and it clinical value thereof. Methods To compare the Vp2 protein sequences to get the conserva-tive region with COBALT. A phylogenetic tree was built with ProteinBlast of Distance tree. The amino acid sequence in the high conservative region was predicted by the methods of Gamier-Robson and Chou-Fasman, and its flexibe regions were predicted by Karplus method. The hydrophilicity plot was predicted by Kyte-Doolittle and Hopp-Woods method. The sur-face probability was analysed by Emini, and the antigenic index was analysed by Jameson-Wolf method. Results The six Chlamydiaphage Vp2 proteins were the highly conserved sequences. There were obvious differences between Chp1Vp2 and other 5 Vp2 proteins. There were the main structure-alpha helix and some cell epitopes in the high conserved region. Con-clusion Vp2 protein is the important component of chlamydia phage capsid with the conservative nature. Vp2 protein has complicated structures and high conservative region with strong immunogenicity, playing a practical value of research in vi-rus recombinantment and screening the wild strains of chlaymdia trachomatis phage.

The features of nail fold capillaroscopy of systemic sclerosis patients and comparison between systemic sclerosis patients and patients with other connective tissue diseases / 中华风湿病学杂志

Objective The aim of the study was to observe the features of nail fold microcirculation in systemic sclerosis (SSc) patients and to compare these findings in SSc patients with patients with other connective tissue diseases.Methods Forty patients with SSc and thirty-seven patients with other connective tissue diseases were included in the study and all the patients reported symptoms of Raynaud's phenomenon in the hands were also included.Nail fold capillaroscopy (NFC) was performed and the abnormality of nail fold microcirculation between the two groups were compared.The relations between nail fold capillaroscopic findings and clinicolaboratory parameters in SSc patients were analyzed.Statistical analysis were carried out by t-test and Chi-square.Results The loss of capillaries and dilated and giant capillaries and hemorrhage as well as neoangiogenesis were hallmarks of the scleroderma capillary findings,which could be detected by nail fold capillaroscopy.The abnormalities of nail fold microcirculation in SSc patients were more severe and more specific than those in other connective tissue disease patients.The total scores of nail fold capillaroscopy test were obviously higher in SSc patients with lung or esophagus involvement than those patients without these organ involvement,meanwhile,the total scores of nail fold capillaroscopic findiugs were elevated in SSc patients with anti-Scl70 antibody than those with negative group.Conclusion The nail fold capillaries of patients with SSc have specific abnormalities,and nail fold capill-aroscopy could distinguish between SSc and other connective tissue diseases,therefore it could be used as a promising tool for early detection of patients who may have the potential to develop scleroderma and it is also helpful in assessing disease severity.

Intralesional injection of two kinds of glucocorticosteroid for the treatment of active alopecia areata: a comparative study / 中华皮肤科杂志

Objective To compare the clinical efficacy of intralesional betamethasone versus triamcinolone acetonide acetate in the treatment of active alopecia areata. Methods A total of 160 patients with active alopecia areata were divided into two groups, test group (n = 100) treated with intralesional betamethasone, and control group (n = 60) treated with intralesional triamcinolone acetonide. Both injections were given once every 3 weeks for 12 consecutive weeks. Results After 12-week treatment, the cure rate, response rate, and total response rate were 60.0%, 32.0% and 92.0% in the test group, respectively, compared to 41.7%, 31.67% and 73.3% in the control group, respectively. A significant increase was observed in the cure rate and response rate in the test group compared with the control group (χ2 = 10.25, 5.06, P < 0.01 and 0.05). During the treatment course, 8 (8%) patients in the test group and 9 (15%) patients in the control group developed localized atrophy of the scalp; 8 (8%) patients in the test group and 3 (5%) patients in the control group developed localized folliculitis; no significant difference was observed between the two groups in the occurrence of adverse reactions (P> 0.05). Conclusion Intralesional use of compound betamethasone injection has a notable therapeutic effect on alopecia areata.