Immunization of BALB/c mice with Brucella abortus 2308DeltawbkA confers protection against wild-type infection

Brucellosis is a zoonotic disease that causes animal and human diseases. Vaccination is a major measure for prevention of brucellosis, but it is currently not possible to distinguish vaccinated animals from those that have been naturally infected. Therefore, in this study, we constructed the Brucella (B.) abortus 2380 wbkA mutant (2308DeltawbkA) and evaluated its virulence. The survival of 2308DeltawbkA was attenuated in murine macrophage (RAW 264.7) and BALB/c mice, and it induced high protective immunity in mice. The wbkA mutant elicited an anti-Brucella-specific immunoglobulin G response and induced the secretion of gamma interferon. Antibodies to 2308DeltawbkA could be detected in sera from mice, implying the potential for use of this protein as a diagnostic antigen. The WbkA antigen would allow serological differentiation between infected and vaccinated animals. These results suggest that 2308DeltawbkA is a potential attenuated vaccine against 16M. This vaccine will be further evaluated in sheep.

Behaviorial observation of ropivacaine in continuous spinal anesthesia and Ca2+ content of spinal cord in rats / 中南大学学报(医学版)

OBJECTIVE@#To observe the behaviour and Ca2+ content of spinal cord in rats after continuous spinal anesthesia administration of different densities and doses of ropivacaine in SD rats.@*METHODS@#Twenty-four male SD rats weighing 220 approximately 280 g were anesthetized. A polyurethane microspinal catheter was inserted into the lumbar subarachnoid space 8 cm according to the method of Yaksh's. The animals were randomly divided into 4 groups of 6 each: in group N the rats were given normal saline 40 microl intrathecally every one and half hours for 3 times; in group R1, 0.5% ropivacaine was given; in group R2 0.75% ropivacaine and in group R3 1% ropivacaine was given. The activity of rats was observed. After 6 hours rats were perfused with 4% formamint through the ascending aorta. The rats were sacrificed and L1 approximately 2 segment of spinal cord was immediately removed for Ca2+ content examination.@*RESULTS@#A total hind limbs paralysis was seen at 30 seconds and intramuscular strain gradually came back from 30 to 90 minutes after the intrathecal administration of ropivacaine in all rats. The recovery of motor black was remarkably different in group R1, R2, and R3 (P < 0.05). The Ca2+ content of spinal cord was significantly higher in group R3 than that in group R1 and R2 (P < 0.05 ).@*CONCLUSION@#There is no significant change of motor black time and it is related to drug dose for 0.5% , 0.75% and 1% ropivacaine in continuous spinal anesthesia. 1% ropivacaine may increase Ca2+ content in spinal cord.

Studies on flavonoid constituents of Caragana intermediia / 药学学报

<p><b>AIM</b>To study the chemical constituents of Caragana intermedia.</p><p><b>METHODS</b>The compounds were separated by chromatography methods, their structures were identified by spectral analysis.</p><p><b>RESULTS</b>Ten compounds were isolated and identified as 5,7,4'-trihydroxy-3,3'-dimethoxyflavone (1), 3,5,7,8,4'-pentahydroxy-3'-methoxyflavone(2), puercetin(3), limocitrin(4), 5,7,3',4'-tetrahydroxy-3-methoxyflavone(5), 7,3',5'-trihydroxyflavanone(6), 5,7,3',4'-tetrahydroxy-3,8-dimethoxyflavone(7), butein(8), liquiritigenin(9) and 5,7,4'-trihydroxy-3,8-dimethoxyflavone(10).</p><p><b>CONCLUSION</b>Compound 6 is a new compound and the others were obtained from this plant for the first time.</p>

Association of thyroid-stimulating antibody with the clinical characteristics of Graves' ophthalmopathy / 中华内分泌代谢杂志

Clinical features and thyroid-stimulating antibody(TSAb)in 32 newly diagnosed patients with Graves' ophthalmopathy(GO)were compared with those in 27 Graves' disease(GD)patients without GO(as control group).All of the patients with GO received intravenous glucocorticoids.The level of serum TSAb in patients with GO was significantly higher than that in patients without GO.TSAb was also associated with the prognosis.It suggests that TSAb seems to be the most active component among the TSH receptor antibodies related to ophthalmopathy and may act as a predictive parameter.