Identification of early diagnostic antigens in soluble proteins of Trichinella spiralis adult worms by Western blot

Previous studies showed that crude antigens from Trichinella spiralis adult worms (AW) can be recognized by mouse infection sera at 8 days post infection. The aim of this study was to identify the early diagnostic antigenic bands in soluble proteins from T. spiralis AW by Western blot using early infection sera. The affecting factors of adult recovery were firstly observed in this study, and the results showed that the maximum number of adults was collected from small intestine when the female BALB/c mice were orally infected with 4000 ML and sacrificed at 3 days post infection. The results of Western blot analysis showed that seven protein bands (31, 35.1, 39, 40.6, 41.9, 47 and 50.6 kDa) could be recognized by early infection sera as early as at 8-10 days post infection, and were strongly reacted with mouse infection sera at 11-12 days post infection. Our results suggested that the seven protein bands of T. spiralis AW soluble proteins might be the early expressed antigens during the intestinal stage of Trichinella infection and therefore have potential value for the early diagnosis of trichinellosis.

Anatomical Study of Position of the Rib Head for Placing Anterior Vertebral Body Screws in a Chinese Population / Estudio Anatómico de la Posición de la Cabeza de la Costilla para Colocar Tornillos en la Zona Anterior del Cuerpo Vertebral en una Población China

Instrumentation of anterior vertebral body screws has become an important approach for treatment of unstable fracture or curvature of the spine, but little attention has been paid to the starting point of placing the screws and variability of the rib head position. We analyzed the variability of rib head position in a Chinese population in terms of the spinal canal and vertebral body using computed tomography (CT). Images from transverse CT scan of the T4-T12 vertebral bodies of 30 normal individuals were 3D reconstructed, and analyzed for measurement of parameters, which included: 1) distance between the left (or right) anterior border of the rib head and the posterior (or anterior) margin of the vertebral body [L(R )ARHP(A)VB], 2) left (or right) transverse dimension [L(R)TD], 3) left (or right) posterior (or anterior) safe angle [L(R)P(A)SA], and 4) distance between the inferior border of the left (or right) rib head and the superior (or inferior) end-plate in the sagittal plane [IL(R)RHS(I)EP]. The ARHPVB, PSA, and IRHIEP gradually decrease, but ARHAVB, TD, ASA, and IRHSEP gradually increase from T4 to T12, indicating that the position of the rib head changes from a more anterior position to a more posterior position and from a more superior position to a more inferior position as the number of the vertebra increases. Our study has provided comprehensive reference guide for accurate and safe instrumentation of vertebral body screws in treating related spine diseases.

La instrumentación del cuerpo anterior vertebral con tornillos ha sido una vía importante para el tratamiento de las fracturas inestables y curvaturas de la columna, pero se ha prestado poca atención a la zona de colocación de los tornillos y la variabilidad de la posición de la cabeza costal. Se analizó la variabilidad de la posición de la cabeza de la costilla en una población de China en relación al canal vertebral y cuerpo vertebral mediante tomografía computarizada (TC). Imágenes de cortes transversales de TC correspondientes a los cuerpos vertebrales T4-T12 de 30 individuos normales fueron reconstruidos tridimensionalmente, y se analizó la medida de algunos parámetros: 1) la distancia entre el margen anterior izquierdo (o derecho) de la cabeza de la costilla y el margen posterior (o anterior) del cuerpo vertebral [L(R)ARHP(A)VB], 2) Dimensión transversa izquierda (o derecha) [L(R)TD], 3) ángulo de seguridad izquierdo (o derecho) posterior (o anterior) [L(R)P(A)SA], y 4) la distancia entre el margen inferior de la cabeza de la costilla izquierda (o derecha) y la placa terminal superior (o inferior) en el plano sagital [IL(R)RHS(I)EP]. El ARHPVB, PSA, y IRHIEP disminuyeron gradualmente, pero ARHAVB, TD, ASA, y IRHSEP aumentaron gradualmente de T4 a T12, lo que indica que la posición de la cabeza de la costilla cambia desde una posición más anterior a una posición más posterior y de una posición más superior a una posición más inferior a medida que aumenta el número de vértebras. Nuestro estudio ha proporcionado completa guía de referencia para la instrumentación precisa y segura de tornillos en el cuerpo vertebral para el tratamiento de enfermedades relacionadas con la columna vertebral.

Diagnosis and treatment of intrauterine adhesions.

Intrauterine adhesions develop as a result of intrauterine trauma. The degree of adhesion formation and the impact of the adhesions on the contour of uterine cavity vary greatly. It has been reported that intra abdominal adhesions occur in 60–90% of women who have undergone major gynecological procedures. Hysteroscopy is the gold standard for the diagnosis of severe intrauterine adhesions. Effective methods for preventing adhesions, a variety of surgical techniques and agents have been advocated for the prevention of intrauterine adhesion formation. The present review indicates that there is still no single modality proven to be unequivocally effective in preventing post-operative adhesion formation either for laparoscopic or for hysteroscopic use. Hopefully, the increasing understanding of the future emphasis will probably be on a multimodality therapy, including the use of pharmacologic adjutants in conjunction with a barrier material tailored to the specific operative procedure and a precise surgical technique.

Chicken collagen type II reduces articular cartilage destruction in a model of osteoarthritis in rats / Colágeno de pollo tipo ii reduce la destrucción del cartílago articular en un modelo de osteoartritis en ratas

AIM: To evaluate the therapeutic effects of domestic chicken collagen type II (CCII) on rat osteoarthritis (OA) and analyze concomitant changes in the level of Matrix metalloproteinase (MMP)-13, MMP-9, Cathepsin K and their mRNA as well as the tissue inhibitor of matrix metalloproteinase (TIMP)-1 mRNA in articular cartilage of osteoarthritic rats. METHODS: Osteoarthritis models were surgically induced. Morphology of articular cartilage was done by haematoxylin and eosin staining and Mankin score was calculated, immunohistochemistry of MMP-13, MMP-9 and Cathepsin K was done by ABC method while the mRNA level for MMP-13, MMP-9, cathepsin K as well as TIMP-1 was evaluated by RT-PCR method. RESULTS: Oral administration of CCII reduced the morphological changes of osteoarthritic cartilage (shown by Mankin score), decreased levels of MMP-13, MMP-9, cathepsin K as well as their mRNA in articular cartilage from osteoarthritic rats while it exhibited no effect on TIMP-1 mRNA. CONCLUSION: Oral CCII reduced articular cartilage degradation of osteoarthritic rats and may probably be a potent drug candidate for OA treatment.

Objetivo: Evaluar los efectos terapéuticos del colágeno de pollo doméstico de tipo II (CPII) en la osteoartritis de ratas (OA) y analizar los cambios concomitantes en el nivel de metaloproteinasa de la matriz (MMP-13). MMP-9, catepsina K y su mRNA, así como el inhibidor tisular de la metalopro-teinasa de la matriz (TIMP)-1 mRNA en el cartílago articular de ratas osteoartríticas. Métodos: Modelos osteoartríticos fueron obtenidos mediante inducción quirúrgica. La morfología del cartílago articular se realizó mediante tinción H-E, y se calculó la puntuación de Mankin. Se realizó la inmunohistoquímica de MMP-13, MMP-9 y catepsina K mediante el método ABC, en tanto que el nivel de mRNA para MMP-13, MMP-9, y catepsina K así como el TIMP-1, fue evaluado mediante el método RT-PCR. Resultados: La administración oral de CPII redujo los cambios morfológicos del cartílago osteo-artrítico (mostrado por la puntuación Mankin), disminuyó los niveles de MMP-13, MMP-9, catepsina K así como su mRNA en cartílago articular de las ratas osteoartríticas mientras que no mostró efecto sobre TIMP-1 mRNA. Conclusión: El CP oral redujo la degradación del cartílago articular de las ratas osteoartríticas y puede ser probablemente candidato a un medicamento potente para el tratamiento de la OA.

The population dynamics of cercariae of Schistosoma japonicum in Oncomelania hupensis.

The population dynamics and production of cercariae of Schistosoma japonicum in Oncomelania hupensis are reported. The experiments covered the whole life span of positive snails and different intervals of cercariae shedding. The results indicated that two patterns of the dynamics of cercariae shedding had been found in the life span of positive snails. The first was a long-time interval (4-7 days) and progressive decline pattern. The cercariae shedding of positive snails lasted 18-19 weeks in males and for 32-33 weeks (once a week). The second was a short-time interval (1-3 days) and continued release pattern. The cercariae shedding of positive snails lasted for 20-36 days (every day shedding). Shedding cercariae stimulate cercariae development.