The Structure and Function of the Bunyavirus Nucleoprotein / 中国生物化学与分子生物学报

Bunyavirus is widely distributed, highly contagious, and has a high fatality rate. It is a negative- strand RNA virus that has a major impact on public health around the world. The development of vaccines and the search for drugs are the key to prevent bunyavirus infection. The nucleoprotein (NP) of viruses is necessary for the synthesis of viral RNA, which combines with viral RNA to form the nucleocapsid, participates in viral assembly and RNA transcription, and plays an important role in viral proliferation. In addition, NP also has B cell and T cell epitopes, which can induce cellular and humoral immunity, so NP is an ideal target for vaccine design and drug development. Given its abundance and specificity, NP is also commonly used in the detection of viral diseases. More and more bunyavirus NP structures and structures of NP-RNA complexes have been resolved. Researchers have discovered two important antiviral targets through these structures, the terminal arm and the RNA binding cleft. This paper reviews the function and three-dimensional structure of the bunyavirus NP and the research progress of NP as an antiviral target, in order to provide a theoretical basis for the prevention and treatment of the bunyavirus disease.

Prevalence of exposure to cooking-based polluting fuels and biofuels of residents aged 40 years and above in some regions of Hunan Province / 公共卫生与预防医学

Objective To investigate the prevalence of exposure to cooking-based polluting fuels and biofuels of residents aged over 40 years in some regions of Hunan Province, and to provide a basis for future prevention and control of the pollutant fuels. Methods The present survey was carried out on residents from five chronic obstructive pulmonary disease surveillance sites in Hunan Province in 2019. A multi-stage stratified cluster sampling strategy was conducted to determine resident participants for the present study. A face-to-face inquiry survey was used to collect the relevant data of the participants. After complex weighting of the samples, the prevalence of residents’ exposure to the pollutant fuel and biofuel was analyzed. Results A total of 2 981 residents aged 40 years and above were included in the analysis. With complex weighting, the exposure rate of polluting fuels and biofuels were 19.69%（95%CI：18.11%-21.27%）and 16.14%（95%CI：14.66%-17.62%）, respectively, among residents aged over 40 years in Hunan. The exposure rates of polluting fuels and biomass fuels were both higher in females than males, and higher in rural areas than urban areas (both P<0.05). The exposure rates of polluting fuels and biomass fuels both decreased with age and education level (both P<0.05). Conclusion The use of polluting fuels and biomass fuels for cooking among residents aged 40 years and above is still popular in some regions of Hunan Province. Appropriate measures should be taken toward rural women to reduce their exposure to polluting fuels and biofuels.

Application of cases-based flipped class in hybrid teaching for neuroanatomy / 解剖学报

Objective To explore the effects of cases-based flipped class in the hybrid teaching for neuroanatomy. Methods A comparative study was conducted among 102 students majored in clinical medicine of 2019 grade, one was the experiment group (n = 51) and another was the control group (n = 51). The traditional teaching method was applied in control group, while the teaching during neuroanatomy based on cases-based flipped class was applied in experimental group. The teaching effects were evaluated by theory and experiment examination and investigated by the questionnaire of students' satisfaction with the new teaching mode. Results Most students supported the cases-based flipped class teaching and thought it was helpful to improve the autonomous learning ability. The satisfaction rate of experimental group on the cases-based flipped class teaching effectiveness was 98.04%. The total scores, the scores of neuroanatomy and the student number who got 81-90 and 91-100 of experiment group were significantly higher than those of control group, and the difference was statistically significant (P<0.05). Conclusion Cases-based flipped class could effectively improve the quality of neuroanatomy teaching and students' learning ability and effects for undergraduates.

Expression and clinical significance of microRNA and its target gene EZH2 in breast cancer / 医学研究生学报

Objective Recently, the incidence of breast cancer has been the highest among female malignant tumors. Therefore, potential biomarkers are urgently needed to predict and prevent breast cancer. This study was aimed to explore the expression and clinical significance of differential miRNAs and their target genes in breast cancer by establishing miRNA expression profile in breast cancer tissues. Methods From January 2015 to December 2018, a total of 137 cases of breast cancer tissues with paired paracancerous tissues and 20 cases of breast fibroadenoma tissues were collected from the department of breast surgery, affiliated hospital of Guizhou Medical University. The tissues were divided into breast cancer group, paracancerous group, breast fibroadenoma group and lymph node metastasis group. High-throughput sequencing technique was used to detect the miRNAs in breast cancer tissues and paired paracancerous tissues. Real-time PCR verified the expressions of the three miRNAs with the most significant expression differences in different groups. Finally, bioinformatics analysis was used to predict the target genes and investigate the expression of miRNAs and proteins of target genes in different breast diseases. Results A total of 157 upregulated and 162 downregulated miRNAs were screened by high-throughput sequencing. Mir-hsa-miR-532-3p and hsa-miR-1260b were the most significant in upregulated miRNAs while has-let-7c-5p was the most significant in downregulated miRNAs. Meanwhile, bioinformatics analysis showed that their target gene was EZH2. Compared with para-cancerous group, expressions of hsa-miR-532-3p and hsa-miR-1260b were significantly upregulated while hsa-let-7c-5p was significantly down-regulated in breast cancer group and lymph node metastasis group (all P<0.05). The miRNA expressions of target gene EZH2 in breast cancer group, breast fibroadenoma group and lymph node metastasis group (1.24±0.01, 4.02±0.01, 15.97±0.01, respectively) were upregulated when compared with the para-cancerous group (1.00±0.00), and the similar conclusion could be drawn in EZH2 protein expression. Conclusion Hsa-miR-532-3p, hsa-miR-1260b and hsa-let-7c-5p were closely related to breast cancer, which may promote the occurrence and development of breast cancer by inducing the transcriptional expression of EZH2. HsamiR-532-3p, hsa-miR-1260b, hsa-let-7c-5p and EZH2 may be potential tumor biomarkers of breast cancer.

Mechanism of blood-brain barrier impairment after mild traumatic brain injury caused by blast shock waves and its relationship with delayed nerve dysfunction / 解放军医学杂志

Mild traumatic brain injury (mTBI) caused by blast shock waves (BSWs) is one of the most common injuries among soldiers in the war. Such mTBI can also happen in civilians if exposed to shock waves of accidental explosion disasters, bomb attacks by terrorists and so on. This injury often results in cognitive problems, memory dysfunction and emotional disorder, and these neurological deficits are closely related to the dysfunction or disruption of the blood-brain barrier (BBB). The present paper discusses mainly the relationship between dysfunction or disruption of BBB and inflammatory reaction in mild brain injury associated with explosive shock wave and effects of early intervention of oxidative stress injury, repairing the BBB and blocking inflammation on relieving delayed neurological deficits.

The influence of seed maturity and seed coat on the germination of Bupleurum chinense and B. falcatum / 中国中药杂志

<p><b>OBJECTIVE</b>To investigate the factors influencing the seed germination of Bupleurum chinense and B. falcatum.</p><p><b>METHOD</b>The seeds of different maturity, and the seeds whose coat were removed or nicked before dipping in water, were germinated in a light growth chamber.</p><p><b>RESULT</b>The different inflorescence level represents different development period. Seeds harvested from cultivation have different maturity. The germination rate of the seeds in period I to III was nearly zero, and it was significant different from period IV to VII. The seed coat is not an obstacle for water absorption or gas exchange, but its removal led to significant increase of seed germination rate. However, to dip the seeds without coat into water for 48 h had no more effect on germination.</p><p><b>CONCLUSION</b>The seed maturity and germination inhibitors in seed coat are two important factor influencing seed germination in B. chinense and B. falcatum.</p>

Construction of recombinant adeno-associated virus vector expressing human tissue kallikrein gene and its effect on human umbilical vein endothelial cells / 中华老年医学杂志

Objective To construct the recombinant adeno-associated virus vector(rAAV) expressing the human tissue kallikrein(HK)gene and to detect the expression of interested gene in human umbilical vein endothelial cells(HUVEC)which were infected with different titers of rAAV. Methods The HK gene was cloned into the pAAV-MCS and co-transfected AAV-293 cells with other two plasmids(the pAAV-RC,and pHelper)by lipofectamine.The recombinant AAV(rAAV HK)particles was harvested and its viral titer was measured.HUVEC were infected with different titers of rAAV-HK particles.Seventy-two hours later,the expression of the interested gene was detected by RT-PCR and ELISA.Results The AAV expression system of human tissue kallikrein gene was successfully constructed.The viral titer of recombinant AAV reached 6.2?10~7 particles/ml. When compared with the control group,the transcription of HK gene in the group which was infected with rAAV-HK increased significantly[(0.59?0.12)vs(0.26?0.05)(P＜0.05)],and the expression of HK in the HUVEC was three times more than that in the control[(120.1?40.9)vs (30.8?12.8)](P＜0.001).The transcription of eNOSmRNA in the infected HUVEC was higher than that of the control[(1.19?0.28)vs(0.66?0.11)](P＜0.05).The transcription of caspase-3 mRNA was lower than that of the control[(0.30?0.25)vs(0.67?0.27)](P＜0.05).And there was no obvious variation happened in the transcription of VEGF,ET-1,TR-B,bradykinin B1 receptor and Bradykinin B2 receptor.Conclusions When co-transfected AAV-293 cells with three plasmids (pAAV-HK,pAAV-RC,pHelper),the HK gene expression is significantly and stably increased. Introducing HK gene into HUVEC can improve endothelial transfection efficiency.

Correlation study between CT perfusion parameters and biologic characters in nasopharyngeal carcinoma / 中华放射学杂志

Objective To explore the correlation between MSCT perfusion parameters and biologic characters in nasopharyngeal carcinoma(NPC),and to investigate the clinical utility of MSCT perfusion for NPC.Methods Nasopharynx in 49 cases was studied using MSCT perfusion imaging,including 30 NPC cases before radiotherapy,14 post-radiotherapy NPC cases,and 5 cases of normal nasopharynx as controls. The perfusion data of tumors and nasopharyngeal wall such as blood flow(BF),peak enhancement index (PEI),time to peak (TTP),and blood volume (BV)were calculated.MVD defined by CD34 stain was counted in 16 cases of NPC.The correlation of MSCT perfusion parameters,MVD,and clinical stage was analyzed.Results 1 case of NPC failed in CT perfusion exam.In NPC group (n=29),BF,PEI,TTP, and BV were (48.6?16.9)ml?100 g~(-1)?min~(-1),(32.3?7.9)HU,(17.5?4.9)s,and (12.8? 4.4)ml?100 g~(-1),respectively.BF,PEI,TTP,and BV in control group (5 cases)were (15.9? 5.9)ml?100g~(-1)?min~(-1),(12.6?1.3)HU,(22.6?6.9)s,and (3.5?0.5)ml?100 g~(-1), respectively,and those in post-radiotherapy group (14 cases)were (25.2?7.0)ml?100 g~(-1)?min~(-1), (19.8 ?5.9)HU,(22.6?4.3 )s,and (6.1?2.4)ml?100 g~(-1),respectively.The perfusion values in NPC group had significant difference compared with those in the other two groups (P