[Characteristics of VOCs and Formation Potentials of O3 and SOA in Autumn and Winter in Tongchuan, China].

Volatile organic compounds (VOCs) are the main precursors of tropospheric O3 and secondary organic aerosol (SOA), which can enhance atmospheric oxidation, promote the formation of secondary pollutants, and affect regional air quality and human health. In order to gain insights on VOCs characteristics and their potentials for O3 and SOA formation, the volume fraction of 102 VOCs in autumn and winter in the urban area of Tongchuan were monitored using the TH-300B online monitoring system. The maximum incremental reactivity (MIR) coefficient and the fractional aerosol coefficient (FAC) were used to estimate the ozone formation potential (OFP) and SOA formation potential (SOAFP), respectively. The φ(TVOC, total VOCs) were (50.52±16.81)×10-9 in autumn and (63.21±35.24)×10-9 in winter. The OFPs were 138.43×10-9 in autumn and 137.123×10-9 in winter, and the SOAFPs were 3.098 µg·m-3 and 0.612 µg·m-3, respectively. Alkanes (26.19%) and aromatics (26.04%) were the most abundant species in autumn, and alkanes (48.88%) were the most abundant species in winter. Trans-2-pentene, toluene, and m/p-xylene were the most reactive species in terms of OFPs in autumn, and ethylene, acetylene, and propylene were the top three species contributing to the total OFPs in winter. Toluene, m/p-xylene, and ethylbenzene contributed the most to the total SOAFPs in both of autumn and winter. Traffic emissions were considered as the major source of VOCs in both seasons. VOCs from biomass/coal combustion emissions showed seasonal differences, which were more prominent in winter. The results can provide references for the "one city, one policy" to mitigate regional VOCs pollution and improve ambient air quality.

Scenario analysis of vehicular emission abatement procedures in Xi'an, China.

Vehicular emissions contribute significantly to air pollution, and the number of vehicles in use is continuing to rise. Policymakers thus need to formulate vehicular emission reduction policies to improve urban air-quality. This study used different vehicle control scenarios to predict the associated potential of mitigating carbon monoxide (CO), volatile organic compounds (VOCs), nitrogen oxide (NOx), particulate matter with an aerodynamic diameter less than 2.5 µm (PM2.5), and particulate matter with an aerodynamic diameter less than 10 µm (PM10) in Xi'an China, in 2020 and 2025. One business-as-usual scenario and six control scenarios were established, and vehicular emission inventory was developed according to each scenario. The results revealed that eliminating high-emission vehicles and optimizing after-treatment devices would effectively reduce vehicular emissions. In addition, increasing the number of alternative fuel vehicles, restraining vehicle use, and restraining the growth of the vehicle population would all have certain effects on CO and VOCs emissions, but the effects would not be significant for NOx, PM2.5, and PM10. The results also indicated that if all control measures were stringently applied together, emissions of CO, VOCs, NOx, PM2.5, and PM10 would be reduced by 51.66%, 51.58%, 30.19%,71.12%, and 71.81% in 2020, and 53.55%, 51.44%, 19.09%, 54.88%, and 55.51%, in 2025, respectively.

Current trends and future prediction of novel coronavirus disease (COVID-19) epidemic in China: a dynamical modeling analysis.

The novel coronavirus disease 2019 (COVID-19) infection broke out in December 2019 in Wuhan, and rapidly overspread 31 provinces in mainland China on 31 January 2020. In the face of the increasing number of daily confirmed infected cases, it has become a common concern and worthy of pondering when the infection will appear the turning points, what is the final size and when the infection would be ultimately controlled. Based on the current control measures, we proposed a dynamical transmission model with contact trace and quarantine and predicted the peak time and final size for daily confirmed infected cases by employing Markov Chain Monte Carlo algorithm. We estimate the basic reproductive number of COVID-19 is 5.78 (95%CI: 5.71-5.89). Under the current intervention before 31 January, the number of daily confirmed infected cases is expected to peak on around 11 February 2020 with the size of 4066 (95%CI: 3898-4472). The infection of COVID-19 might be controlled approximately after 18 May 2020. Reducing contact and increasing trace about the risk population are likely to be the present effective measures.

Impact of Herbal Preparations on Outcomes of Highly Active Antiretroviral Therapy: A One-Year Prospective Cohort Study.

OBJECTIVE: To investigate the impacts of two herbal preparations for human immunodeficiency virus/aquired immune deficiency syndrome (HIV/AIDS) patients, Shenling Fuzheng Capsule (, SLFZC) and Qingdu Capsule (, QDC), on the efficacy of highly active antiretroviral therapy (HAART). METHODS: HIV/AIDS patients met the criteria were all enrolled in a 1-year cohort study, in which patients receiving HAART alone were designated as Group A, those receiving HAART in combination with SLFZC were designated as Group B, and those receiving HAART in combination with QDC were designated as Group C, 100 cases in each group. The dose of SLFZC was 1.48 g (4 capsules), 3 times daily, and QDC 1.56 g (4 capsules), 3 times daily. T cell subsets, HIV RNA and HIV-1 drug resistance were detected at enrollment and 1 year after treatment. Patients were followed up every 3 months, during which side-effects and other clinical data were recorded. RESULTS: After 1-year treatment, the median increment in CD4 counts was 165.0, 178.0 and 145.0 cells/µL for Group A, B and C, respectively. HIV RNA was undetectable in 94% of patients in Group A, 96% in Group B and 92% in Group C. There were no differences regarding the increment in CD4 counts, HIV RNA and frequency of HIV-1 drug resistance mutations. Two of the 14 suspected side-effect symptoms, i.e. fatigue and dizziness, were lower in Groups B and C than in Group A (P<0.05, respectively) CONCLUSIONS: SLFZC and QDC do not have a negative impact on immunological and virological response to HAART; however, these preparations are not as potent in reducing HAART-associated side-effects as anticipated.

Halobium Salinum sp. nov., Isolated from a Marine Solar Saltern.

A halophilic archaeal strain YJ-8-ST was isolated from Yangjiang marine solar saltern, China. Cells from strain YJ-8-ST were pleomorphic, lysed in distilled water, stained Gram-negative, and formed red-pigmented colonies on agar plate. Optimal growth of the strain was obtained at 3.1 M NaCl (range 1.4-4.8 M), 0.1 M MgCl2 (range 0.005-1.0 M), 37 °C (range 20-50 °C), and pH 7.5 (range 5.5-9.5). The major polar lipids are phosphatidylglycerol (PG), phosphatidylglycerol phosphate methyl ester (PGP-Me), sulfated mannosyl glucosyl diether (S-DGD-1), and mannosyl glucosyl diether (DGD-1). The 16S rRNA gene and rpoB' gene of strain YJ-8-ST were phylogenetically related to the corresponding genes of Halobium palmae (96.9-97.2 and 92.7% similarities, respectively). The DNA G+C content of strain YJ-8-ST was determined to be 68.9 mol%. The phenotypic, chemotaxonomic, and phylogenetic characteristics suggested that strain YJ-8-ST (=CGMCC 1.12553T = JCM 30029T) represents a new species of Halobium, for which the name Halobium salinum sp. nov. is proposed.

Salinirussus salinus gen. nov., sp. nov., isolated from a marine solar saltern.

A halophilic archaeal strain, YGH44T, was isolated from the Yinggehai marine solar saltern in Hainan Province of China. Cells were rod-shaped, stained Gram-negative and formed red-pigmented colonies on agar plates. Optimal growth was obtained with 3.4 M NaCl (range: 2.6-4.8 M), 0.5 M MgCl2 (range: 0.005-1.0 M), at 37 °C (range: 25-55 °C) and at pH 7.0 (range: pH 5.0-9.0). The cells lysed in distilled water, and the minimal NaCl concentration to prevent cell lysis was 1.7 M. Phylogenetic tree reconstructions based on 16S rRNA genes and rpoB' genes revealed that strain YGH44T was distinct from the related genera, Halovenus, Halapricum, Halorientalis, Halorhabdus and Halosimplex of the order Halobacteriales. The major polar lipids of the strain were phosphatidylglycerol, phosphatidylglycerol phosphate methyl ester and three unidentified glycolipids. The DNA G+C content of strain YGH44Twas 69.0 mol%. The phenotypic, chemotaxonomic and phylogenetic properties suggested that strain YGH44T (=CGMCC 1.12234T=JCM 18646T) represents a novel species of a new genus within the order Halobacteriales, for which the name Salinirussus salinus gen. nov., sp. nov. is proposed.

Halobacterium litoreum sp. nov., isolated from a marine solar saltern.

Halophilic archaeal strain ZS-54-S2T was isolated from Zhoushan marine solar saltern, China. Cells were rod-shaped, Gram-stain-negative and formed red-pigmented colonies on an agar plate. Strain ZS-54-S2T was able to grow at 20-50 °C (optimum 35 °C), at 1.7-4.8 M NaCl (optimum 3.9 M), at 0.005-1.0 M MgCl2 (optimum 0.05 M) and at pH 5.0-9.5 (optimum pH 7.0). The cells lysed in distilled water and the minimal NaCl concentration to prevent cell lysis was found to be 5 % (w/v). The major polar lipids of the strain were phosphatidic acid, phosphatidylglycerol, phosphatidylglycerol phosphate methyl ester, two glycolipids, which were chromatographically identical to sulfated galactosyl mannosyl galactofuranosyl glucosyl diether and galactosyl mannosyl glucosyl diether, and an unidentified glycolipid, which was chromatographically identical to one detected in Halobacterium salinarum ATCC 33171T. The 16S rRNA gene and rpoB' gene of strain ZS-54-S2T were phylogenetically related to the corresponding genes of Halobacterium noricense JCM 15102T (97.5 % and 90.6 % relatedness, respectively), Halobacterium jilantaiense CGMCC 1.5337T (96.9 and 91.2 %), Halobacterium rubrum CGMCC 1.12575T (96.8 and 90.3 %) and Halobacterium salinarum CGMCC 1.1958T (96.5 and 88.4 %). The DNA G+C content of strain ZS-54-S2T was 66.7 mol%. The phenotypic, chemotaxonomic and phylogenetic properties suggested that strain ZS-54-S2T (=CGMCC 1.12562T=JCM 30038T) represents a new species of Halobacterium, for which the name Halobacteriumlitoreum sp. nov. is proposed.

Halomarina rubra sp. nov., isolated from a marine solar saltern.

Halophilic archaeal strain ZS-47-ST was isolated from Zhoushan marine solar saltern, China. Cells were pleomorphic, stained Gram-negative, and formed red-pigmented colonies on agar plate. Strain ZS-47-ST was able to grow at 20-50 °C (optimum 37 °C), at 0.9-4.8 M NaCl (optimum 3.4 M), at 0.005-1.0 M MgCl2 (optimum 0.03 M), and at pH 5.5-9.5 (optimum pH 6.5-7.5). The cells lysed in distilled water and the minimal NaCl concentration to prevent cell-lysis was 5% (w/v). The major polar lipids were C20C20 and C20C25 diether derivatives of phosphatidylglycerol, phosphatidylglycerol phosphate methyl ester, phosphatidylglycerol sulfate, glucosyl mannosyl glucosyl diether, and three unidentified glycolipids. The 16S rRNA gene and rpoB' gene of strain ZS-47-ST were phylogenetically related to the corresponding genes of Halomarina oriensis JCM 16495T (98.57 and 92.94% similarities, respectively) and Halomarina salina CGMCC 1.12543T (97.96 and 93.65% similarities, respectively). The DNA G + C content of strain ZS-47-ST was 64.6 mol % (T m). The phenotypic, chemotaxonomic, and phylogenetic properties suggested that strain ZS-47-ST (=CGMCC 1.12563T = JCM 30037T) represents a new species of Halomarina, for which the name Halomarina rubra sp. nov. is proposed.

Cyclophosphamide enhances anti-tumor effects of a fibroblast activation protein α-based DNA vaccine in tumor-bearing mice with murine breast carcinoma.

Cyclophosphamide (CY) is a DNA alkylating agent, which is widely used with other chemotherapy drugs in the treatment of various types of cancer. It can be used not only as a chemotherapeutic but also as an immunomodulatory agent to inhibit IL-10 expression and T regulatory cells (Tregs). Fibroblast activation protein α (FAPα) is expressed in cancer-associated fibroblasts in the tumor microenvironment. Immunotherapy based on FAPα, as a tumor stromal antigen, typically induces specific immune response targeting the tumor microenvironment. This study evaluated the efficacy of a previously unreported CY combination strategy to enhance the limited anti-tumor effect of a DNA vaccine targeting FAPα. The results suggested CY administration could promote the percentage of splenic CD8+ T cells and decrease the proportion of CD4 + CD25 + Foxp3+ Tregs in spleen. In tumor tissues, levels of immunosuppressive cytokines including IL-10 and CXCL-12 were also reduced. Meanwhile, the CY combination did not impair the FAPα-specific immunity induced by the DNA vaccine and further reduced tumor stromal factors. Most importantly, FAP-vaccinated mice also treated with CY chemotherapy showed a marked suppression of tumor growth (inhibition ratio =80%) and a prolongation of survival time. Thus, the combination of FAPα immunotherapy and chemotherapy with CY offers new insights into improving cancer therapies.

Improvement of anti-tumor immunity of fibroblast activation protein α based vaccines by combination with cyclophosphamide in a murine model of breast cancer.

Fibroblast activation protein α (FAPα) is expressed in cancer-associated fibroblasts (CAFs), which are the main type of cells in the tumor microenvironment. CAFs exert immunosuppressive activity, which can weaken the effects of cancer immunotherapy and mainly account for poor outcomes with therapeutic vaccines. To better target and destroy CAFs, a FAPα vaccine using a modified vaccinia ankara (MVA) vector was constructed and used with a DNA vaccine reported in our previous work for heterologous prime-boost immunizations in mice. This strategy to generate anti-tumor immunity partly reduced 4T1 tumor growth through producing FAPα-specific cytotoxic T lymphocyte responses in a preventive model, but the effect required improvement. Combining the FAPα-based cancer vaccines (CpVR-FAP/MVA-FAP) with cyclophosphamide (CY), which can be used not only as a chemotherapeutic but also an immunomodulatory agent to promote a shift from immunosuppression to immunopotentiation, resulted in markedly enhanced tumor growth inhibition compared with the CpVR-FAP/MVA-FAP group. This strategy achieved synergistic effects in a therapeutic model by improving the tumor inhibition rate by 2.5-fold (90.2%), significantly enhancing cellular immunity and prolonging the survival of 4T1 tumor-bearing mice by 35% compared with the PBS group. Furthermore, CAFs, stromal factors and immunosuppressive factors such as IL-10 and Tregs were also markedly decreased by the CY combination. These results indicated that FAPα-targeted MVA boosting in combination with CY is an effective approach to improving specific anti-tumor immune responses through overcoming immunosuppression. This study may offer important advances in research on clinical cancer immunotherapies by modulating immunosuppressive factors.

Enhancement of fibroblast activation protein α-based vaccines and adenovirus boost immunity by cyclophosphamide through inhibiting IL-10 expression in 4T1 tumor bearing mice.

Fibroblast activation protein α (FAPα) is expressed in cancer-associated fibroblasts (CAFs) of more than 90% of malignant epithelia carcinomas. CAFs are the main type of cells in the tumor microenvironment which offer nutrition and protection to the tumor and regulate immunosuppression. To eliminate CAFs, a vaccine targeting FAPα may be used with a heterologous prime-boost strategy to enhance the FAPα-specific cellular immunity. Here, a FAP vaccine using a recombinant adenovirus (rAd) vector was constructed as well as a DNA vaccine reported in our previous work. Although the DNA prime-rAd boost strategy enhanced FAPα-specific immune responses, improvement of anti-tumor immunity effects was not observed. Examination of immunosuppressive factors revealed that high expression of the IL-10 cytokine was considered the main cause of the failure of the prime-boost strategy. However, heterologous vaccination in combination with a low-dose of cyclophosphamide (CY), which was reported to reduce IL-10 production and promote a shift from immunosuppression to immunopotentiation, resulted in enhanced effects in terms of numbers of effector T cells and tumor growth inhibition rates, compared to the CY alone or DNA alone group. Tumor growth was inhibited markedly when the prime-boost strategy was combined with CY in both the prophylactic and therapeutic settings and the survival time of 4T1 tumor bearing mice was also prolonged significantly. With the reduction of IL-10, enhancement of the anti-tumor effect by the prime-boost strategy was observed. These results suggest that FAPα-targeted rAd boosting in combination with CY is an attractive approach to overcoming immunosuppression in cancer vaccines.

Halorussus salinus sp. nov., isolated from a marine solar saltern.

A halophilic archaeal strain YJ-37-HT was isolated from Yangjiang marine solar saltern, China. Cells were pleomorphic rods, stained Gram negative and formed red-pigmented colonies on agar plate. Strain YJ-37-HT was able to grow at 20-50 °C (optimum 37 °C), at 0.9-4.8 M NaCl (optimum 2.6 M NaCl), at 0-1.0 M MgCl2 (optimum 0.3 MgCl2) and at pH 6.5-9.0 (optimum pH 7.0). The cells lysed in distilled water, and the minimal NaCl concentration to prevent cell lysis was found to be 5 % (w/v). The 16S rRNA gene and rpoB' gene of strain YJ-37-HT were phylogenetically related to the corresponding genes of Halorussus members (93.2-95.8 % and 90.1-93.9 % similarities, respectively). The major polar lipids of the strain were phosphatidic acid (PA), phosphatidylglycerol (PG), phosphatidylglycerol phosphate methyl ester (PGP-Me), phosphatidylglycerol sulfate (PGS) and five glycolipids, sulfated galactosyl mannosyl glucosyl diether (S-TGD-1), galactosyl mannosyl glucosyl diether (TGD-1), sulfated mannosyl glucosyl diether (S-DGD-1), mannosyl glucosyl diether (DGD-1) and diglycosyl diether (DGD-2). The DNA G+C content of strain YJ-37-HT was 64.9 mol%. The phenotypic, chemotaxonomic and phylogenetic properties suggested that strain YJ-37-HT (=CGMCC 1.12571T = JCM 30032T) represents a new species of Halorussus, for which the name Halorussus salinus sp. nov. is proposed.

Salinigranum salinum sp. nov., isolated from a marine solar saltern.

An extremely halophilic archaeal strain YJ-50-S2T was isolated from Yangjiang marine solar saltern, China. Cells were pleomorphic, stained Gram-negative and formed red-pigmented colonies on agar plates. Strain YJ-50-S2T was able to grow at 25-50 °C (optimum 37 °C), with 0.9-4.8 M NaCl (optimum 2.6 M NaCl) and 0-1.0 M MgCl2 (optimum 0.03 M MgCl2), and at pH 5.0-9.5 (optimum pH 7.5). The cells lysed in distilled water and the minimal NaCl concentration to prevent cell lysis was 5 % (w/v). The 16S rRNA gene and rpoB' gene of strain YJ-50-S2T were phylogenetically related to the corresponding genes of Salinigranum rubrum GX10T (97.0 % and 90.5 % similarities, respectively). The major polar lipids of strainYJ-50-S2T were phosphatidylglycerol, phosphatidylglycerol phosphate methyl ester, and two major glycolipids chromatographically identical to sulfated mannosyl glucosyl diether and mannosyl glucosyl diether, respectively. Several unidentified glycolipids were also detected. The DNA G+C content of strain YJ-50-S2T was 65.2 mol%. The phenotypic, chemotaxonomic and phylogenetic properties suggested that strain YJ-50-S2Trepresents a novel species of the genus Salinigranum, for which the name Salinigranum salinum sp. nov. is proposed. The type strain is YJ-50-S2T (=CGMCC 1.12572T=JCM 30033T).

Halomarina salina sp. nov., isolated from a marine solar saltern.

A halophilic archaeal strain, designated ZS-57-S(T), was isolated from Zhoushan marine solar saltern, China. Cells were observed to be pleomorphic, stained Gram-negative and formed red pigmented colonies on agar plates. Optimal growth was obtained at 3.9 M NaCl (range 1.4-4.8 M), 0.3 M MgCl2 (range 0-1.0 M), 30 °C (range 20-55 °C) and pH 6.5-7.5 (range 5.5-9.0). The cells were found to lyse in distilled water and the minimal NaCl concentration to prevent cell lysis was determined to be 5 % (w/v). The major polar lipids were identified as C20C20 and C20C25 diether derivatives of phosphatidylglycerol, phosphatidylglycerol phosphate methyl ester, phosphatidylglycerol sulfate, glucosyl mannosyl glucosyl diether and two unidentified glycolipids. The 16S rRNA gene and rpoB' gene of strain ZS-57-S(T) were phylogenetically related to the corresponding genes of Halomarina oriensis JCM 16495(T) (98.2 and 93.7 % similarities, respectively). The DNA G+C content of strain ZS-57-S(T) was determined to be 67.1 mol% (T m). The phenotypic, chemotaxonomic and phylogenetic properties suggested that strain ZS-57-S(T) (=CGMCC 1.12543(T) = JCM 30039(T)) represents a new species of the genus Halomarina, for which the name Halomarina salina sp. nov. is proposed.

Anti-tumor effects of DNA vaccine targeting human fibroblast activation protein α by producing specific immune responses and altering tumor microenvironment in the 4T1 murine breast cancer model.

Fibroblast activation protein α (FAPα) is a tumor stromal antigen overexpressed by cancer-associated fibroblasts (CAFs). CAFs are genetically more stable compared with the tumor cells and immunosuppressive components of the tumor microenvironment, rendering them excellent targets for cancer immunotherapy. DNA vaccines are widely applied due to their safety. To specifically destroy CAFs, we constructed and examined the immunogenicity and anti-tumor immune mechanism of a DNA vaccine expressing human FAPα. This vaccine successfully reduced 4T1 tumor growth through producing FAPα-specific cytotoxic T lymphocyte responses which could kill CAFs, and the decrease in FAPα-expressing CAFs resulted in markedly attenuated expression of collagen I and other stromal factors that benefit the tumor progression. Based on these results, a DNA vaccine targeting human FAPα may be an attractive and effective cancer immunotherapy strategy.

[A New Method of Accurately Extracting Spectral Values for Discrete Sampling Points].

In the establishment of remote sensing information inversion model, the actual measured data of discrete sampling points and the corresponding spectrum data to pixels of remote sensing image, are used to establish the relation, thus to realize the goal of information retrieval. Accurate extraction of spectrum value is very important to establish the remote sensing inversion mode. Converting target spot layer to ROI (region of interest) and then saving the ROI as ASCII is one of the methods that researchers often used to extract the spectral values. Analyzing the coordinate and spectrum values extracted using original coordinate in ENVI, we found that the extracted and original coordinate were not inconsistent and part of spectrum values not belong to the pixel containing the sampling point. The inversion model based on the above information cannot really reflect relationship between the target properties and spectral values; so that the model is meaningless. We equally divided the pixel into four parts and summed up the law. It was found that only when the sampling points distributed in the upper left corner of pixels, the extracted values were correct. On the basis of the above methods, this paper systematically studied the principle of extraction target coordinate and spectral values, and summarized the rule. A new method for extracting spectral parameters of the pixel that sampling point located in the environment of ENVI software. Firstly, pixel sampling point coordinates for any of the four corner points were extracted by the sample points with original coordinate in ENVI. Secondly, the sampling points were judged in which partition of pixel by comparing the absolute values of difference longitude and latitude of the original and extraction coordinates. Lastly, all points were adjusted to the upper left corner of pixels by symmetry principle and spectrum values were extracted by the same way in the first step. The results indicated that the extracted spectrum values of all points were accurate. Experiment on OLI (Operational Land Imager), TM and ETM+ images showed that this method can accurately extract the discrete spectrum value, and as well, clear principle, simple and feasible operation, strong applicability, This paper provides a new idea for remote sensing image extraction of discrete point spectrum.

[Pharmacokinetic Effect of Aikeqing Granule by Different Medication Ways on Zidovudine in HAART of Rats].

OBJECTIVE: To study pharmacokinetic effect of Aikeqing Granule (AG) by different medication ways on zidovudine (AZT) in highly active antiretroviral therapy ( HAART) of rats. METHODS: Totally 36 rats were administered with corresponding medications by gastrogavage, group I [HAART: AZT 31.5 mg/kg +3TC 31.5 mg/kg + Efavirenz (EFV) 63.0 mg/kg], group II (HAART+AG525 mg/kg), group III (HAART and AG 525 mg/kg after a 2-h interval). Drug concentrations of AZT were determined by high performance liquid chromatography-mass spectroscopy (HPLC-MS) before HAART, and at 0.5, 1, 2, 3, 4, 6, 8, 10, 12 h after HAART, respectively. Pharmacokinetic parameters [such as t1/2, Tmax, Cmax, AUCo-t, plasma clearance rate (CL)] were calculated by DAS2.0 Software. RESULTS: The-equation of linear regression of AZT was good, with the precision, coefficient of recovery, and stability definitely confirmed. AUC in group II and III was larger than that of group I. There was no statistical difference in t1/2, Tmax, Cmax, AUC0-12 h, or AUC0-∞ among groups (P > 0.05). CONCLUSION: AG combined HAART could enhance the Cmax of AZT.

[Gold nanoparticle-aptamer based colorimetric biosensing assays].

The single strand nucleic acid based aptamer could bound to targets with high sensitivity and specificity. Gold nanoparticles have strong particle space optical effects and could take a color change from red to blue when the dispersed nanoparticles were aggregated. Aptamer could be immobilized through covalent coupling or direct adsorption to the surface of gold nanoparticle. Various approaches have been designed for biosensing based on the target induced aptamer-gold nanoparticle system color changes. The recent developments in the gold nanoparticle-aptamer based colorimetric biosensing assays were reviewed and the directions for future research were discussed and proposed.

[Treating HIV/AIDS patients by shenlin fuzheng capsule and qingdu capsule: an analysis of clinical effectiveness].

OBJECTIVE: To analyze the clinical effectiveness of Shenling Fuzheng Capsule (SFC) and Qingdu Capsule (QC) in treating HIV/AIDS patients. METHODS: Totally 220 patients with complete clinical data, who received consecutive treatment for 6 months were selected from the database. They were assigned to two groups whether they would rather receive antiretroviral drugs, the Chinese medicine (CM) treatment group and the integrative medicine (IM) group. The 129 patients in the CM group were treated with SFC or QC, while the 91 patients in the IM group were treated with SFC or QC combined highly active antiretroviral agents. Total score and single score of clinical symptoms and signs, Karnofsky Performance Status (KPS), and changes of body weight before treatment, 3 and 6 months after treatment were compared. CD4+ cell counts were compared between before treatment and 6 months after treatment. RESULTS: The total score of clinical symptoms and signs were lower at 3 and 6 months of treatment than before treatment respectively (P < 0.01). The single score of clinical symptoms and signs such as cough, weakness, shortness of breath, vomit, spontaneous perspiration, hair loss,and chest pain were also lowered at 3 and 6 months of treatment (P < 0.05, P < 0.01), and the KPS increased (P < 0.05). The body weight increased (P < 0.05) and CD4 cell counts decreased (P < 0.05) in the CM group. There was no statistical difference in body weight or CD4 cell counts in the IM group between before and after treatment. CONCLUSION: SFC and QC could improve clinical symptoms and signs of HIV/ AIDS patients, but failed to deter the decrease of CD4+ cell counts.

Biodegradable polycation and plasmid DNA multilayer film for prolonged gene delivery to mouse osteoblasts.

Sustained release of functional plasmid DNA from the surfaces of materials which support cell adhesion for tissue formation could have a significant impact on gene therapy and tissue engineering. We report here layer-by-layer assembled multilayer film from a degradable cationic poly(2-aminoethyl propylene phosphate) and plasmid DNA encoding for enhanced green fluorescent protein (EGFP) for mouse osteoblast cell adhesion and prolonged gene delivery. Multilayer film growth was monitored by UV spectrophotometry and intensity of absorbance at 260 nm related to incorporated DNA increased in an exponential manner with increase the number of deposited polymer and plasmid layers. It degraded upon incubation in phosphate-buffered saline (PBS) at 37 degrees C and sustained the release of bioactive plasmid DNA up to 2 months. The multilayer film facilitated initial mouse osteoblast cell adhesion onto the surface and enhanced cellular alkaline phosphatase activity and calcium accumulation. It sustained delivering transcriptional active DNA to mouse osteoblast cells cultured on the film, and directly prolonged gene expression in the presence of serum without any exogenous transfection agent. This biodegradable multilayer assembly is promising for the local and sustained delivery of plasmid DNA and such a layer-by-layer system suggests an alternative method for plasmid DNA incorporation which may be useful for surface modification of implanted materials or scaffold for gene therapy and tissue regeneration.