Genetic diversity and evolutionary dynamics of Ebola virus in Sierra Leone.

A novel Ebola virus (EBOV) first identified in March 2014 has infected more than 25,000 people in West Africa, resulting in more than 10,000 deaths. Preliminary analyses of genome sequences of 81 EBOV collected from March to June 2014 from Guinea and Sierra Leone suggest that the 2014 EBOV originated from an independent transmission event from its natural reservoir followed by sustained human-to-human infections. It has been reported that the EBOV genome variation might have an effect on the efficacy of sequence-based virus detection and candidate therapeutics. However, only limited viral information has been available since July 2014, when the outbreak entered a rapid growth phase. Here we describe 175 full-length EBOV genome sequences from five severely stricken districts in Sierra Leone from 28 September to 11 November 2014. We found that the 2014 EBOV has become more phylogenetically and genetically diverse from July to November 2014, characterized by the emergence of multiple novel lineages. The substitution rate for the 2014 EBOV was estimated to be 1.23 × 10(-3) substitutions per site per year (95% highest posterior density interval, 1.04 × 10(-3) to 1.41 × 10(-3) substitutions per site per year), approximating to that observed between previous EBOV outbreaks. The sharp increase in genetic diversity of the 2014 EBOV warrants extensive EBOV surveillance in Sierra Leone, Guinea and Liberia to better understand the viral evolution and transmission dynamics of the ongoing outbreak. These data will facilitate the international efforts to develop vaccines and therapeutics.

[Study on the structure and function of superior oblique connective tissue in different mammals].

OBJECTIVE: The purpose of this research lied in studying the structure and function of connective tissue of superior oblique (SO) in rhesus and rabbit. METHODS: It was an experimental study. Two adult monkeys (rhesus) and five adult rabbits were involved in this study. The gross anatomy of an orbit in each animal was observed. Meanwhile, the fellow orbit was processed with paraffin imbedding and coronal serial section. Masson trichrome stain was used to distinguish muscle and collagen, and Weigert stain was performed for identification of elastin. RESULTS: Connective tissue around SO in both mammals thickened anteriorly, reflected in the trochlea along with the SO tendon, and became contiguous with the nasal aspect of the SR connective tissue ring, while the tendon passed inferior to the SR pulley to insert on the sclera. CONCLUSION: The contraction of SO OL can cause SR shift nasally. This may explain the mechanism of vestibulo-ocular reflex (VOR) partly.

[Study on the structure and function of inferior oblique connective tissue in different mammals].

OBJECTIVE: The purpose of this research lied in studying the structure and function of connective tissue of inferior oblique (IO) in rhesus, rabbit and rat. METHODS: It was an experimental study. Two adult monkeys (rhesus), five adult rabbits and five adult Wistar rats were involved in this study. The gross anatomy of an orbit in each animal was observed. Meanwhile, the fellow orbit was processed with paraffin imbedding and coronal serial section. Masson trichrome stain was used to distinguish muscle and collagen, and Weigert stain was performed for identification of elastin. RESULTS: The connective tissue around IO muscle in rhesus, rabbits and rats all connected with inferior rectus (IR) and lateral rectus (LR), but the arrangements among them were not entirely similar. Only the connective tissue around IO in rhesus consisted of dense collagen, scattered elastic fiber, and connected closely with IR, LR Pulley. The connective tissue circling IO in rabbit and rat were crumbly, and was not connected closely with the connective tissue around IR. CONCLUSION: IR and LR Pulley has some mechanics link with IO in rhesus, and can play roles in covergence in rhesus.

[Study on arsenic speciation changes in crude and processed traditional Chinese medicines by HPLC-ICP-MS].

A HPLC-ICP-MS method for simultaneous determination of As(III), As(V), MMA and DMA in traditional Chinese medicines (TCMs) was established, and the contents of As(III), As(V), MMA and DMA in a TCM with high total arsenic content (Cordyceps) and 5 crude and processed TCMs (Radix Astragali, Radix et Rhizoma Rhei, Radix Scutellariae, Radix Polygoni Multiflori and Radix Rehmanniae) were determined and analyzed. The method validation indicated that the correlative coefficients (r) for all speciations were bigger than 0.9984; the limits of quantitation (LOQ) were from 0.8 to 1.0 microg x L(-1); the reproducibility and stability were satisfactory with all RSDs less than 10%; the spiked recoveries ranged from 82.40% to 119.5%. The results of samples analysis showed that the inorganic arsenic (As(III) and As(V)) was the dominating speciation in the tested TCMs; MMA and DMA were not found in all plant resourced TCMs, but MMA was found in Cordyceps; all the tested TCMs indicated a content increasing of inorganic arsenic after processing.

ABCB1 polymorphisms may have a minor effect on ciclosporin blood concentrations in myasthenia gravis patients.

AIMS: Ciclosporin (CsA), which is widely used in autoimmune disease and transplantation, has a narrow therapeutic index. It also shows considerable interindividual variability in its pharmacokinetics, which may be attributable to polymorphisms of the multidrug efflux pump P-glycoprotein, encoded by MDR-1. The aim was to determine the role of genetic polymorphisms in MDR-1 with respect to interindividual variability of CsA blood concentrations in myasthenia gravis (MG) patients. METHODS: MG patients (n = 129) receiving CsA were genotyped for MDR-1 1236C-->T (exon 12), 2677G-->T (exon 21) and 3435C-->T (exon 26). Trough blood and peak blood concentrations were determined to see if there was correlation with the corresponding genotype. RESULTS: We observed a trend for CsA blood concentrations, especially peak blood concentrations, to be higher with the wild-type allele compared with minor alleles in genotype and haplotype. Furthermore, under the same CsA regimen, it was found that the trough concentrations of variant genotype (ABCB1 1236TT or ABCB1 2677TT) were significant greater than those of wild-type (ABCB1 1236CC or ABCB1 2677GG, respectively) (P = 0.0222 and 0.0081). The trough concentrations of wild-type haplotype pair group were significantly lower those that of the mutant type pair group (TT-TT-TT) (P = 0.007). CONCLUSIONS: ABCB1 polymorphisms in both genotype and haplotype may have a minor effect on the CsA blood concentrations.

[Determination of rare-earth and trace elements in teeth enamel by inductively coupled plasma mass spectroscopy].

Determination of rare earth and trace elements in teeth enamel was studied by inductively coupled plasma mass spectroscopy. The sample was completely dissolved by HNO3-H2O2. The range of precision is 0.50%-6.79% given by the relative standard deviation and the range of accuracy is 94.45%-104.78% obtained by measuring standard recovery rate. The above data satisfied completely the requirements of biological sample. While this study provides experimental data of rareearth and trace elements of teeth enamel for carious teeth and none carious teeth of human for prevention and cure of decayed tooth. A reasonable method is provided for mouth medicine research.

[Study on the determination of microelements in forest frog by inductively coupled plasma atomic emission spectroscopy].

In this paper, several trace elements in the forest frog samples were investigated by inductively coupled plasma atomic emission spectrometry (ICP-AES). During the experiment 5.00 mL HNO3 and 0.50 mL HClO4 were added to the sample, which then remained 24 hours before being heated to 120 degrees C and solved. This method can not only meet the requirement of ICP-AES, but also has many merits, such as simplicity, rapidity, precision and economy. The range of relative error was 0.17%-10.0% and the range of precision was 0.43%-9.96% for these elements.

[Study on bioequivalence of domestic bambuterol capsules and imported tablets by high performance capillary zone electrophoresis].

AIM: To study bioequivalences of bambuterol and its metabolites terbutaline in 20 healthy male volunteers. METHODS: A single oral dose of domestic bambuterol capsule or imported bambuterol tablet was given according to a randomized 2-way cross-over design. The plasma bambuterol and terbutaline concentrations were determined by high performance capillary zone electrophoresis (HPCZE). RESULTS: The pharmacokinetic parameters of the capsule and tablet of bambuterol: AUC0-1 were (72 +/- 18) and (72 +/- 13) microgram.h.L-1, Cmax were (8.1 +/- 1.8) and (9.2 +/- 2.3) microgram.L-1, Tmax were (3.6 +/- 1.3) and (3.7 +/- 1.0) h, respectively; terbutaline: AUC0-t were (129 +/- 32) and (130 +/- 34) microgram.h.L-1, Cmax were (7.8 +/- 2.2) and (8.5 +/- 2.9) microgram.L-1, Tmax were (5.4 +/- 0.8) and (5.6 +/- 1.1) h, respectively. The bioavaiability of the capsule was (100 +/- 16)% (bambuterol) and (101 +/- 13)% (terbutaline). CONCLUSION: The results demonstrated that the two preparations of bambuterol and terbutaline were bioequivalent by analysis of variance, with two-one sided test at 90% confidential level.