Non‐Parametric Ecological Regression and Spatial Variation

Ecological studies aim to analyse the variation of disease risk in relation to exposure variables that are measured at an area unit level. In practice it is rarely possible to use the exposure variables themselves, either because the corresponding data are not available or because the causes of the disease are not fully understood. It is therefore quite common to use crude proxies of the real exposure to the disease in question. These proxies are rarely able to explain the disease variation and hence additional area level random effects are introduced to account for the residual variation. In this paper we investigate the possibility to model the effect of ecological covariates non‐parametrically, with and without additional random effects for the residual spatial variation. We illustrate the issues arising through analyses of simulated and real data on larynx cancer mortality in Germany, during the years of 1986 to 1990, where we use the corresponding lung cancer rates as a proxy for smoking consumption.     

Analysis of correlated series of repeated measurements: application to challenge data

Data from an ACTH challenge experiment with veal calves, two short time series of cortisol measurements per animal at 6 and 27 weeks of age, are analysed. Interest is focussed on variation in cortisol profiles both within and between animals. Potential effects of an animals diet and housing system on the profiles are addressed as well. Fully parametric and semi‐parametric models, combining individual random effects with effects of diet and housing, were fitted using (approximate) restricted maximum likelihood (employing Laplacian integration). Eigenfunctions were utilized to describe the variation between profiles and the connection between profiles of the same individual. All calculations were performed with standard software. Results of the analysis provides empirical support for the existence of stable individual characteristics mediating reactivity of the adrenal cortex.     

Fibrin clots keep non-adhering living cells in place on glass for perfusion or fixation

We describe a method to hold living cells in place that ordinarily do not adhere to glass coverslips. The method, developed for insect spermatocytes but with application to other cell types, consists of embedding cells in a fibrin clot that forms after the enzyme thrombin cleaves the blood protein fibrinogen. The method permits continuous observation of living cells as they are treated with and recover from drug or other treatments: when held in the clot the living cells remain in place and keep their shapes when perfused with drugs that ordinarily cause drastic shape changes, and they remain in place and keep their shapes through lysis/fixation procedures. We describe how to place live cells in a fibrin clot and how subsequently to perfuse them.     

国产避孕疫苗研究现状和前景

国产第１代避孕疫苗已经研制成功。疫苗构建是采用妊娠特异性强、妊娠期短暂出现的糖蛋白激素－－人类绒毛膜促性腺激素（ｈｕｍａｎ ｃｈｏｒｉｏｎｉｃ ｇｏｎａｄｏｔｒｏｐｉｃ ｈｏｒｍｏｎｅ,ｈＣＧ）为靶抗原,应用蛋白质工程技术研制的。抗原不但保留了ｈＣＧ的生物活性,而且不与垂体的其他３种激素交叉,并克服了“自身免疫耐受性”,使免疫系统对它作为“非自身”而产生抗体反应。以此构建的第１代避孕疫苗原型,经临     

具有蛋白酶及解旋酶活性的HCV-NS3重组蛋白的纯化及活性分析

为深入探讨HCV-NS3蛋白的酶动力学性质,制备了具有蛋白酶及解旋酶活性的HCV NS3重组蛋白.利用PCR扩增HCV非结构基因NS3,插入pPIC9,测序分析.携带NS3基因的重组质粒(pPIC9-NS3)转化毕氏酵母菌菌株GS115,甲醇诱导表达NS3蛋白.重组蛋白首先采用Hitrap chelating柱进行亲和分离,之后使用Mono S HR柱进一步纯化.对纯化后的NS3重组蛋白的酶活性进行分析,结果表明,获得的重组蛋白分别具有蛋白酶及解旋酶活性.本研究为深入探讨NS3编码酶的功能和开发抗病毒药物创造条件.     

Nanoparticle uptake by macrophages in vulnerable plaques for atherosclerosis diagnosis

The composition of atherosclerotic (AS) plaques is crucial concerning rupture, thrombosis and clinical events. Two plaque types are distinguished: stable and vulnerable plaques. Vulnerable plaques are rich in inflammatory cells, mostly only M1 macrophages, and are highly susceptible to rupture. These plaques represent a high risk particularly with the standard invasive diagnosis by coronary angiography. So far there are no non‐invasive low‐risk clinical approaches available to detect and distinguish AS plaque types in vivo. The perspective review introduces a whole work‐flow for a novel approach for non‐invasive detection and classification of AS plaques using the diffusion reflection method with gold nanoparticle loaded macrophages in combination with flow and image cytometric analysis for quality assurance. Classical biophotonic methods for AS diagnosis are summarized. Phenotyping of monocytes and macrophages are discussed for specific subset labelling by nanomaterials, as well as existing studies and first experimental proofs of concept for the novel approach are shown.

In vitro and in vivo detection of NP loaded macrophages (MΦ). Different ways of MΦ labelling include (1) in vitro labelling in suspension (whole blood or buffy coat) or (2) labelling of short‐term MΦ cultures with re‐injection of MΦ‐NP into the animal to detect migration of the cells in the plaques and (3) in vivo injection of NP into the organism.     

非静脉曲张上消化道出血不同剂量奥美拉唑治疗的疗效比较

目的:比较不同剂量奥美拉唑治疗非静脉曲张上消化道出血的疗效。方法:选取2012年1月至2013年8月已被收治的符合标准的病例共256例非静脉曲张上消化道出血患者随机按知情同意原则分为治疗组(128例)和对照组(128例)两组,治疗组给予大剂量奥美拉唑治疗,对照组给予常规剂量奥美拉唑治疗,比较两组患者的临床疗效并记录分析两组患者治疗前后各观察指标有无统计学差异,并于治疗72小时后评估两组患者的胃内pH值及不良反应发生情况。结果:治疗组临床疗效优于对照组(P0.05),但是各指标改善情况、胃内Ph值及不良反应发生情况与对照组相近(P0.05)。结论:大剂量奥美拉唑治疗非静脉曲张上消化道出血有良好的临床疗效。     

Effect of Long-Term Exposure to a Randomly Varied 50 Hz Power Frequency Magnetic Field on the Fertility of the Mouse

A double blind study on BALB/c mice was conducted to examine the effects of extremely low-frequency electromagnetic fields on fertility. The mice were continuously exposed or sham-exposed from conception for two generations to magnetic fields varying between 0.5 and 77?μT. Biological parameters related to fertility were evaluated. Serum testosterone levels and mass of testes and adrenals were determined. No significant difference was found between the sham-exposed and exposed groups for all the biological endpoints, except for sperm motility. A significant difference between the two groups was found prior to the swim-up test with quantitative analysis of sperm motility as well as after the swim-up test for quantitative and qualitative analysis of sperm motility. ELF-EMFs significantly decreased the number of living sperm and the quality of movement of sperm, although these adversities did not impact on the outcome of the other parameters investigated.