Decision analysis approach to risk/benefit evaluation in the ethical review of controlled human infection studies

Risks and benefit evaluation for controlled human infection studies, where healthy volunteers are deliberately exposed to infectious agents to evaluate vaccine efficacy, should be explicit, systematic, thorough, and non-arbitrary. Decision analysis promotes these qualities using four steps: (1) determining explicit criteria and measures for evaluation, (2) identifying alternatives to the study, (3) defining the models used to estimate the measures for each alternative, and (4) running the models to produce the estimates and compare the alternatives. In this paper, we describe how decision analysis might be applied by funders and regulators, as well as by others contemplating the use of novel controlled human infection studies for vaccine development and evaluation.     

New data on the range,biology, and abundance of skilfish Erilepis zonifer (Anoplopomatidae)

Data on the occurrence, spatial-bathymetric distribution, and size composition of skilfish Erilepis zonifer are given on the basis of the materials collected at the long-line catches on the Emperor Ridge seamounts. This fish is a large representative of fam. Anoplopomatidae (maximal length 188 cm; weight 88.5 kg). From June to July 2009, the species was found on all five sampled underwater mountains (Nintoku, Jingu, Ojin, Koko, Northern Koko). The fish was found within the depth range 370–1040 m. The initial biomass of skilfish at the studied seamounts calculated by the Leslie method is approximately 203.5 tons. The structure of the range and possible ways of the dispersion of this species in the waters of the continental slope of the North-Pacific rim are discussed.     

Fetal mouse selenophosphate synthetase 2 (SPS2): biological activities of mutant forms in Escherichia coli.

A novel gene, sps2, detected in mouse embryo at the early stages of development has been identified as an analog of the E. coli selenophosphate synthetase gene. Unlike the E. coli enzyme, the presence of selenocysteine in the mouse enzyme is indicated by a TGA codon in the open reading frame of the cDNA. Using an N-FLAG monoclonal antibody, it was shown that the full length N-FLAG-sps2 gene product was expressed in COS-7 cells. To investigate the biological activity of the sps2 gene product in vivo, the mutated sps2 gene, which contains cysteine in the place of the TGA encoded selenocysteine in the wild type, was expressed in the E. coli selD deficient mutant, MB08. Like the E. coli wild type selD gene, the mutant sps2 gene complemented the selD mutation. However, replacement of Cys with either Ala, Ser, or Thr resulted in a loss of ability to complement the selD mutation. The SPS2-CYS protein expressed in E. coli was purified and its catalytic activity was determined. The Km value for ATP was 0.75 mM and Vmax was 9.23 nmole/min/mg protein. These results confirm that the mouse embryonic sps2 gene encodes an eukaryotic selenophosphate synthetase, and that availability of selenophosphate as a selenium donor compound is widespread.     

大豆下胚轴可溶性蛋白中钙激活的蛋白激酶

大豆（Ｇｌｙｃｉｎｅ ｍ ａｘ Ｌ．） 下胚轴可溶性蛋白提取液进行自磷酸化，以ＳＤＳ－ＰＡＧＥ电泳分析其标记产物时发现，当有较高浓度的Ｃａ２＋ 存在于反应液中时，有一条１８ ｋＤ蛋白带被高强度标记，同时也可观察到另一条标记强度不高的６７ ｋＤ蛋白带． 当反应时间延长到１５ 或３０ｍ ｉｎ 时，它们的标记强度都逐渐减弱，最终从放射自显影底片上消失；在反应液中加入钙螯合剂ＥＧＴＡ 时，则只有６７ ｋＤ 被高强度标记；在磷酸化反应过程中加入非标记ＡＴＰ，蛋白中的３２Ｐ逐渐被非标记磷取代，表明反应体系处于磷酸化－脱磷酸化的平衡过程中，并有结果显示这一过程是钙依赖性的． 组蛋白Ｈ１ 可以使反应进程加快，表明提取液中的蛋白激酶可以利用它作为底物． 综合结果表明，１８ ｋＤ和６７ ｋＤ蛋白可能是具有自磷酸化能力且对Ｃａ２＋ 敏感的蛋白激酶，它们对Ｃａ２＋ 的不同反应，使得钙信号的传递更具可控性     

Extracellular vesicles in bone and tooth: A state-of-art paradigm in skeletal regeneration

Bone and tooth, fundamental parts of the craniofacial skeleton, are anatomically and developmentally interconnected structures. Notably, pathological processes in these tissues underwent together and progressed in multilevels. Extracellular vesicles (EVs) are cell-released small organelles and transfer proteins and genetic information into cells and tissues. Although EVs have been identified in bone and tooth, particularly EVs have been identified in the bone formation and resorption, the concrete roles of EVs in bone and tooth development and diseases remain elusive. As such, we review the recent progress of EVs in bone and tooth to highlight the novel findings of EVs in cellular communication, tissue homeostasis, and interventions. This will enhance our comprehension on the skeletal biology and shed new light on the modulation of skeletal disorders and the potential of genetic treatment.