Effect of anti-herpes specific transfer factor

Using a blood cell separator, lymphocytes were collected from otherwise healthy convalescents suffering from herpetic infections. A specific anti-herpes dialysate (AH-DLE) was prepared from the lymphocytes, using standard procedures. Patients with recurrent herpetic infections were treated with a single dose of the dialysate, at the initial signs of herpetic infection (group A), with two doses (group B) or with three doses (group C). A total number of 37 patients (29 women, 8 men, age range 15–73 years) were treated. No improvement was observed in 7 patients (18.9%), whilst 7 patients did not manifest any exacerbation of their herpetic infection in the course of the one-year follow-up. The remaining 62.2% of the patients showed a marked improvement: decrease of the frequency and/or duration or relapses. Before AH-DLE administration, the mean number of herpes relapses in this group of patients was 12 p.a.. After therapy, the number of relapses decreased to 3.5 p.a.. No statistically significant difference was observed between groups A and B. The least favourable results were registered in group C. However, this group included 6 female patients extremely resistant to the previously therapeutic attempts, including inosiplex, non-specific DLE or acyclovir. Thus, even in this group, the therapy was successful in 50% of the patients.     

单纯疱疹病毒通用及Ⅱ型特异性DNA探针的制备及应用研究

单纯疱疹病毒（ＨＳＶ）Ⅰ型及Ⅱ型之间有很多共同抗原,能引起血清学交叉反应,鉴别诊断比较困难。本实验利用重组ＤＮＡ技术,将部分ＨＳＶ－２ＤＮＡ的ＰｓｔＩ片段克隆到载体质粒ＰＳＫ中,并筛选出两个重组质粒（Ｐ和Ｐ）只与ＨＳＶ－２反应,与ＨＳＶ－１不反应,这两个重组质粒中所含的ＨＳＶ－２ＤＮＡ片段大小分别是３．１和４．３ｋｂ,另外,还筛选了一个重组质粒（ＰＨＳＶ２－１,含５．８ｋｂＨＳＶ－２ＤＮＡ片段）与ＨＳＶ－１和ＨＳＶ－２均反应。将４．３ｋｂ的片段用光生物素标记后作为探针检测了１５９份人阴道拭子,其中２３份样品呈阳性反应,其余均为阴性,从２３份阳性样品中挑选１２价涂片用间接荧光抗体法检测也都呈阳性反应,随机挑选的几份杂交反应阴性样品在间接荧光试验中也是阴性。本实验制备的ＨＳＶ通用及ＨＳＶ－２型特异性探针将比常规的血清学方法诊断和鉴别ＨＳＶ－１和ＨＳＶ－２感染更为可靠。     

孕产妇生殖道单纯疱疹病毒感染垂直污染羊水的研究

用ＤＮＡ聚合酶链反应检测单纯疱疹病毒特异性核酸,调查１００名孕产妇生殖器官脂ＨＳＶ感染和羊水受ＨＳＶ污染的情况,结果表明：受感染的母体通过病毒护散途径及通过产道途径,污染羊水的机率分别为１１．１％和５４．５％;原发性ＨＳＶ、继发性ＨＳＶ垂直污染羊水机率分别为６６．７％和２９．４％;不同妊娠期和生育胎次对污染率无显著性影响。     

Thyroglobulin structure-function: the effect of iodination on the structure of human thyroglobulin

Thyroglobulin of very low iodine content has been prepared from a single non-toxic human goitre. The initial iodine content of the protein (0.038%) has been increased to levels of 0.16% and 0.85% by in vitro treatment with thyroid peroxidase and the resulting proteins studied with respect to their intrinsic fluorescence, circular dichroism spectra and binding of the hydrophobic probe 1,8-anilinonaphthalene sulfonic acid (ANS). While significant differences were observed between levels of iodination in both the ANS binding and intrinsic fluorescence of the thyroglobulin, no significant differences in the near and far UV circular dichroism spectra of the protein as a function of iodine content were observed. These data suggest that, the iodination of thyroglobulin effects specific areas of the protein without significant disruption of its overall secondary structure.     

Thymidine kinase activity in mouse embryo fibroblast cells infected with murine cytomegalovirus

Thymidine kinase activity was found in whole cell extracts of growing and stationary mouse embryo fibroblast cells after infection with murine cytomegalovirus. Determination of the kinetic constants and heat stability characteristics indicated that the enzyme activity from infected cells was different to that found in uninfected cells in the growth phase. The expression of thymidine kinase activity during virus replication was reflected by the incorporation of (6-³H) thymidine into acid precipitable fractions of infected cell cultures. Preliminary data from kinetic studies showed a reduction in the phosphorylation of thymidine by this enzyme activity in the presence of Acyclovir, a potent inhibitor of herpes virus replication.     

Biosynthesis and function of chondroitin sulfate

Background

Chondroitin sulfate proteoglycans (CSPGs) are principal pericellular and extracellular components that form regulatory milieu involving numerous biological and pathophysiological phenomena. Diverse functions of CSPGs can be mainly attributed to structural variability of their polysaccharide moieties, chondroitin sulfate glycosaminoglycans (CS-GAG). Comprehensive understanding of the regulatory mechanisms for CS biosynthesis and its catabolic processes is required in order to understand those functions.

Scope of review

Here, we focus on recent advances in the study of enzymatic regulatory pathways for CS biosynthesis including successive modification/degradation, distinct CS functions, and disease phenotypes that have been revealed by perturbation of the respective enzymes in vitro and in vivo.

Major conclusions

Fine-tuned machineries for CS production/degradation are crucial for the functional expression of CS chains in developmental and pathophysiological processes.

General significance

Control of enzymes responsible for CS biosynthesis/catabolism is a potential target for therapeutic intervention for the CS-associated disorders.