Quantitative HIV-1 proviral DNA detection: a multicentre analysis

Despite the widespread use of molecular biology techniques, standardized methods for the measurement of HIV-1 proviral DNA are currently lacking and several discordant results are still present in different studies. To assess the clinical meaning of the proviral DNA load, a study group comprising seven different laboratories was set up to standardize a HIV-1 proviral DNA quantification method able to assess the DNA proviral load of the most relevant circulating HIV-1 subtypes. Reference samples (24 cellular samples infected with HIV-1 clade B, and 40 samples of peripheral blood mononuclear cells containing different concentrations of plasmids expressing different HIV-1 clades) were distributed and tested blindly. All laboratories employed hTERT gene as housekeeping gene and primers within the gag gene to quantify different HIV-1 clades. Inter-laboratory results did not differ statistically but showed only minor variations concerning HIV-1 DNA amounts and different HIV clades, with a good agreement among the laboratories participating in the study. Since test standardization represents a key step for future application in clinical practice, further studies of the patients' samples are in progress to establish the real meaning and utility of the proviral DNA load for clinical management of HIV-1 infected patients.     

胃肠道间质瘤临床诊治-附46例临床分析

目的:探讨胃肠间质瘤(Gastrointestinal Stromal Tumor,GIST)的临床特点及诊断及治疗方法。方法:回顾性分析我院1997-2009年收治的46例有完整病历资料的GIST病例,以探讨GIST的主要发生部位、临床表现、诊断和治疗方法。结果:GIST主要发生在胃(60.87%)和小肠(26.09%);主要表现为消化道出血(71.74%),腹痛不适(19.57%),腹部包块(15.22%)等;诊断首选B超(阳性率45.65%)、CT(阳性率100%)和内窥镜检查(阳性率81.09%)。本组手术45例,根治性切除40例,姑息性切除3例,术中活检1例,局部切除1例,1例放弃治疗。所有病例均经病理证实。随访42例,复发死亡11例,带瘤生存8例,无瘤生存21例,3例术后口服格列卫(甲磺伊马替尼,ST1571)的病人已生存8月、14月、18月。结论:目前GIST的治疗仍以手术治疗为主,分子靶向制剂的应用显示了一定的治疗效果。     

三峡大坝下游残存疏花水柏枝种群结构和动态

在三峡大坝下游的湖北宜都关洲设立1个40 m×40 m的固定样地,利用高度分级,比较2008与2009年两年间的疏花水柏枝（Myricaria laxiflora）种群数量动态,并运用点格局的Ripley＇s K函数分析了其空间格局变化及种群更新特征。结果表明,疏花水柏枝幼苗数量较少,种群更新存在一些障碍。空间分布格局与空间尺度及植株的大小密切相关。种群总体呈集群分布,各大小级多在9 m时出现最大的聚集强度,随着大小级的增加,聚集强度有减弱的趋势。幼苗与中株有较强的正关联。由于种群现有生境变化较大,应考虑迁地保护,并对原生种群加强长期动态监测;同时,开展疏花水柏枝适应机理研究,实施科学保护。     

Genetic analysis of fluvastatin response and dyslipidemia in renal transplant recipients

The Assessment of Lescol in Renal Transplantation clinical trial demonstrated the efficacy of fluvastatin in reducing cardiovascular (CV) disease in renal transplant recipients. The study included a voluntary pharmacogenetic component, enrolling 1,404 patients, which allowed association testing of baseline measures and longitudinal analysis of the 707 fluvastatin-treated and 697 placebo-treated individuals. A candidate gene approach, examining 42 polymorphisms in 18 genes, was used to test for association between selected polymorphisms and major adverse cardiac events, graft failure, change in LDL and HDL cholesterol, and baseline LDL and HDL cholesterol. Reported associations between cholesteryl ester transfer protein (CETP) and baseline HDL cholesterol were replicated, with four previously implicated single nucleotide polymorphisms significantly associated in males and one in females; tests of reported associations between CETP and CV disease yielded varying results. We found no evidence for genetic factors affecting fluvastatin response. Polymorphisms in 3-hydroxy-3-methylglutaryl-coenzyme A reductase (HMGCR) previously reported to affect the efficacy of pravastatin did not show a similar effect on the reduction of LDL cholesterol by fluvastatin.     

Admixture mapping of an allele affecting interleukin 6 soluble receptor and interleukin 6 levels

Circulating levels of inflammatory markers can predict cardiovascular disease risk. To identify genes influencing the levels of these markers, we genotyped 1,343 single-nucleotide polymorphisms (SNPs) in 1,184 African Americans from the Health, Aging and Body Composition (Health ABC) Study. Using admixture mapping, we found a significant association of interleukin 6 soluble receptor (IL-6 SR) with European ancestry on chromosome 1 (LOD 4.59), in a region that includes the gene for this receptor (IL-6R). Genotyping 19 SNPs showed that the effect is largely explained by an allele at 4% frequency in West Africans and at 35% frequency in European Americans, first described as associated with IL-6 SR in a Japanese cohort. We replicate this association (P<1.0x10-12) and also demonstrate a new association with circulating levels of a different molecule, IL-6 (P<3.4x10-5). After replication in 1,674 European Americans from Health ABC, the combined result is even more significant: P<1.0x10-12 for IL-6 SR, and P<2.0x10-9 for IL-6. These results also serve as an important proof of principle, showing that admixture mapping can not only coarsely localize but can also fine map a phenotypically important variant.     

Production and Characterization of Monoclonal Antibodies of Shrimp White Spot Syndrome Virus Envelope Protein VP28

BALB/c mice were immunized with purified White spot syndrome virus (WSSV). Six monoclonal antibody cell lines were selected by ELISA with VP28 protein expressed in E. coli. in vitro neutralization experiments showed that 4 of them could inhibit the virus infection in crayfish. Western-blot suggested that all these monoclonal antibodies were against the conformational structure of VP28. The monoclonal antibody 7B4 was labeled with colloidal gold particles and used to locate the VP28 on virus envelope by immunogold labeling. These monoclonal antibodies could be used to develop immun-ological diagnosis methods for WSSV infection.     

Complete Genomic Sequence Analysis of a New SV40 Isolate

The genome of a new SV40 strain (SV-IMB) isolated from a rhesus monkey was completely sequenced and compared with other isolates. The results showed that the whole genome contains 5246bp, and the average identity of SV-IMB was 98.1% as compared to other SV40 isolates. Its regulatory region is composed of a complete enhancer and a defective enhancer. Amino acid changes occurred to some extent in both the large T antigen (T-Ag) and VP1 region. The findings demonstrate that the SV-IMB is a new SV40 isolate.     

Recent Advances in Biological Control of Pest Insects by Using Viruses in China

Insect viruses are attractive as biological control agents and could be a feasible alternative to chemical insecticides in the management of insect infestations. This review describes recent advances in the development of wild-type and genetically modified viruses as insecticides. A new strategy of application of insect viruses in China is reviewed. Also, the assessment of biosafety of genetically modified Helicoverpa armigera Nucleopolyhedovirus (HearNPV) is emphasized as a case-study.     

黄河下游平原不同非农生境中植物多样性

自然、半自然等非农生境是区域农业景观的重要组成部分,对区域生物多样性保护具有重要意义。黄河下游平原区是典型的农业景观,农田是最主要的景观类型,林地、树篱等景观要素散布其中,为研究区内非农生境中生物多样性及其生态效应,采用典型样地法对区内典型农业景观中林地、树篱、田间道路和沟渠等主要非农生境中的植物群落进行调查研究。结果显示:区内植物组成以菊科、禾本科等为主;区内植物科的地理成分以世界分布和泛热带分布为主,各生境间有一定的差异,属的地理成分复杂,具有中国15个种子植物属分布型中的13个,以温带分布、世界分布和泛热带分布为主,总体上区内的植物组成以广布种为主,优势科属明显,特有种缺乏;各非农生境中的植物多样性存在一定的差异,林地和树篱生境具有较高的物种丰富度和多样性,显著高于田间道路,沟渠、林地和树篱生境中的物种均匀度和群落盖度均显著高于田间道路;β多样性分析表明田间道路生境中的群落组成分化程度在各样点间最大(β多样性指数最高);树篱、林地和田间道路等生境间群落相似性均较高,但其群落结构和优势种组成方面却存在显著的差异,沟渠作为一种特殊生境与其它生境间的群落相似性相对较低。研究表明,在黄河下游平原典型农业景观中,作为非农生境存在的林地和树篱在物种多样性维持中具有重要地位,沟渠为水生和湿生植物提供了庇护所,意义重大;各生境间高的群落相似性仅是物种组成名录相似性的反映,其空间格局和优势种群间差异明显,各生境植物群落的生态功能差异巨大。未来区内生物多样性的保护应重在生态系统过程、功能的加强以及生态系统服务的维持和提高,且需进一步在景观水平上探讨各非农景观要素的空间构型对其生态效益的影响机制及其调控和管理策略。     

肉毒毒素在肿瘤治疗和辅助治疗领域的研究进展

肉毒毒素是肉毒梭状芽胞杆菌生长繁殖过程中产生的一种细菌外毒素。它可以通过抑制相关神经递质的释放而抑制神经的生理作用,目前临床适应症涉及神经内科、整形外科、康复科、泌尿科等多领域。最新研究发现,肉毒毒素作为毒蕈碱受体拮抗剂可抑制迷走神经释放乙酰胆碱,从而抑制胃癌的发生与发展。同时发现肉毒毒素可通过阻断去甲肾上腺素等神经递质的释放引起神经性的血管舒张,从而打开肿瘤神经血管网来改善肿瘤的放射和化学治疗的疗效。现就其在肿瘤治疗及其辅助治疗相关领域的研究现状进行了综述。