跟骨强度指数与影响因素相关性分析

目的：探讨跟骨强度指数与其影响因素的相关性。方法：共入选1024例体检人员。（1）通过Achilles定量超声（QUS）系统测量左跟骨强度指数;（2）使用RGC-120型体重秤测量身高、体重并计算体重指数;（3）通过问卷调查收集体检人员年龄、膳食、运动、吸烟、饮酒等影响因素的相关资料;（4）将各影响因素与跟骨强度指数进行相关分析和多元逐步回归分析。结果：（1）直线相关分析结果显示,跟骨强度指数与身高、体重、体重指数、饮用牛奶年数、运动年数呈正相关（;2）多因素逐步回归分析显示,跟骨强度指数仅与体重指数、运动年数具有显著的回归效果。结论：体重指数与运动年数是跟骨强度指数的独立影响因素,对骨质疏松的诊断与预防具有重要的意义。     

依达拉奉治疗急性脑出血的临床疗效及对血浆MMP-9水平的影响

目的：观察依达拉奉治疗急性脑出血的临床疗效和对血浆基质金属蛋白酶-9（MMP-9）水平的影响。方法：60例急性脑出血患者随机分为治疗组和对照组各30例。对照组给予常规治疗,治疗组在对照组治疗基础上加用依达拉奉,并在治疗后24h内和14d进行神经功能缺损评分及血浆MMP-9水平测定。结果：治疗组神经功能缺损评分、血浆MMP-9水平较对照组降低（P〈0.05、P〈0.01）。结论：依达拉奉可改善急性脑出血患者神经功能,可能与降低MMP-9水平有关。     

应用两种方法诱导SH-SY5Y细胞分化的研究

目的：观察全反式维甲酸（ATRA）处理和ATRA与十四烷酰佛波醇乙酸酯（TPA）序贯处理（ATRA/TPA）对人类神经母细胞瘤细胞系SH-SY5Y细胞增殖抑制和形态分化的影响。方法：应用10μM ATRA处理6天和10μM ATRA处理3天继以80 nMTPA处理3天这两种方法使SH-SY5Y细胞分化;用倒置光学显微镜动态观察SH-SY5Y细胞形态学变化;并用MTT比色法比较两种分化方法对SH-SY5Y细胞的体外抗增殖作用。结果：ATRA处理和ATRA与TPA序贯处理对SH-SY5Y细胞都有抗增值和诱导细胞分化作用,细胞形态发生明显的变化,分化成神经元表型,前者主要表现为两端带有长突起的纺锤体样细胞形态,而后者主要是由细胞体延伸出多个突起的多边形的细胞。ATRA分化6天的细胞的存活率下降为78.7%±2.0%。当去除ATRA后,继续培养1天的细胞存活率上升为89%±0.2%,而继续培养2天的细胞存活率为86.3%±1.4%;ATRA与TPA序贯分化6天细胞存活率下降为75.9±0.4%。当去除TPA后,继续培养一天的细胞存活率为75.5±0.7%,继续培养2天的细胞存活率为74.9±1.0%。结论：维甲酸（ATRA）处理和ATRA与十四烷酰佛波醇乙酸酯（TPA）序贯处理（ATRA/TPA）均能明显诱导SH-SY5Y细胞分化。这两种分化细胞为神经科学的研究提供了优良的体外培养模型细胞,尤其是ATRA与TPA序贯处理能获得分化完全而稳定的神经元样细胞。     

真菌HSP30的研究概况

热休克蛋白30是小分子热休克蛋白(small heat shock proteins,sHSPs)中的一种,也是真菌中研究最广泛的小分子热休克蛋白。多种真菌编码热休克蛋白的基因序列已经被克隆和检测,HSP30的研究主要集中在应激水平下的表达和转录水平的调控,HSP30在应激反应中的合成机制仍不是很清楚,综述了它的研究概况以及应用前景。     

尿样在SELDI技术中的优化研究

目的：建立表面增强激光解吸离子化飞行时间质谱（SELDI．TOF／MS）技术检测尿液样本的方法。方法：采用SELDI技术及弱阳离子交换表面蛋白芯片（CM10）对糖尿病病例组和正常对照组的尿液样本进行分析,从尿液标本的采集、样品保存、上样浓度的控制、实验仪器的内外校准、实验结果重复性验证与分析等方面进行实验条件的优化。结果：反复冻融3次以上的样品经SELDI检测的出峰数量和峰强度情况较差;以1：1或1：2的浓度作倍比稀释后的样本经芯片检测得到的蛋白峰强度和蛋白数量最优;对两组样本重复检测3次,蛋白丰度的平均变异系数（CV值）分别为0．121和0．095;两组样本共检测到202个蛋白峰,其中差异表达蛋白29个,在肝纤维化组中表达上调13个,表达下调16个。结论：初步建立了SELDI技术检测尿液样本的方法,提高了SELDI技术检测尿液样本的质量。     

Prevalence and predictors of vitamin D insufficiency in children: a Great Britain population based study

ObjectivesTo evaluate the prevalence and predictors of vitamin D insufficiency (VDI) in children In Great Britain.DesignA nationally representative cross-sectional study survey of children (1102) aged 4–18 years (999 white, 570 male) living in private households (January 1997–1998). Interventions provided information about dietary habits, physical activity, socio-demographics, and blood sample. Outcome measures were vitamin D insufficiency (<50 nmol/L).ResultsVitamin D levels (mean = 62.1 nmol/L, 95%CI 60.4–63.7) were insufficient in 35%, and decreased with age in both sexes (p<0.001). Young People living between 53–59 degrees latitude had lower levels (compared with 50–53 degrees, p = 0.045). Dietary intake and gender had no effect on vitamin D status. A logistic regression model showed increased risk of VDI in the following: adolescents (14–18 years old), odds ratio (OR) = 3.6 (95%CI 1.8–7.2) compared with younger children (4–8 years); non white children (OR = 37 [95%CI 15–90]); blood levels taken December-May (OR = 6.5 [95%CI 4.3–10.1]); on income support (OR = 2.2 [95%CI 1.3–3.9]); not taking vitamin D supplementation (OR = 3.7 [95%CI 1.4–9.8]); being overweight (OR 1.6 [95%CI 1.0–2.5]); <1/2 hour outdoor exercise/day/week (OR = 1.5 [95%CI 1.0–2.3]); watched >2.5 hours of TV/day/week (OR = 1.6[95%CI 1.0–2.4]).ConclusionWe confirm a previously under-recognised risk of VDI in adolescents. The marked higher risk for VDI in non-white children suggests they should be targeted in any preventative strategies. The association of higher risk of VDI among children who exercised less outdoors, watched more TV and were overweight highlights potentially modifiable risk factors. Clearer guidelines and an increased awareness especially in adolescents are needed, as there are no recommendations for vitamin D supplementation in older children.     

Molecular cloning of two novel stearoyl-acyl desaturase genes from winterness wheat

Using RT-PCR and rapid amplification of cDNA ends, two new full-length cDNAs of SAD (TaSAD1 and TaSAD2) were obtained from a hardiest winter wheat cultivar (Mironovskaya808). Sequence comparison analysis showed that the deduced amino acid sequences of TaSAD1 and TaSAD2 had high similarity to those of other reported SAD proteins. They were also different each other by some substitutions, insertions and/or deletions involving single amino acid residues or motifs. Based on evolution analysis, it was clear that all SAD genes from Poaceae were closer than those from other genus such as Arabidopsis, Glycine, Triadica, Brassica, Sesamum and Bassia. All SAD genes clustered into two major groups in Poaceae. Meanwhile, TaSAD1 and TaSAD2 were clustered into different groups. The tertiary structure prediction indicated that both TaSAD1 and TaSAD2 proteins were a compact globular protein and their model structures almost were the same.     

An alternate STAT6-independent pathway promotes eosinophil influx into blood during allergic airway inflammation

Background

Enhanced eosinophil responses have critical roles in the development of allergic diseases. IL-5 regulates the maturation, migration and survival of eosinophils, and IL-5 and eotaxins mediate the trafficking and activation of eosinophils in inflamed tissues. CD4⁺ Th2 cells are the main producers of IL-5 and other cells such as NK also release this cytokine. Although multiple signalling pathways may be involved, STAT6 critically regulates the differentiation and cytokine production of Th2 cells and the expression of eotaxins. Nevertheless, the mechanisms that mediate different parts of the eosinophilic inflammatory process in different tissues in allergic airway diseases remain unclear. Furthermore, the mechanisms at play may vary depending on the context of inflammation and microenvironment of the involved tissues.

Methodology/Principal Findings

We employed a model of allergic airway disease in wild type and STAT6-deficient mice to explore the roles of STAT6 and IL-5 in the development of eosinophilic inflammation in this context. Quantitative PCR and ELISA were used to examine IL-5, eotaxins levels in serum and lungs. Eosinophils in lung, peripheral blood and bone marrow were characterized by morphological properties. CD4⁺ T cell and NK cells were identified by flow cytometry. Antibodies were used to deplete CD4⁺ and NK cells. We showed that STAT6 is indispensible for eosinophilic lung inflammation and the induction of eotaxin-1 and -2 during allergic airway inflammation. In the absence of these chemokines eosinophils are not attracted into lung and accumulate in peripheral blood. We also demonstrate the existence of an alternate STAT6-independent pathway of IL-5 production by CD4⁺ and NK cells that mediates the development of eosinophils in bone marrow and their subsequent movement into the circulation.

Conclusions

These results suggest that different points of eosinophilic inflammatory processes in allergic airway disease may be differentially regulated by the activation of STAT6-dependent and -independent pathways.     

Antibody dynamics of 2009 influenza A (H1N1) virus in infected patients and vaccinated people in China

Background

To evaluate the risk of the recurrence and the efficiency of the vaccination, we followed-up antibody responses in patients with the 2009 pandemic H1N1 influenza and persons who received the pandemic H1N1 vaccine in Guangzhou China.

Methods

We collected serum samples from 129 patients and 86 vaccinated persons at day 0, 15, 30, 180 after the disease onset or the vaccination, respectively. Antibody titers in these serum samples were determined by haemagglutination inhibition (HI) assay using a local isolated virus strain A/Guangdong Liwan/SWL1538/2009(H1N1).

Results

HI antibody positive rate of the patients increased significantly from 0% to 60% at day 15 (χ² = 78, P<0.001) and 100% at day 30 (χ² = 23, P<0.001), but decreased significantly to 52% at day 180 (χ² = 38, P<0.001), while that of vaccinated subjects increased from 0% to 78% at day 15 (χ² = 110, P<0.001) and 81% at day 30 (χ² = 0.32, P = 0.57), but decreased significantly to 34% at day 180 (χ² = 39, P<0.001). Geometric mean titers (GMT) of HI antibodies in positive samples from the patients did not change significantly between day 15 and day 30 (T = 0.92, P = 0.36), but it decreased significantly from 80 at day 30 to 52 at day 180 (T = 4.5, P<0.001). GMT of vaccinated persons increased significantly from 100 at day 15 to 193 at day 30 (T = 4.5, P<0.001), but deceased significantly to 74 at day 180 (T = 5.1, P<0.001). Compared to the patients, the vaccinated subjects showed lower seroconversion rate (χ² = 11, P<0.001; χ² = 5.9, P = 0.015), but higher GMT (T = 6.0, P<0.001; T = 3.6, P = 0.001) at day 30 and day 180, respectively.

Conclusion

Vaccination of 2009 influenza A (H1N1) was effective. However, about half or more recovered patients and vaccinated persons might have lost sufficient immunity against the recurrence of the viral infection after half a year. Vaccination or re-vaccination may be necessary for prevention of the recurrence.