Quantitative analysis of site-specific N-glycans on sera haptoglobin βchain in liver diseases

The site-specific characterization of N-glycans in glycopro- teins with the potential of clinical application is important. In our previous report, the overall N-glycans of sera haptoglobin （Hp） β chain were found to be different in liver diseases. Hp β chain contains four potential sites of N-glycosylation. In this study, we investigated the potential change of N-glycans on Hp β chain in a site-specific fashion. Sera Hp β chain in healthy individuals as well as patients with hepatitis B virus （HBV）, liver cirrhosis （LC） and hepatocellular carcinoma （HCC） were purified, digested and subjected to liquid chromatography-electro- spray ionization-higher energy collision dissociation mass spectrometry, which allowed identification and structure determination of the glycopeptide, as well as the relative quantification of glycans present on each glycopeptide. The quantitative results revealed that the sialylation of NLFLN207HSEN211 ATAK and the fucosylated structure at all glycopeptides increased significantly in LC and HCC patients compared with those in HBV patients and healthy individuals. A set of different N-glycan patterns of Hp β chain in various liver diseases has been determined. Thus, the sialylated and fucosylated glycoforms of Hp β chain might be related to early hepatocarcinogenesis and also might be useful as novel differential markers for LC and HCC patients.     

单气囊小肠镜在诊断胶囊内镜检查阴性的可疑小肠疾病患者中的应用价值

目的：探讨单气囊小肠镜（single-balloonenteroscop,SBE）在胶囊内镜检查阴性的可疑小肠疾病患者中的应用价值。方法：选取在我院行胶囊内镜检查无异常发现,后行单气囊小肠镜检查的可疑小肠疾病患者24例,分析后者对胶囊内镜检查阴性可疑小肠疾病患者的阳性发现率和病因的分布特点。结果：24例行SBE检查者有22例（91．7％）获得成功,2例失败,10例被检出阳性病变,其中间质瘤5例,小肠息肉2例,过敏性紫癜1例,血管畸形2例,SBE对胶囊内镜检查阴性的患者小肠疾病的再检出率为41．7％。结论：胶囊内镜和SBE在小肠疾病的诊断上有着各自的优缺点,对于胶囊内镜检查阴性的可疑小肠疾病患者进一步行SBE检查有助于确诊。     

不同剂量丹参注射液联合泼尼松龙治疗口腔粘膜下纤维性变的临床研究

目的：探讨采用不同剂量的丹参注射液联合波尼松龙治疗口腔粘膜下纤维性病的治疗效果,为今后的治疗提供更多的依据。方法：选择从2010年1月至2013年1月期间在我院口腔科治疗的100例口腔粘膜下纤维性病患者,根据门诊号,随机将患者分为低剂量组、次低剂量组、中剂量组、高剂量组和对照组,每组各20例,低剂量组、次低剂量组、中剂量组、高剂量组,分别使用不同剂量丹参注射液联合波尼松龙治疗,对照组单纯使用波尼松龙治疗,观察治疗一个疗程后患者口腔粘膜情况及张口度。结果：中剂量组和高剂量组情况改善要明显好于低剂量、次低剂量组、对照组,差异具有显著性（P〈0．05）。结论：丹参注射液联合泼尼松龙治疗口腔粘膜下纤维性病疗效令人满意,其中低剂量丹参注射液便有效果,一定范围内剂量越高,疗效越好,值得在临床推f,     

1991-2010年宁夏水稻病虫害发生特征与经济损失分析

水稻病虫害发生种类繁多、暴发频繁,是威胁宁夏水稻稳产、高产的重要因素,但对其变化趋势与实际危害损失不清楚.基于宁夏水稻统计数据、稻田覆盖类型遥感数据和水稻产量数据,分析1991年至2010年宁夏水稻病虫害发生特征与经济损失情况.结果表明:1991年到2010年期间,宁夏水稻病害、虫害年均发生面积分别为5.3万hm2和2.0万hm2,其年均防治面积分别为8.4万hm2和1.6万hm2;水稻病害的发生程度下降了23.10％,防治程度上升了77.30％.20年间宁夏水稻虫害的发生面积、发生程度、防治面积和防治程度均显著增加.防治水稻病害、虫害后,分别挽回稻谷为2.67万吨、0.28万吨,其挽回损失量在20年期间分别增加了55.15％、2775.0％,表明水稻病虫害防治意义重大.由于气候变化等诸多因子,导致1991年到2010年宁夏水稻病害、虫害年均造成的实际稻谷损失量分别为0.71万吨与0.13万吨,水稻病害实际损失量在0值附件波动、虫害呈现波动增加趋势,说明水稻病害防控效果好、虫害的防控还有提升的空间.从全区各市县分布来看,水稻病虫害主要分布在宁夏的银北地区.为有效地防止或减少病虫害对水稻产量的损失,应加强农田景观变化和气候变化等对水稻病虫害发生与灾变的风险评估和监测预警,开展区域性水稻病虫害综合治理研究,并建立相应的防控新对策与技术体系.     

Discovery and characterization of COVA322, a clinical-stage bispecific TNF/IL-17A inhibitor for the treatment of inflammatory diseases

Biologic treatment options such as tumor necrosis factor (TNF) inhibitors have revolutionized the treatment of inflammatory diseases, including rheumatoid arthritis. Recent data suggest, however, that full and long-lasting responses to TNF inhibitors are limited because of the activation of the pro-inflammatory T_H17/interleukin (IL)-17 pathway in patients. Therefore, dual TNF/IL-17A inhibition is an attractive avenue to achieve superior efficacy levels in such diseases. Based on the marketed anti-TNF antibody adalimumab, we generated the bispecific TNF/IL-17A-binding FynomAb COVA322. FynomAbs are fusion proteins of an antibody and a Fyn SH3-derived binding protein. COVA322 was characterized in detail and showed a remarkable ability to inhibit TNF and IL-17A in vitro and in vivo. Through its unique mode-of-action of inhibiting simultaneously TNF and the IL-17A homodimer, COVA322 represents a promising drug candidate for the treatment of inflammatory diseases. COVA322 is currently being tested in a Phase 1b/2a study in psoriasis (ClinicalTrials.gov Identifier: NCT02243787).     

Effect of EGCG On Fe(III)‐induced conformational transition of silk fibroin,a model of protein related to neurodegenerative diseases

The abnormal aggregation of amyloid proteins is reported to play a critical role in the etiology of neurodegenerative disorders. Studies have shown that excessive ferric irons are associated with the misfolding of amyloid proteins, and that (‐)‐epigallocatechin gallate (EGCG) is a good metallic ion chelator with inhibitory effect on the aggregation of amyloid proteins. EGCG has been thus considered as a potential drug candidate for the treatment of neurodegenerative diseases. However, the mechanism of action for EGCG in inhibition of aggregation of amyloid proteins is still remaining unclear. Silk fibroin (SF) shares similarities with amyloid proteins in some amino acid sequences and fibrillation kinetics. In this work, therefore, we used SF as a model of protein to investigate the effects of Fe(III) and EGCG on conformational transition by using turbidity assay, thioflavin T (ThT) fluorescence spectroscopy, Raman spectroscopy, and atomic force microscope (AFM). We demonstrated that low concentration of Fe(III) ions promoted the formation of β‐sheet conformers, while high concentration of Fe(III) ions inhibited further aggregation of SF. EGCG could significantly inhibit the conformational transition of SF when induced by Fe(III), and decrease the amount of β‐sheet conformers dose‐dependently. The findings provide important information regarding to EGCG as a potential agent for the prevention and treatment of neurodegenerative diseases. Fe(III) can accelerate the conformation transition of silk fibrion (SF) from random coil into β‐sheet, while (‐)‐epigallocatechin gallate (EGCG) inhibits Fe(III)‐induced β‐sheet aggregation of SF., 2016. © 2015 Wiley Periodicals, Inc. Biopolymers 105: 100–107, 2016     

Crossing the threshold: an amphibian assemblage highly infected with Batrachochytrium dendrobatidis in the southern Brazilian Atlantic forest

The fungal infection caused by Batrachochytrium dendrobatidis (Bd) in amphibians is known to be lethal when infection intensity values exceed loads of 10,000 zoospores per individual. We investigated Bd infection intensity in 100 anurans of southern Brazil. Almost half of the individuals were infected and the intensity ranged from four to about 156,000 zoospore genomic equivalents. We found no clinical signs of chytridiomycosis and no evidence of mortality. However, we observed a reduction in the number of infected individuals with loads above 10,000 zoospores. This fact could be considered indirect evidence that individuals with high loads are removed from the population.     

The macroecology of infectious diseases: a new perspective on global‐scale drivers of pathogen distributions and impacts

Identifying drivers of infectious disease patterns and impacts at the broadest scales of organisation is one of the most crucial challenges for modern science, yet answers to many fundamental questions remain elusive. These include what factors commonly facilitate transmission of pathogens to novel host species, what drives variation in immune investment among host species, and more generally what drives global patterns of parasite diversity and distribution? Here we consider how the perspectives and tools of macroecology, a field that investigates patterns and processes at broad spatial, temporal and taxonomic scales, are expanding scientific understanding of global infectious disease ecology. In particular, emerging approaches are providing new insights about scaling properties across all living taxa, and new strategies for mapping pathogen biodiversity and infection risk. Ultimately, macroecology is establishing a framework to more accurately predict global patterns of infectious disease distribution and emergence.     

Effects of temperature on the development,performance and fitness of the corn leafhopper Dalbulus maidis (DeLong) (Hemiptera: Cicadellidae): implications on its distribution under climate change

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Cold chain and virus‐free chloroplast‐made booster vaccine to confer immunity against different poliovirus serotypes

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