Retracted: Impaired Th17 cell proliferation and decreased pro-inflammatory cytokine production in CXCR3/CXCR4 double-deficient mice of vulvovaginal candidiasis

Vulvovaginal candidiasis (VVC) is a common observed infection, affecting approximately 75% of women of reproductive age. Drug resistance represents a troublesome stumbling block associated with VVC therapy. Thus the aim of the present study was to provide information regarding the selection of potential drug targets for VVC. CXCR3-, CXCR4-, or CXCR/CXCR4 double-deficient mouse models of VVC were subsequently established, with changes to the load of Candida Albicans evaluated accordingly. The biological behaviors of the vaginal epithelial cells were characterized in response to the CXCR3-, CXCR4-, or CXCR3/CXCR4 double-knockout in vivo. Our initial observations revealed that in mice with VVC, CXCR3-, CXCR4-, or CXCR3 - CXCR4 double-knockout resulted in a decreased load of C. Albicans as well as reduced levels and proportion of Th17 cells. Proinflammatory cytokine production was found to be inhibited by CXCR3-, CXCR4-, or CXCR3/CXCR4 double-knockout whereby the mRNA and protein expressions CXCR3, CXCR4, IL-17, IL-6, and TNF-α exhibited decreased levels. CXCR3-, CXCR4-, or CXCR3/CXCR4 double-knockout appeared to function as positive proliferation factors, while playing a negative role in the processes of apoptosis and the cell cycle of vaginal epithelial cells. Taken together, the key findings of the study suggested that CXCR3/CXCR4 double-knockout could act to hinder the progression of VVC, highlighting its promise as a novel therapeutic target in the treatment of VVC. CXCR3 and CXCR4 genes may regulate Th17/IL-17 immune inflammatory pathways to participate in antifungal immunity.     

昆明山海棠在微核实验中非整倍体毒性的研究

本文报道以小鼠着丝粒次要卫星DNA探针FISH和抗着丝粒CREST染色,研究了可疑的非整倍体毒剂昆明山棠(THH)诱导的小鼠NIH3T3细胞微核(MN)的着丝粒组成情况,结果THH(10-60μg/ml)诱导的62.1-68.4%的MN为FISH阳性, 35.9-42.2%的MN为CREST阳性,较精确的FISH结果显示THH具有较强的非整倍体诱发效应,同时认为次要卫星DNA探针比CREST染色更适合于MN的着丝粒检测。     

干扰素诱导蛋白P56与糖皮质激素受体的相互作用及对其转录活性的影响

糖皮质激素受体（GR）在严重创伤早期及全身性炎症反应中具有重要作用,为寻找与GR相互作用的新的蛋白质,以期调节GR的功能活性,应用酵母双杂交技术,以糖皮质激素受体配体结合区（GR-LBD）为诱饵蛋白,在人骨髓cDNA文库中筛选到42个阳性克隆.测序结果表明,其中一个克隆为干扰素诱导蛋白P56的大部分编码序列（221～1 642 bp,编码第53位至第478位氨基酸）.利用酵母双杂交实验再次验证P56与GR具有结合作用.并用PCR方法从酵母质粒中扩增出P56片段,进行GST-P56原核融合蛋白表达与纯化,及真核表达与免疫共沉淀.蛋白质结合实验表明,P56与GR-LBD在体内外有结合作用.CAT报告基因检测表明P56抑制GR的转录激活能力.     

p38对骨髓间充质干细胞成肌分化作用的研究

目的:以5-氮杂胞苷(5-Aza-CR)诱导骨髓间充质干细胞(MSCs)成肌分化,探讨生肌调控因子中Myf5的表达及信号转导通路p38在此分化过程中的作用.方法:分离、纯化MSCs,以10 μmol/L 5-Aza-CR诱导其向成肌细胞分化,RT-PCR测定Myf5的表达,免疫组化检测肌球蛋白(myosin)的表达,Western-blot检测p38信号通路特异抑制剂SB203580作用前后磷酸化p38的变化.结果:SB203580作用后,Myf5表达由6 h延迟至9 h,诱导12 d部分MSCs表达myosin,18 d表达的数量及程度明显增加;5-Aza-CR诱导后,磷酸化p38蛋白水平较作用前增强,但在SB203580抑制后明显受抑.结论:5-Aza-CR诱导后,MSCs表达生肌调控因子并向成肌细胞分化,p38在此分化过程中起着正向信号转导作用.     

3-D finite element modelling of facial soft tissue and preliminary application in orthodontics

Prediction of soft tissue aesthetics is important for achieving an optimal outcome in orthodontic treatment planning. Previously, applicable procedures were mainly restricted to 2-D profile prediction. In this study, a generic 3-D finite element (FE) model of the craniofacial soft and hard tissue was constructed, and individualisation of the generic model based on cone beam CT data and mathematical transformation was investigated. The result indicated that patient-specific 3-D facial FE model including different layers of soft tissue could be obtained through mathematical model transformation. Average deviation between the transformed model and the real reconstructed one was 0.47?±?0.77?mm and 0.75?±?0.84?mm in soft and hard tissue, respectively. With boundary condition defined according to treatment plan, such FE model could be used to predict the result of orthodontic treatment on facial soft tissue.     

荧光原位杂交分析小麦-簇毛麦杂种减数分裂与染色体易位

利用基因组ＤＮＡ荧光原位杂交技术详细地研究了小麦－簇毛麦杂种染色体的减数分裂和配对行为,结果表明,在中期Ⅰ,小麦和簇毛麦染色体多呈两个单价体,在０．３％的ＰＭＣ中小麦与簇毛麦染色体发生配对;在后期Ⅰ时,单价体错分裂频率为３２．７％－３７．５％,另有０．７％的小麦－簇毛麦染色体重组易位出现;后期Ⅱ时,断列染色体的频率为２０．５％－２２．４％,还发现有０．８２％－１．７２％的自发易位染色体形成,此外,     

Characteristics and Prognosis of Talaromyces marneffei Infection in Non-HIV-Infected Children in Southern China

Knowledge about the clinical and laboratory characteristics and prognosis of Talaromyces marneffei infection in children is limited. A retrospective study was conducted on pediatric patients with disseminated T. marneffei infection in a clinical setting. Extracted data included demographic information (age and sex), clinical features, laboratory findings, treatment, and prognosis. Eleven HIV-negative children were enrolled. The male/female ratio was 8:3. The median age of onset was 17.5 months (3.5–84 months). The mortality rate in these children was 36.36% (4/11). Seven children had underlying diseases. All of the children had multiple immunoglobulin abnormalities and immune cell decline. Ten children received voriconazole treatment, and most of the children (7/10) had a complete response to therapy at primary and long-term follow-up assessment; only three children died of talaromycosis. One patient recovered from talaromycosis but died of leukemia. The child who received itraconazole treatment also showed clinical improvement. No adverse events associated with antifungal therapies were recorded during and after the treatment. Talaromycosis is an indicator disease for undiagnosed severe immunodeficiencies in children. Awareness of mycoses in children by pediatricians may prompt diagnosis and timely treatment. Voriconazole is an effective, well-tolerated therapeutic option for disseminated T. marneffei infection in non-HIV-infected children.

     

桑氏链霉菌几丁质酶ChiKJ40基因的克隆表达及其抑菌作用

【背景】目前关于桑氏链霉菌(Streptomyces sampsonii)生防基因的研究不多,仅从其基因组中克隆了2个几丁质酶基因片段,其单个几丁质酶的完整基因序列相关研究未见报道。【目的】克隆S.sampsonii KJ40的几丁质酶基因Chi KJ40并进行原核表达,纯化重组蛋白并研究其抑菌作用。【方法】采用PCR扩增法从S.sampsonii KJ40中克隆几丁质酶基因Chi KJ40,连接到表达载体p ET-32a,导入Escherichia coli BL21(DE3)进行诱导表达。使用His标记蛋白质微量纯化试剂盒对重组几丁质酶进行纯化,Bradford蛋白浓度测定试剂盒测定粗酶液和纯化酶液的浓度,几丁质酶试剂盒测定粗酶液和纯化酶液的几丁质酶活性。观察重组几丁质酶对桉树焦枯病菌(Cylindrocladium scoparium)、栗疫病菌(Cryphonectria parasitica)、链格孢菌(Alternaria alternate)、紫丝核菌(Rhizoctonia violacea)几种致病真菌的抑菌作用。【结果】Chi KJ40基因(登录号为MF434484)在E.coli中经IPTG诱导表达,获得42 k D的重组几丁质酶,不同浓度IPTG在37°C诱导3 h,蛋白产量无明显变化。0.2 mmol/L IPTG 16°C诱导过夜,重组几丁质酶主要以可溶性形式存在于上清,小部分以包涵体存在于沉淀中。粗酶液几丁质酶活性为0.080 U/m L,酶比活力为0.041 U/mg,纯化酶液几丁质酶活性为0.046 U/m L,酶比活力为0.115 U/mg,纯化倍数为2.8,酶活回收率为57.5%。重组几丁质酶处理后,C.scoparium、C.parasitica和A.alternata菌丝细胞出现分节、膨胀,R.violacea菌丝溶解且部分被破坏成碎片。【结论】Chi KJ40基因的研究补充了S.sampsonii的生防背景,为几丁质酶基因找到了新的来源,并为其应用奠定了理论基础。     

Factors Predisposing to Maxillary Anchorage Loss: A Retrospective Study of 1403 Cases

Anchorage loss is very disturbing for orthodontists and patients during orthodontic treatment, which usually results in bad treatment effects. Despite the same treatment strategy, different patients show different tendencies toward anchorage loss, which influences the treatment results and should preferably be predicted before the treatment is begun. However, relatively little research has been conducted on which patients are more likely to lose anchorage. The mesial tipping of the first molar marks the onset of anchorage loss, and changes in the angulation of the first molar are closely related to anchorage loss. This cross-sectional study aimed to determine how the mesiodistal angulation of the upper first molars changes during general orthodontic treatment and to identify the individual physiologic factors leading to these changes in a large sample of 1403 patients with malocclusion. The data indicate that the upper first molars tend to be tipped mesially during orthodontic treatment, and this constitutes a type of anchorage loss that orthodontists should consider carefully. Compared to treatment-related factors, patients'' physiologic characteristics have a greater influence on changes in the angulation of the upper first molars during orthodontic treatment. The more distally tipped the upper first molars are before treatment, the more they will tip mesially during treatment. Mesial tipping of the upper first molars, and therefore, anchorage loss, is more likely to occur in adolescents, males, patients with class II malocclusion and patients who have undergone maxillary premolar extraction. This finding is of clinical significance to orthodontists who wish to prevent iatrogenic anchorage loss by tipping originally distally tipped upper molars forward, and provides a new perspective on anchorage during orthodontic treatment planning.     

Identification of a cis-acting element of human dihydrofolate reductase mRNA

Human dihydrofolate reductase (DHFR) is a critical target in cancer chemotherapy. Previous studies showed that an 82-nt RNA fragment within the DHFR mRNA protein-coding region functions as a DHFR cis-acting response element. In this study, we further investigated the key elements contained within this sequence that are required for the DHFR mRNA-DHFR protein interaction. Using enzymatic foot-printing assays and RNA-binding experiments, we isolated a 27-nt sequence (DHFR27, corresponding to nts 407-433), which bound with high affinity and specificity to human DHFR to form a ribonucleoprotein complex. In vivo transient transfection experiments using a luciferase reporter system revealed that DHFR27 RNA could repress the luciferase expression in a DHFR-dependent manner when placed upstream of luciferase mRNA. This work provides new insights into the essential molecular elements that mediate RNA-protein interactions.