[Establishment of EBV-immortalized lymphoblast cell lines from three Chinese Fanconi anemia patient and their subtyping]

OBJECTIVE

To establish EBV-immortalized lymphoblast cell lines from Chinese Fanconi anemia (FA) patients.

METHODS

The establishment of lymphoblast cell lines was by EBV-immortalization and subtyping of the cell lines by cell fusion, mytomycin C (MMC) inhibition analysis and/or immunoprecipitation and Western blot.

RESULT

(1) Three lymphoblast cell lines were established, two of them were sensitive to MMC with a IC (50) < 10 nmol/L. (2) The subtypes of all the three patients belong to FA-A group.

CONCLUSION

Complementation analysis was suitable for all FA patients with MMC-sensitive lymphoblastic cell lines, but this method is time consuming. Immunoprecipitation and Western blot are much faster for subtyping but could only be used for FA patients whose related genes had been cloned and specific antibodies been developed.

[A serological investigation of Legionella infection in eight-species of poultry and domestic animals in Sichuan province]

OBJECTIVE

To understand the prevalence rates of Legionella infection in poultries and domestic animals in Sichuan province.

METHODS

Serological investigation of antibodies against Legionella pneumophila serogroups 1 - 14 and Legionella micdadei was carried out, using microagglutination test (MAT) in eight species of poultries and domestic animals.

RESULTS

Infections with multiple serogroups were identified. However, each species had its own major serogroup with positive rates of different serogroups ranging from 0.83% to 59.18%. Positive rates of the poultry and domestic animals were accounted for 7.73% and 4.25% respectively.

CONCLUSION

It was suggested that poultries and domestic animals were widely infected with Legionella. It is important to carry out epidemiological surveillance in these domestic animals, poultries and environment for a better control program of this disease.

Evidence for Gal3p's cytoplasmic location and Gal80p's dual cytoplasmic-nuclear location implicates new mechanisms for controlling Gal4p activity in Saccharomyces cerevisiae

Genetics and in vitro studies have shown that the direct interaction between Gal3p and Gal80p plays a central role in galactose-dependent Gal4p-mediated GAL gene expression in the yeast Saccharomyces cerevisiae. Precisely how Gal3p-Gal80p interaction effects induction is not clear. It has been assumed that Gal3p interacts with Gal80p in the nucleus upon galactose addition to release Gal80p inhibition of Gal4p. Although Gal80p has been shown to possess nuclear localization signal (NLS) peptides, the subcellular distribution of neither Gal80p nor Gal3p was previously determined. Here we report that Gal3p is located in the cytoplasm and apparently excluded from the nucleus. We show that Gal80p is located in both the cytoplasm and the nucleus. Converting Gal80p into a nucleus-localized protein (NLS-Gal80p) by exogenous NLS addition impairs GAL gene induction. The impaired induction can be partially suppressed by targeting Gal3p to the nucleus (NLS-Gal3p). We document a very rapid association between NLS-Gal3p and Gal80p in vivo in response to galactose, illustrating that the nuclear import of Gal80p is very rapid and efficient. We also demonstrate that nucleus-localized NLS-Gal80p can move out of the nucleus and shuttle between nuclei in yeast heterokaryons. These results are the first indication that the subcellular distribution dynamics of the Gal3 and Gal80 proteins play a role in regulating Gal4p-mediated GAL gene expression in vivo.

Forming supramolecular networks from nanoscale rods in binary, phase-separating mixtures

Simulations show that when low-volume fractions of nanoscale rods are immersed in a binary, phase-separating blend, the rods self-assemble into needle-like, percolating networks. The interconnected network arises through the dynamic interplay of phase-separation between the fluids, through preferential adsorption of the minority component onto the mobile rods, and through rod-rod repulsion. Such cooperative effects provide a means of manipulating the motion of nanoscopic objects and directing their association into supramolecular structures. Increasing the rod concentration beyond the effective percolation threshold drives the system to self-assemble into a lamellar morphology, with layers of wetted rods alternating with layers of the majority-component fluid. This approach can potentially yield organic/inorganic composites that are ordered on nanometer scales and exhibit electrical or structural integrity.

Acute fatty liver of pregnancy: diagnosis and management of 8 cases

OBJECTIVE

To investigate the early recognition and management of acute fatty liver of pregnancy (AFLP) to improve maternal and fetal survival.

METHODS

Eight cases of AFLP seen in our hospital during the past three years were studied retrospectively. Symptoms, laboratory findings, timing of liver biopsy, and maternal and fetus outcome were assessed.

RESULTS

The mean gestational age at onset was 34 +/- 2 weeks. All cases were primigravida. In the early stages, all patients presented malaise, nausea, vomiting and epigastric distress followed by jaundice in the third trimester of pregnancy.

LABORATORY FINDINGS

all had raised transaminases and serum bilirubin (32.5-510.8 mumol/L), hypoalbuminemia (22.4-30.0 g/L), hypofibrinogenemia (< 180 mg/dl), prolonged prothrombin time and prolonged partial thromboplastin time. Maternal complication included hepatic encephalopathy (6 cases), ascites (6), hypoglycemia (5), hematemesis (2), and postpartum hemorrhage (5) and preeclampsia (4). Emergency cesarean section was performed in 3 cases. One mother died of fulminant hepatic failure and the others survived. There was no fetus death. Liver biopsy was done on the 5th to 15th postpartum day in 8 cases.

CONCLUSION

With increasing awareness, especially in the early recognition of milder cases, and prompt progressive management including early termination of pregnancy by cesarean section and large dose infusion of fresh frozen plasma and albumin alternately, the prognosis of AFLP can be improved.

[The recognition of the epidemic area of tsutsugamushi disease on Nan Peng Lie Island in China and the strategy of prevention]

OBJECTIVE

To investigate the region for the epidemic area of tsutsugamushi disease.

METHODS

Epidemiological studies, Orientia tsutsugamushi isolation, and preventive measures were used.

RESULTS

The region belonged to epidemic area of south subtropical zone. The main host was found Rattus norvegicu. The main biological vector was Leptotrombidium deliens. The seasonal trends of the quantity of Rattus norvegicu and Leptotrombidium deliens were consistent with the incidence change of the disease in the region. Orientia tsutsugamushi has been isolated from Rattus norvegicu and Leptotrombidium deliens. Data showed that Orientia tsutsugamushi isolated strains mainly belongs to Karp. Sero-epidemiological data showed that antibodies of Orientia tsutsugamushi are 100.0% positive in the residents of the region and 4.0% in army men. After taking comprehensive preventive measures, the incidence was descending.

CONCLUSION

Nan Peng Lie island was proved an epidemic area of tsutsugamushi disease.

NMR characterization of a pH-dependent equilibrium between two folded solution conformations of the pheromone-binding protein from Bombyx mori

NMR spectroscopic changes as a function of pH in solutions of the pheromone-binding protein of Bombyx mori (BmPBP) show that BmPBP undergoes a conformational transition between pH 4.9 and 6.0. At pH below 4.9 there is a single "acid form" (A), and a homogeneous "basic form" (B) exists at pH above 6.0. Between pH 5 and 6, BmPBP exists as a mixture of A and B in slow exchange on the NMR chemical shift time scale, with the transition midpoint at pH 5.4. The form B has a well-dispersed NMR spectrum, indicating that it represents a more structured, "closed" conformation than form A, which has a significantly narrower chemical shift dispersion. Conformational transitions of the kind observed here may explain heterogeneity reported for a variety of odorant-binding proteins, and it will be of interest to further investigate possible correlations with pH-dependent regulation of ligand binding and release in the biological function of this class of proteins.

[Detection of C gene mutation strain in vertical transmission of hepatitis B virus and its significance]

OBJECTIVE

This study aims at detecting C gene mutation strain in vertical transmission of hepatitis B virus (HBV).

METHODS

HBV C gene nt 2,022 - 2,321 was directly sequenced.

RESULTS

Homology of HBV nucleotide sequence and amino acid sequence in mothers, fathers and their fetus was 100%. Mutation of 2,189 and 2,288 nucleotide of C gene resulted in substitution at the 97th and 130th amino acids.

CONCLUSION

C gene mutation strain is present in vertical transmission of HBV. Presence of mutation strain may be the cause of failure in vaccination.

Disulfide structure of the pheromone binding protein from the silkworm moth, Bombyx mori

Disulfide bond formation is the only known posttranslational modification of insect pheromone binding proteins (PBPs). In the PBPs from moths (Lepidoptera), six cysteine residues are highly conserved at positions 19, 50, 54, 97, 108 and 117, but to date nothing is known about their respective linkage or redox status. We used a multiple approach of enzymatic digestion, chemical cleavage, partial reduction with Tris-(2-carboxyethyl)phosphine, followed by digestion with endoproteinase Lys-C to determine the disulfide connectivity in the PBP from Bombyx mori (BmPBP). Identification of the reaction products by on-line liquid chromatography-electrospray ionization mass spectrometry (LC/ESI-MS) and protein sequencing supported the assignment of disulfide bridges at Cys-19-Cys-54, Cys-50-Cys-108 and Cys-97-Cys-117. The disulfide linkages were identical in the protein obtained by periplasmic expression in Escherichia coli and in the native BmPBP.

[The role of spleen in induction and maintenance of anterior chamber-associated immune deviation in different species of animals]

PURPOSE

The importance of the spleen to the induction of anterior chamber-associated immune deviation (ACAID) in mice has been known for some time. Removal of the spleen within the first 4 days of injecting antigen into anterior chamber can abolish immune deviation and result in immunity. The purpose of this study is to explore the role of spleen in ACAID in other different species of animals.

METHODS

After splenectomy and sham-splenectomy, bovine serum albumin (BSA) as a soluble antigen was inoculated into the anterior chamber (AC) of different animals (rat, rabbit and monkey) respectively. Recipient animals were immunized with BSA and complete Freund's adjuvant. Delayed-type hypersensitivity (DTH) was assessed by skin challenge. The maintenance time of deviant immune response was evaluated in the fixed interval.

RESULTS

All the animals with receiving intraocular antigen inoculation, both in splenectomized group and in sham-splenectomized group, did not display DTH reaction. In addition, the maintenance time of immune deviation in both groups after AC inoculation of antigen was not significantly different. In contrast, all the animals without receiving intraocular antigen inoculation, both in splenectomized group and in sham-sple-nectomized group, displayed positive DTH reaction.

CONCLUSIONS

The spleen may not play an important role in the induction and maintenance of ACAID in rat, rabbit and monkey. These data suggest that as the evolution progresses, the function of spleen may be replaced by other lymphatic organs.

[HBV transmission from father to foetus and HBV DNA in tissues outside the liver]

OBJECTIVE

To study the possibility of HBV Transmission from father to foetus and HBV DNA in tissues outside liver.

METHODS

Paired sera were from 8 HBV man carriers whose wives were negative for HBVM and 8 foetuses who were infected with HBV in the womb. S gene nt 451-660 nucleotide, C gene nt 2,022-2,321 nucleotide were directly sequenced.

RESULTS

The homology of HBV sequence between father and foetus was very high. The mutations of 491, 494, 530, 546 and 581 nucleotide in the S gene caused 113, 114, 126, 131 and 143 amino acid substitution. HBV DNA can be detected in the tissues outside liver of foetus.

CONCLUSION

HBV transmission from father to foetus may be present. HBV DNA in tissues outside liver of foetus can be detected.

Kinetic model of phase separation in binary mixtures with hard mobile impurities

We develop a mean-field rate-equation model for the kinetics of phase separation in binary mixtures with hard mobile impurities. For impurities preferentially wet by one of the components, the phase separation is arrested in the late stage. The "steady-state" domain size depends strongly on both the particle diffusion constant and the particle concentration. We compare theoretical results with the simulation data and find good qualitative agreement.

Finite-volume lattice Boltzmann schemes in two and three dimensions

Simple and practical finite-volume schemes for the lattice Boltzmann equation are derived in two and three dimensions through the application of modern finite-volume methods. The schemes use a finite-volume vortex-type formulation based on quadrilateral elements in two dimensions and trilinear hexahedral elements in three dimensions. It is shown that the schemes are applicable to domains with irregular boundaries of arbitrary shape in two and three dimensions.

[Detection of S-gene mutation strain in vertical transmission of HBV and its significance]

OBJECTIVE

To study S-gene mutation of hepatitis B virus (HBV) in its vertical transmission and its significance.

METHODS

Nucleotides of S-gene NT451-660 of HBV were sequenced with dideoxy end termination technique in four female and six male carriers without HBV markers in their spouses and in their intrauterine infected fetuses.

RESULTS

It was showed that homology of HBV nucleotide and amino acid sequences in the mothers, fathers and their fetuses was very high. Mutation at the sites 491, 494, 530, 546 and 581 of S-gene resulted in amino acid substitution at the sites 113, 114, 126, 131 and 143, respectively. Mutations at the sites 126 were detected in two pairs of mother or father and her or his fetuses and mutations at the sites 131 in four fetuses, respectively, including combined mutation at the site 143 in two fetuses.

CONCLUSION

Strains with S-gene mutation, mainly at the sites 126, 131 and 143, could be found in HBV vertical transmissions, which could cause failure in HB vaccine immunization.

Evolution of vaginal Candida species recovered from human immunodeficiency virus-infected women receiving fluconazole prophylaxis: the emergence of Candida glabrata? Terry Beirn Community Programs for Clinical Research in AIDS (CPCRA)

The effect of fluconazole prophylaxis on the vaginal flora of 323 human immunodeficiency virus-infected women was evaluated in a multicenter, randomized, double-blind, placebo-controlled trial. Women with CD4 cell counts of < or = 300/mm3 received either 200 mg of fluconazole per week or placebo. Vaginal surveillance cultures were performed every 3 months. After a follow-up of 29 months, Candida albicans was recovered from 53% of patients receiving fluconazole and 68% of patients assigned placebo. Fluconazole was associated with a 50% reduction in the odds of being colonized with C. albicans but with higher rates for non-albicans Candida species. Candida glabrata was recovered from 40 women assigned fluconazole and 29 assigned placebo (relative odds, 1.96; 95% confidence interval, 0.98-3.94). Fluconazole had an early and persistent effect on the vaginal mycoflora, with the emergence of C. glabrata vaginal colonization within the first 6 months. The effect of fluconazole prophylaxis can be attributed to the reduction in vaginal C. albicans colonization; however, C. glabrata colonization rapidly supervened.

Co-infection with opportunistic pathogens promotes human immunodeficiency virus type 1 infection in macrophages

Human immunodeficiency virus type 1 (HIV-1) infection is dependent on susceptible host cells that express both CD4 and chemokine co-receptors. The co-receptor CCR5 is associated with primary infection by macrophage-tropic virus isolates, whereas CXCR4 is commonly associated with T cell- and dual-tropic viruses. Once infected, lymphocytes and macrophages may replicate HIV-1 or harbor latent virus, depending on environmental factors and cellular activation. Immune activation is often associated with viremia, which is consistent with enhanced infection and viral replication in activated cells harboring virus. In this regard, opportunistic infections activate the immune system with the detrimental sequelae of enhanced viral replication and viremia. Under these conditions, viral expansion extends beyond T cells to tissue macrophages, many of which are co-infected with opportunistic pathogens. The opportunistic infections promote macrophage susceptibility to HIV-1 through cytokine modulation and altered chemokine co-receptors, potential targets for intervention.

Finite-volume lattice Boltzmann method

We present a finite-volume formulation for the lattice Boltzmann method (FVLBM) based on standard bilinear quadrilateral elements in two dimensions. The accuracy of this scheme is demonstrated by comparing the velocity field with the analytical solution of the Navier-Stokes equations for time dependent rotating Couette flow and Taylor vortex flow. To demonstrate the flexibility of the scheme, we have also simulated a modified rotating Couette flow, where the inner cylinder has an elliptical shape. The results agree with those obtained from the traditional marker-and-cell method. The FVLBM scheme is applicable to arbitrarily shaped two-dimensional regions, and thus the range of applicability of the lattice Boltzmann method has been significantly extended.

Loss of anterior chamber-associated immune deviation during normal pregnancy in primates

PURPOSE

We recently found that loss of anterior chamber-associated immune deviation was associated with normal pregnancy in rabbits. The purpose of this study is to further investigate whether the same events occurred in nonhuman primates.

METHODS

Mid-pregnant cynomolgus monkeys were randomly selected. Bovine serum albumin (BSA) was inoculated in anterior chamber of eyes of nonpregnant and mid-pregnant monkeys that were subsequently immunized with BSA in adjuvant. Delayed-type hypersensitivity (DTH) was assessed by skin challenge.

RESULTS

Non-pregnant monkeys of intracameral BSA proved able to acquire antigen-specific suppression of delayed-type hypersensitivity. By contrast, inoculation of BSA to anterior chamber of pregnant monkeys abolished the DTH-suppression effect.

CONCLUSIONS

This is the first demonstration in primates that loss of anterior chamber-associated immune deviation occurred during normal pregnancy. The fluctuations of systemic hormone levels during normal pregnancy might influence local immunoregulation within the eye.

[Content variety of alisol B 23-acetate in Rhiozma Alismatis reaped at different time]

Alisol B 23-acetate in Rhizoma Alismatis reaped at different time was determinated by RP-HPLC. The result indicated that the content of those reaped in April is obviously higher than those reaped from Jan. to March.

Mycobacterium avium complex augments macrophage HIV-1 production and increases CCR5 expression

Infection with HIV-1 results in pronounced immune suppression and susceptibility to opportunistic infections (OI). Reciprocally, OI augment HIV-1 replication. As we have shown for Mycobacterium avium complex (MAC) and Pneumocystis carinii, macrophages infected with opportunistic pathogens and within lymphoid tissues containing OI, exhibit striking levels of viral replication. To explore potential underlying mechanisms for increased HIV-1 replication associated with coinfection, blood monocytes were exposed to MAC antigens (MAg) or viable MAC and their levels of tumor necrosis factor alpha (TNFalpha) and HIV-1 coreceptors monitored. MAC enhanced TNFalpha production in vitro, consistent with its expression in coinfected lymph nodes. Using a polyclonal antibody to the CCR5 coreceptor that mediates viral entry of macrophage tropic HIV-1, a subset of unstimulated monocytes was shown to be CCR5-positive by fluorescence-activated cell sorter analysis. After stimulation with MAg or infection with MAC, CCR5 expression was increased at both the mRNA level and on the cell surface. Up-regulation of CCR5 by MAC was not paralleled by an increase in the T cell tropic coreceptor, CXCR4. Increases in NF-kappaB, TNFalpha, and CCR5 were consistent with the enhanced production of HIV-1 in MAg-treated adherent macrophage cultures as measured by HIV-1 p24 levels. Increased CCR5 was also detected in coinfected lymph nodes as compared with tissues with only HIV-1. The increased production of TNFalpha, together with elevated expression of CCR5, provide potential mechanisms for enhanced infection and replication of HIV-1 by macrophages in OI-infected cells and tissues. Consequently, treating OI may inhibit not only the OI-induced pathology, but also limit the viral burden.

Sexually transmitted infections in women infected with the human immunodeficiency virus. Terry Beirn Community Programs for Clinical Research on AIDS (CPCRA)

BACKGROUND AND OBJECTIVES

Limited prospective data are available on sexually transmitted infections (STIs) among HIV-infected patients. The incidence and predictors of STIs were assessed among HIV-infected women enrolled in a clinical trial.

STUDY DESIGN

Prospective cohort of 323 women.

RESULTS

Sixty-five percent had at least one STI based on history and/or examination at baseline. Most conditions identified at baseline were based on patient history; only 10 of 123 women with no history of an STI (8.1%) had one identified upon examination. During a median follow-up of 2.1 years, 25% developed a new/recurrent STI. Being African-American (odds ratio [OR] = 4.22, 95% confidence interval [CI]: 1.45-12.26), reporting sex with an intravenous drug user as an HIV risk behavior (OR = 2.29, 95% CI: 1.34-3.92), and a history/presence of STIs at baseline (OR = 1.79, 95% CI: 1.01-3.19) were factors associated with significantly increased risk of STI's.

CONCLUSIONS

A substantial proportion of women developed new STIs during the course of the clinical trial. Prevention efforts should be emphasized among high risk HIV-infected patients.

[Separation and determination of carotenoids in Fructus lycii by isocratic non-aqueous reversed-phase liquid chromatography]

High performance liquid chromatography using a non-aqueous reversed phase with isocratic elution of C18 columns is a powerful tool for investigating the carotenoid composition of Fructus Lycii. This paper compared the effect of different eluents on the separation of carotenoids. An optimum solvent system consisting of acetonitrile and methylene chloride is suitable for simultaneous separation of compounds from polar xanthophylls to nonpolar carotenoid esters. Ten carotenoids were separated from Fructus Lycii by using Shim-pack CLC-ODS column(150 mm x 6 mm i.d.) and mobile phase of acetonitrile/methylene chloride(60:42, V/V) with a flow rate of 1 mL/min. The eluates were monitored with UV/VIS detector at 456 nm. The method which permit direct analysis of carotenoid extracts without saponification in 30 min provides a true information of carotenoids composition in Fructus Lycii as they exist. Fructus Lycii contains 2952 micrograms/g of total carotenoids, but 98.6% of carotenoids are existed as esterified forms, zeaxanthin dipalmitate are accounted for 77.5% of the total carotenoide.

Human T cells transduced by a retroviral vector to express Herpesvirus saimiri proteins TIP and STPC

Herpesvirus saimiri is a virus capable of inducing oncogenic transformation of T lymphocytes of New World primates and immortalizing human T cells in vitro. T lymphocytes immortalized by H. saimiri demonstrate functional biological responses to their antigens. Therefore, H. saimiri-induced transformation of T cells emerges as a very powerful tool of T-cell biology. Although the mechanism of this transformation remains to be understood, it is thought that H. saimiri proteins Tip and StpC play important roles. To facilitate functional studies of Tip and StpC, we retrovirally transduced human MOLT4, Jurkat and JCaM1 T-cell lines to express these H. saimiri proteins, using a three-plasmid system allowing for rapid and efficient production of high-titer retroviral stocks. Several cell lines expressing Tip and/or StpC in a stable fashion were obtained and characterized.