Genomics of antiviral defenses in the duck, a natural host of influenza and hepatitis B viruses

We review our progress using genomics approaches to examine key antiviral defenses of the White Pekin mallard duck, Anas platyrhynchos. Our interest stems from the fact that ducks are the natural host of avian influenza, and are an important animal model for hepatitis B research. First, we have conducted an expressed sequence tag (EST) project and identified more than 200 immune relevant genes in the duck. Our analysis of these genes allows us to evaluate the homology between ducks and their closest genetic model organism, the chicken. We have also constructed genomic and cDNA libraries from the same individual duck, allowing us to directly compare expressed sequences with those present in the genome. These resources allow us to determine the organization and expression of regions of the genome important in antiviral defenses. Here we examine the organization of the immunoglobulin heavy chain locus, the Major Histocompatibility Complex class I region, the lectin immunoreceptors and Toll-like receptor 7. We discuss our research-in-progress in the context of the immune defense against viruses, particularly influenza.

Schizophrenia trials in China: a survey

OBJECTIVE

China's biomedical research activity is increasing and this literature is becoming more accessible online. Our aim was to survey all randomized control schizophrenia trials (RCTs) in one Chinese bibliographic database.

METHOD

Chinese Academic Journals was electronically searched for RCTs and all relevant citations were also sought on PubMed to ascertain global accessibility.

RESULTS

The search identified 3275 records, of which 982 were RCTs relevant to schizophrenia. A total of 71% (699) could be found by using English phrases. All the main body of text of the 982 papers was in Mandarin. On average, these trials involved about 100 people, with interventions and outcome measures familiar to schizophrenia trialists worldwide. Four of the 982 records (<1%) were identified on PubMed.

CONCLUSION

Those undertaking systematic reviews should search the Chinese literature for relevant material. Failing to do this will leave the results of systematic reviews prone to random error or bias, or both.

Problem solving skills for schizophrenia

BACKGROUND

The severe and long-lasting symptoms of schizophrenia are often the cause of severe disability. Environmental stress such as life events and the practical problems people face in their daily can worsen the symptoms of schizophrenia. Deficits in problem solving skills in people with schizophrenia affect their independent and interpersonal functioning and impair their quality of life. As a result, therapies such as problem solving therapy have been developed to improve problem solving skills for people with schizophrenia.

OBJECTIVES

To review the effectiveness of problem solving therapy compared with other comparable therapies or routine care for those with schizophrenia.

SEARCH STRATEGY

We searched the Cochrane Schizophrenia Group's Register (September 2006), which is based on regular searches of BIOSIS, CENTRAL, CINAHL, EMBASE, MEDLINE and PsycINFO. We inspected references of all identified studies for further trials.

SELECTION CRITERIA

We included all clinical randomised trials comparing problem solving therapy with other comparable therapies or routine care.

DATA COLLECTION AND ANALYSIS

We extracted data independently. For homogenous dichotomous data we calculated random effects, relative risk (RR), 95% confidence intervals (CI) and, where appropriate, numbers needed to treat (NNT) on an intention-to-treat basis. For continuous data, we calculated weighted mean differences (WMD) using a random effects statistical model.

MAIN RESULTS

We included only three small trials (n=52) that evaluated problem solving versus routine care, coping skills training or non-specific interaction. Inadequate reporting of data rendered many outcomes unusable. We were unable to undertake meta-analysis. Overall results were limited and inconclusive with no significant differences between treatment groups for hospital admission, mental state, behaviour, social skills or leaving the study early. No data were presented for global state, quality of life or satisfaction.

AUTHORS' CONCLUSIONS

We found insufficient evidence to confirm or refute the benefits of problem solving therapy as an additional treatment for those with schizophrenia. The small number of participants, the quality of reporting of methods and results were of concern. More trials with adequate reporting of methods to minimize bias, adequately powered, with validated, reliable and clinically meaningful outcomes are needed to provide robust evidence to guide policy and practice.

Non-viral ex vivo transduction of human hepatocyte cells to express factor VIII using a human ribosomal DNA-targeting vector

BACKGROUND

In gene therapy, one of the most important issues is the choice of the vectors. pHrneo is a human-derived vector previously constructed by our group, which can target a foreign gene into a human ribosomal DNA (hrDNA) locus.

METHODS AND RESULTS

In this study, we inserted an expression cassette of reconstructive hFVIII (hFVIII-BDDAK39) to pHrneo to construct a targeting vector: pHrneo-BDDAK39. Through electroporation of pHrneo-BDDAK39 into HL7702 cells (human hepatocyte), we identified the homologous recombinants using polymerase chain reaction, and tested the expression of hFVIII-BDDAK39 located at the hrDNA locus. The hFVIII-BDDAK39 was successfully targeted into the hrDNA locus of HL7702 by pHrneo-BDDAK39, and the efficiency of site-specific integration was 1.1 x 10(-5). The hFVIII-BDDAK39 at the hrDNA locus of HL7702 was found to be able to express efficiently (4.3 +/- 0.9 ng 10(-6) cells 24 h(-1)).

CONCLUSION

It has been indicated that the targeting vector pHrneo-BDDAK39 can be used in gene therapy for hemophilia A.

160-line multiwavelength generation of linear-cavity self-seeded Brillouin-Erbium fiber laser

We have demonstrated a novel multiwavelength Brillouin-erbium fiber laser (BEFL), in which the Brillouin pump is self-excited within the linear cavity, instead of the injection from the external cavity or direct generation in the intracavity. By using this simple scheme, the generation of more than 160 Brillouin Stokes lines has been experimentally demonstrated, which is the largest one achieved in BEFLs to the best of our knowledge. Also, the single longitudinal mode operation and the low noise performance of output wavelength line have been confirmed. Meanwhile, the experiment demonstrates that the BEFL performs good stability on both the operating wavelengths and the output power of each wavelength.

Are private school students more likely to smoke than public school students in China?

BACKGROUND

Tobacco use is prevalent among adolescents in China in general, however, little is known about tobacco use among students in private schools with an enrollment of 1.5 million.

METHOD

In 2001, cross-sectional survey data from 2725 students in grades seven and eight (1307 sampled from private schools and 1418 sampled from public schools) were included. Smoking measures (risk of susceptibility to smoking, smoking onset, ever smoking, smoking in the past 7 days and past 30 days, established smoking) were compared between private and public school students using chi-square test, logistic regression, and survival analysis.

RESULTS

Cigarette smoking was more prevalent among private school students than among public school students (private vs. public: 21.9% vs. 12.3% for susceptibility to smoking, 53.9% vs. 38.2% for ever smoking, 22% vs. 12.0% for 30-day smoking, 15.9% vs. 4.0% for 7-day smoking, 4.5% vs. 1.2% for established smoking). Students in private schools are 3.4 to 3.8 times more likely to smoke than students in public schools after the adjustment of important covariates (gender, grade, peer smoking, parental smoking, and parents' occupation). Risk of smoking onset by age was also greater for private school students than for public school students.

CONCLUSIONS

Being in private schools was associated with three to four times increases in the likelihood of current cigarette smoking and heightened risk of smoking onset by age. Findings from this study suggest the urgent need to collect additional data on risk and protective factors as well as the willingness to participate in effective tobacco use intervention prevention among private school students.

Serine racemase binds to PICK1: potential relevance to schizophrenia

Accumulating evidence from both genetic and clinico-pharmacological studies suggests that D-serine, an endogenous coagonist to the NMDA subtype glutamate receptor, may be implicated in schizophrenia (SZ). Although an association of genes for D-serine degradation, such as D-amino acid oxidase and G72, has been reported, a role for D-serine in SZ has been unclear. In this study, we identify and characterize protein interacting with C-kinase (PICK1) as a protein interactor of the D-serine synthesizing enzyme, serine racemase (SR). The binding of endogenous PICK1 and SR requires the PDZ domain of PICK1. The gene coding for PICK1 is located at chromosome 22q13, a region frequently linked to SZ. In a case-control association study using well-characterized Japanese subjects, we observe an association of the PICK1 gene with SZ, which is more prominent in disorganized SZ. Our findings implicating PICK1 as a susceptibility gene for SZ are consistent with a role for D-serine in the disease.

Formation of C7F15COOH (PFOA) and other perfluorocarboxylic acids during the atmospheric oxidation of 8:2 fluorotelomer alcohol

Calculations using a three-dimensional global atmospheric chemistry model (IMPACT) indicate that n-C8F17CH2CH2OH (widely used in industrial and consumer products) degrades in the atmosphere to give perfluorooctanoic acid (PFOA) and other perfluorocarboxylic acids (PFCAs). PFOA is persistent, bioaccumulative, and potentially toxic. Molar yields of PFOA depend on location and season, are in the range of 1-10%, and are of the correct order of magnitude to explain the observed levels in Arctic fauna. Fluorotelomer alcohols such as n-C8F17CH2CH2OH appear to be a significant global source of persistent bioaccumulative perfluorocarboxylic acid pollution. This is the first modeling study of the atmospheric chemistry of a fluorotelomer alcohol.

Acupuncture for schizophrenia

BACKGROUND

Acupuncture has been shown to be a relatively safe health care intervention with few adverse effects. In contrast ,antipsychotic drugs can have seriously disabling adverse effects. However, the benefits of acupuncture in the treatment of schizophrenia are unclear, and further evidence is needed to inform clinicians and people with schizophrenia of its efficacy in the treatment of schizophrenia.

OBJECTIVES

To evaluate acupuncture for people with schizophrenia and related psychoses.

SEARCH STRATEGY

We (JR, JX) undertook electronic searches of the Cochrane Schizophrenia Group's register (April 2005). We inspected reference lists and contacted the first author of each included study.

SELECTION CRITERIA

We included all relevant randomised controlled trials involving people with schizophrenia-like illnesses, allocated to acupuncture, electro-acupuncture, laser-acupuncture, placebo, no treatment, or antipsychotic drugs produced by pharmaceutical companies were included.

DATA COLLECTION AND ANALYSIS

We independently extracted the data. For homogeneous dichotomous data, the fixed effects relative risk (RR), the 95% confidence intervals (CI) and, where appropriate, the number needed to treat (NNT) were calculated on an intention-to-treat basis. For continuous data, we calculated weighted mean differences with 95% CI.

MAIN RESULTS

We included five trials. Two trials comparing acupuncture to antipsychotics were equivocal for global state and leaving the study early. Extrapyramidal adverse events were significantly lower in the acupuncture group (n=21, RR 0.05 CI 0.0 to 0.8, NNT 2 CI 2 to 8). Four out of the five trials also compared acupuncture combined with antipsychotics to antipsychotics alone. Global state outcomes and leaving the study early were equivocal. BPRS endpoint data (short term) favoured the combined acupuncture and antipsychotic group (n=109, RR -4.31 CI -7.0 to -1.6), although dichotomised BPRS data 'not improved' confounded this outcome with equivocal data. Depression scores HAMD (n=42, WMD -10.41 CI -12.8 to -8.0), HAMD 'not improved' (n=42, RR 0.17 CI 0.1 to 0.5, NNT 2 CI 2 to 3) and ZDS (n=42, WMD -24.25 CI -28.0 to -20.5) significantly favoured the combined acupuncture/antipsychotic treatment group, although results were from single, small studies. Treatment emergent adverse events scores were significantly lower in the acupuncture/antipsychotic group (n=40, WMD -0.50 CI -0.9 to -0.1), again from a single, small study.

AUTHORS' CONCLUSIONS

We found insufficient evidence to recommend the use of acupuncture for people with schizophrenia. The numbers of participants and the blinding of acupuncture were both inadequate, and more comprehensive and better designed studies are needed to determine the effects of acupuncture for schizophrenia.

Surgical treatment for upper or middle esophageal carcinoma occurring after gastrectomy: a study of 52 cases

Fifty-two patients presenting with upper or middle esophageal carcinoma after gastrectomy between 1980 and 2003 were analyzed retrospectively. Among them, there were five cases of total gastrectomy, six cases of proximal partial gastrectomy and 41 cases of distal subtotal gastrectomy. The interval between gastrectomy and the diagnosis of esophageal carcinoma ranged from 2 to 22 years. Surgical procedures included resection of the esophageal lesion with esophageal replacement using non-reversed or reversed gastric tubes (2 and 3 cases respectively), and short or long segment colon (5 and 40 cases respectively); two cases underwent a palliative procedure (jejunostomy). Complications included cervical anastomotic leaks (3 cases), pulmonary infection (3 cases), atelectasis (2 cases) and cordis arrhythmia (5 cases), all of which responded to treatment. In our group, resection of the esophageal lesions and reconstruction of the esophagus was performed in 45 cases (86.5%), exclusion and bypass procedure of esophageal carcinoma and following radiotherapy and chemotherapy in four (7.7%), eternal jejunostomy for intestinal nutrition in two (3.9%) and death occurred in one case (1.9%) due to multiple organ dysfunction syndrome (MODS). Esophageal resection combined with lymph node dissection is indicated for the treatment of upper or middle esophageal carcinoma following gastrectomy. While esophageal substitutes can include non-reversed or reversed gastric tubes as well as short or long segment colon interpositions, we usually recommend the use of colon interposition. The 1-, 3- and 5-year survival rate of cases with resection of the esophageal lesions and reconstruction of the esophagus was 84.6%, 57.7% and 26.7% respectively.

A study of neonatal swimming (water therapy) applied in clinical obstetrics

OBJECTIVE

To study the significance of some clinical parameters related to neonatal 'swimming' (water therapy) during hospitalization.

METHODS

Normal newborns were randomly divided into two groups to observe their birth weight, weight before discharge,time of first defecation and meconium turning yellow. Group one was the swimming (study) group, comprising a total of 223 newborns including 127 babies delivered after spontaneous vaginal delivery and 96 babies after Cesarean section. Group two was the bathing (control) group, comprising 154 newborns including 109 babies delivered after spontaneous vaginal delivery and 45 babies after Cesarean section.

RESULTS

There was no significant difference in birth weight between the two groups (p > 0.05). However, the mean weight before discharge of the babies in the study group was 3.29 + 0.35 and 3.51 + 0.40 kg, spontaneous vaginal delivery vs. Cesarean section, compared with 3.09 + 0.38 and 3.17 + 0.48 kg, respectively, in the control group (p < 0.01). The corresponding mean times of meconium turning yellow were 39.15 + 15.88 and 39.02 + 13.60 h in the study group compared with 48.01 + 19.42 and 55.67 + 25.05 h in the control group. This difference was significant (p < 0.01), as was the difference between the time of first defecation (p < 0.05).

CONCLUSION

Neonatal swimming can accelerate babies' growth in the early stage.

Effects of perceived peer isolation and social support availability on the relationship between body mass index and depressive symptoms

OBJECTIVE

To examine relationships between body mass index (BMI) and psychological correlates in Chinese school adolescents during the period of economic transition.

DESIGN

Baseline data of 1655 Chinese adolescents aged 11-15 y were retrieved from a longitudinal smoking cessation and health promotion program in Wuhan, China. Assessments of body weight and height, depressive symptoms, perceived peer isolation (PPI) and perceived availability of social support (PASS) were collected.

RESULTS

Based on the International Obesity Task Force (IOTF) age-and sex-specific BMI cutoffs, 12.5% of boys and 9.2% of girls were overweight. In girls, high BMI was significantly related to higher self-reported depressive symptoms, and was dominantly mediated by PPI. On the contrary, high BMI boys reported significantly lower levels of PPI although high PPI level aggravated depressive symptoms. For both girls and boys, the observed effect of PPI on the relationship between BMI and depressive symptoms was sustained only in low PASS boys and girls.

CONCLUSIONS

The present study revealed different effects of PPI on the association of BMI and depressive symptoms between boys and girls, which were buffered by levels of PASS. The findings of this study may contribute to our understanding of the influences of psychological correlates in pediatric overweight in the Eastern cultural environment.

Crystal structure of diaquatetra(3,5-dinitrobenzoato)tetrasilver(I), Ag4(C7H3N2O6)4(H2O)2

C28H16Ag4N8O26, monoclinic, P121/c1 (no. 14), a = 5.667(1) Å, b = 16.915(3) Å, c = 19.694(4) Å, β = 90.38(3)°, V = 1887.8 Å3, Z = 2, Rgt(F) = 0.065, wRref(F2) = 0.177, T = 293 K.

Design, Synthesis, and Evaluation of Metabolism-Based Analogues of Haloperidol Incapable of Forming MPP+-like Species

The long-term, irreversible, Parkinsonism-like side effects of haloperidol have been speculated to involve several mechanisms. More recently, it has been speculated that the metabolic transformation to MPP+-like species may contribute to the Parkinsonism-like side effects. Because BCPP+ and its reduced analogue have been shown to possess the potential to destroy dopamine receptors in the nigrostriatum, we have designed new analogues of haloperidol lacking the structural features necessary to form neurotoxic quaternary species but retaining their dopamine-binding capacity. The most potent agent at the D2 receptor, the homopiperidine analogue 11, was found to be equipotent to haloperidol. It was also of interest to identify analogues with DA binding profiles similar to that of clozapine at the dopamine receptor subtypes. Evaluation of the proposed agents shows that the ratio of D2 to D4 (2) binding of clozapine was mimicked by 7 [K(i)(D2) = 33, K(i)(D3) = 200, K(i)(D4) = 11 nM; K(i)(D2)/K(i)(D4) = 3] and 9 [K(i)(D2) = 44, K(i)(D3) = 170, K(i)(D4) = 24 nM; K(i)(D2)/K(i)(D4) = 2]. A preliminary in-vivo testing of compound 7 shows that its behavioral profile is similar to that of clozapine. This profile suggests that there is a need for further evaluation of these two synthetic agents and their enantiomers for efficacy and lack of catalepsy in animal models.