Search

Three cDNAs, termed EpC1, TPxEg and EgG5, were isolated by immunoscreening from an Echinococcus granulosus cDNA library. The recombinant phages exhibited strong reactivity with sera from humans with confirmed cystic echinococcosis (CE) and with sera from mice infected with E. granulosus oncospheres. The cDNAs were subcloned into a pET vector, expressed as fusion proteins tagged with GST and affinity purified against the GST tag. Of the three recombinant proteins, EpC1 achieved the highest performance for serodiagnosis of CE in Western blot analysis using a panel of clinically defined human sera to initially address the sensitivity and specificity of the molecules. The protein yielded an overall sensitivity of 92.2% and specificity of 95.6%, levels unprecedented taking into account the large panel of 896 human sera that were tested. The strategy used may also prove suitable for improved immunodiagnosis of other parasitic infections.

Background: Diffusion-weighted MR imaging (DWI) has increasingly contributed to the management of nasopharyngeal carcinoma (NPC) patients. The objective of this paper was to explore the prognostic significance of apparent diffusion coefficient (ADC) values in 93 NPC patients.Methods: This retrospective study included 93 newly diagnosed NPC patients. Pretreatment ADC values were determined and compared with patients' age, gender, alcohol intake, smoking, tumor volume, pathological type, tumor stage, and nodal stage. Using the Kaplan-Meier method, overall survival (OS), local relapse-free survival (LRFS), and distant metastasis-free survival (DMFS) were calculated and the values compared between the low and high ADC groups. Multivariate analysis of ADC values and other 9 clinical parameters was performed using a Cox proportional hazards model to test the independent significance for OS, LRFS and DMFS.Results: The mean ADC value for the initial nasopharyngeal tumors was 0.72 × 10-3 mm2/s (range: 0.48-0.97 × 10-3 mm2/s). There was no significant difference between pretreatment ADCs and patient' gender, age, smoking, alcohol intake, or tumor stage. A significant difference in the ADCs for different N stages (P = 0.022) and correlation with initial tumor volume (r = -0.26, P = 0.012) were observed. In comparison, the ADC value for undifferentiated carcinoma was lower than that for other 3 pathological types. With a median follow-up period of 50 months, the 3-year and 5-year OS rates were 88.2% and 83.3%, respectively, 3-year and 5-year LRFS rates were 93.5% and 93.3%, respectively, and 3-year and 5-year DMFS rates were 83.9% and 83.3%, respectively. Patients with tumor ADC values ≥0.72 × 10-3 mm2/s exhibited longer OS and LRFS periods compared with tumor ADC values <0.72 × 10-3 mm2/s, with P values 0.036 and 0.018, respectively. In addition, patients with deaths or recurrences or distant metastasis had significant lower ADC values than those without disease failures. According to a multivariate analysis using the Cox proportional hazard test, ADC values showed a significant correlation with OS (P = 0.0004), LRFS (P = 0.0009), and DMFS (P < 0.0001), respectively.Conclusions: Pretreatment tumor ADC values supposed to be a noninvasive important prognostic parameter for NPC. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Pure nano -- TiO2 particles and those doped with various contents of Ce were prepared by sol -- gel process and characterized by UV -- Vis and XRD spectra. Being a model reaction, the photocatalytic degradation of methyl orange in aqueous solution in the presence of CeO2/TiO2 nano -- particles was investigated. Results show that the reflective spectral characteristic of rare -- earth Ce doped nano -- TiO2 particles is moved to the visible region with a red shift to 500 nm, and the absorption of visible and UV light of rare -- earth Ce doped nano -- TiO2 is enhanced. It is indicated that a few Ce4+ doped enters into the crystal lattices of TIO2, a lot of Ce4+ doped are uniformly dispersed into TiO2 or covered onto TiO2 as the forro of CeO2 with small size, which explains that the rare - earth Ce doping enhances the photocatalytic activity of TiOs, and the optimum content of CeO2 in CeO2/TiO2 is 2.0 mol%. Photodegradation mechanism of methyl orange has probably two kinds of ways. One is the degradation mechanism of methyl orange in photocatalysis enhanced by doped ion, the other is that enhanced by doped ion and photosensitized reagent. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Background: Dogs play a pivotal role in the transmission of cystic echinococcosis (CE), a zoonosis caused by the tapeworm Echinococcus granulosus. We showed previously that dogs vaccinated with two E. granulosus adult-worm specific proteins, EgM9 and EgM123, emulsified with Freund's adjuvants induced significant protective efficacy in terms of reduction in worm burden and egg production after 45 days post-infection. It was not known whether this protection can be sustained using adjuvants suitable for use in dogs. Methods: Recombinant EgM9 and EgM123 were mixed with Quil A or ISCOMs for vaccinating dogs. After three vaccine injections, all the dogs were orally challenge-infected with 200 000 protoscoleces of E. granulosus. After 45 days of infection, all the dogs were euthanized and necropsied for collecting and counting E. granulosus worms. Immunoglobins, including the IgG subclasses IgG1 and IgG2, were detected in the sera of vaccinated dogs by ELISA. To determine whether the protection efficacy could be maintained after 45 days post-infection, we implemented a longevity trial to count eggs in dog faeces for 170 days after infection. Results: The dogs vaccinated with EgM9 and EgM123 mixed with Quil A and ISCOMs showed similar protective efficacy as the proteins emulsified with Freund's adjuvants in our previous study in terms of reduction of worms and eggs at 45 days post-infection. The longevity trial showed that EgM9 protein-vaccinated group released lower number of eggs per gram compared with the egg counts in the control dogs during the dog trial study. Conclusion: EgM9 and EgM123 are thus suitable vaccine candidates against E. granulosus infection in dogs. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Echinococcosis is an important communicable disease that has remarkable impacts on the global health. The disease is highly endemic in western China. In the last decades, achievements were obtained for the surgery and drug therapies for echinococcosis, as well as for studies on genomics, signaling pathways, and liver proliferation and injury of the intermediate hosts. Although steps have entered vaccine development, challenges remainin immunodiagnosis and drug treatment for intermediate hosts, and in vaccine development for definitive hosts. This paper gives an overview on the current achievements and challenges for echinococcosis control.

Europium chloride, 2-thienylformyltrifluoroacetone and sodium silicate were used to synthesize new-style rare earth complex (Eu-TNS). By adding into dichloromethane solution containing Eu-TNS, the fluorescent intensities were enhanced gradually and regularly. High-resolution mass spectrometry was used to detect the formula of Eu-TNS, which belongs to multi-core rare-earth complex. Polarity of solution increasing by adding absolute ethanol will cause Eu-TNS to dissociate, which enhances the fluoresceot intensities of Eu-TNS solution. This rare earth complex Eu-TNS can be employed as fluorescence sensor to detect the content of ethanol in organic solvent.

Objective: To assess the prevalence of cataract, the outcomes of cataract surgery, the rate of cataract surgical coverage, and the rate of cataract blindness social burden., Methods: Cluster sampling was used in 5118 randomly selected individuals aged > or = 50 years in the Shunyi district of Beijing from April to August 2006. All individuals were received visual acuity and eye examination, including the evaluation of lens status and cataract surgical status by slit lamp biomicroscopy. Data bank was established by Epi-info Software. Statistical analyses were performed using Stata/SE Statistical Software, release 9.0 (Stata Corp, College Station,TX). Multiple logistic regression analysis was employed to analyzed the prevalence of cataract,cataract surgical coverage rate,cataract blindness social burden rate and outcomes of surgery among different ages, sex and educational background., Results: In 5118 individuals, 797 cases of cataract were found, the prevalence of cataract was 15.57% among adults aged 50 or above. The prevalence of cataract was higher in the aged, female, illiterate persons (P < 0.01). In 189 eyes with cataract surgery, 65.08% and 23.28% of eyes were performed by the modern extra-capsular surgery and Phacoemulsification respectively. The rate of intraocular lens implantation was 89.42%. Post-operative presenting and best corrected visual acuity more than 0.7 was 30.16% and 61.38% of operated eyes respectively. The main causes of the post-operated eyes with worse visual acuity were post-capsular opacity and refractive error. The cataract surgical coverage rate was 62.22%, and the cataract blindness social burden rate was 2.64%. The cataract surgical rate was lower and cataract blindness social burden rate was higher in the aged persons (P < 0.01)., Conclusions: Cataract is the most common eye disease that may lead into blindness and severe visual impairment among older adults aged equal or more than 50 years. The cataract surgical coverage rate is high in the Shunyi district, but still is lower in the aged persons. The visual outcomes of the surgery should be further improved in the future.

Unlabelled: OBJECTIVE To assess the prevalence of blindness and moderate and severe visual impairment among adults aged 50 years or above in the Shunyi district of Beijing,China., Methods: It was a population-based cross-section study. Geographically defined cluster sampling was used in 5840 randomly selected individuals aged > or = 50 years in 28 clusters in the Shunyi district from April to August 2006. The survey was preceded by a pilot study where operational methods were refined and quality assurance evaluation was carried out. All participants were enumerated through village registers followed door-to-door visits. Eligible individuals were invited to receive visual acuity measurement and eye examination. Statistical analyses were performed using Stata/SE Statistical Software, release 9. 0. Chi-square test was used to investigate the association of age, gender and education with presenting and best corrected visual acuity., Results: Five thousands eight hundreds and forty individuals were recruited and 5118 persons were examined,the response rate was 87.64%. Based on the criteria of World Health Organization visual impairment classification in 1973,57 persons were diagnosed as blindness, 160 persons were diagnosed as moderate and severe visual impairment defined as best corrected visual acuity, the prevalence of blindness and moderate and severe visual impairment were 1.11% and 3.12% respectively. Sixty-five persons were diagnosed as blindness, 428 persons were diagnosed as moderate and severe visual impairment defined as presenting visual acuity, the prevalence of blindness and moderate and severe visual impairment were 1.27% and 8. 36% respectively. The prevalence of blindness and moderate and severe visual impairment was higher in aged (trend Chi2 = 784.23, P = 0.000), female (Chi2 = 28.35, P = 0.000), and illiterate persons (trend Chi2 = 397.13, P = 0.000). Cataract was still the first leading cause of blindness and visual impairment, the retinal diseases was the second. Un-corrected refractive error also was the main cause of visual impairment., Conclusions: The prevalence of blindness and moderate and severe visual impairment has been decreasing among older adults aged 50 years or above in the Shunyi district since 1996. The first leading cause of blindness and visual impairment is still cataract.

Eu(PPA)3 dioxane and Tb(PPA)3 dioxane were synthesized by firstly adopting dioxane as second ligand and using pipemidic acid (PPA) as first ligand. In contrast with two kinds of binary lanthanide complexes Eu(PPA)3 and Tb(PPA)3, the photoluminescent intensities of Eu (PPA)3 dioxane and Tb (PPA)3 dioxane are much stronger, especially for that of Tb(PPA)3 dioxane. The enhancement of photoluminescent intensities of Eu(PPA)3 dioxane and Tb(PPA)3 dioxane is because of the replacement of dioxane for water bonded to Eu3+ and Tb3+, by which the energy loss through heat oscillation will be inhibited. The as-synthesized lanthanide complexes were characterized by FT-IR, photoluminescence spectra and photoluminescence lifetime. The lifetime of Eu(PPA)3 dioxane and Tb(PPA) dioxane remarkably changed compared with those of Eu(PPA)3 and Tb(PPA)3. However, there is much difference for the lifetime change of as-synthesized lanthanide complexes formed by Eu3+ and Tb3+, which shows that there is different energy transfer process for the lanthanide complexes formed by Eu3+ and Tb3+. The synthesis of lanthanide complexes using dioxane as second ligand will provide a new method to detect the existence of dioxane.

Objective: To investigate the immune protection of the recombinant membrane protein(45M) against larvae of Taenia multiceps in sheep., Methods: Twelve sheep were randomly divided into immune group and control group, and each sheep was immunized four times (three weeks interval) respectively with 50 microg recombinant 45M or GST emulsified with adjuvant. Serum samples were collected at pre-immunization and certain time after immunization, and were analyzed for IgG and IgM by ELISA. At the 105th day after the final inoculation, each sheep was orally challenged by 5000 eggs of T. multiceps. Two weeks after infection, the sheep were sacrificed, serum samples were collected, and number of cysts in brain tissue was counted. Activated oncospheres were cultured with 10% sera of immune group or control group, and observed by light microscopy., Results: The mean number of cysts was 1.5, and the average diameter of the cysts was 2.2 mm. Compared with control group, the reduction rate of cysts in immunized sheep was 68.9%. At the 72th hour after culture with serum of immunized sheep, about 90% oncospheres were killed by antiserum, and the oncospheres began to shrink or expand, and internal structure became fuzzy. ELISA showed that after final immunization (the 9th week), the levels of IgG in sera of immune group (2.32+/-0.76) were significantly higher than those of the control (0.70+/-0.42) (t=4.47, P<0.01). At the 24th week the levels of IgG and IgM in sera of immune group (1.53+/- 0.81, 0.90+/-0.26) were significantly higher than those of the control (0.64+/-0.43, 0.43+/-0.15) (P<0.01)., Conclusion: The recombinant 45M can induce certain humoral immune response.

Objective: To verify the application and effectiveness of monthly deworming for all dogs in the control of Echinococcus granulosus infection., Methods: Baited praziquantel was used to treat all registered dogs monthly by hydatid disease control officers at village level and all stray (unowned) dogs were eliminated in the counties of Hutubi and Wensu in 1987-1990 and 1990-1994 respectively. Prevalence of echinococcosis in dogs and sheep was recorded yearly., Results: The infection rate in dogs decreased from 18.5% and 14.7% before implementation of the control measure to zero in 3-4 years in Hutubi and Wensu Counties respectively. Prevalence of hydatid disease in new born sheep was reduced by more than 85% in comparison to the same age sheep before the control program in both counties., Conclusion: "Monthly drug administration to all dogs" is an effective way to the control of echinococcosis in dogs and of hydatid disease in sheep.

Aim: To study the localization of the antioxidant protein thioredoxin peroxidase (TPx) of Echinococcus granulosus (EgTPx) in the protoscoleces (PSC) of parasite., Methods: The protoscoleces of E.granulosus were aspirated and pooled from sheep liver hydatid cysts. After digested by pepsin, the sedimented protoscoleces were used for paraffin sections. The localization of the antioxidant protein TPx of EgTPx was determined by using(polyclonal antibody against rEgTPx) and indirect immunofluorescence staining., Results: Indirect immunofluorescence staining analysis indicated that the rEgTPx was mainly distributed in tegument, subtegument and calcareous corpuscle cells of the protoscolex., Conclusion: The wide distribution and large sites of EgTPx in the parasite hare been clearly determined, which will help further investigation into the biological functions and application of TPx protein.

Objective: To comparatively observe the curative effect, adverse reaction and compliance of Modified Xiaoyao Pill combining amitriptyline (MXP-At) in treating patients with depression., Methods: Sixty-four patients with diagnosis of depression matched to the Chinese Classification of Mental Disorders (CCMD-3) were randomly assigned to 2 groups, the treatment group treated with MXP-At and the control group with fluoxeline, 32 cases in each group. The curative effect was evaluated by Hamilton depression (HAMD) scale and the adverse reaction was recorded before treatment and at the 2nd, 4th and 12th week of the treatment. Patients were regularly followed up from the 12th week to the 24 th week. The curative effect and compliance in the two groups were compared., Results: The HAMD score dropped in both groups from the 2nd week of the treatment, and at that time, it was lower in the control group than that in the treatment group (P < 0.05); but at the 4th week, no significant difference was found in the therapeutic effect and the HAMD score between the two groups. However, 3 and 14 cases in the treatment and the control group were relapsed during the 12 weeks of follow-up respectively., Conclusion: MXP-At shows a curative effect similar to fluoxetine on depression but with less adverse reaction, and is not expensive.

Objective: To investigate a rat animal model of filtering bleb scarring formation., Methods: Thirty-five of Sprague-Dawley (SD) rats were used in this experiment. The filtration surgery was performed on one eye of each rat and the other eye served as control. The presence of postoperative bleb and clinical manifestation was evaluated. Each group of three rats were sacrificed and the eyes enucleated on day 1, 3, 7, 14, and 28. After the eyes were fixed by 10% formalin, serial paraffin sections of three eyes were labeled with HE staining and the pathological morphology was observed under a microscope., Results: A conjunctival bleb was successfully formed in 35 rats lasting from 8 to 21 days after surgery. An obvious dilatation of blood vessels, infiltration of a great number of neutrophil, and a severe edema of the subconjunctival tissue were observed on day 1 and the above morphological changes plus increased infiltration of macrophages were found on day 3. The dilated blood vessels were lessened while the proliferation of fibroblast was presented with abundant endochylema in oval-shaped nucleus of fibroblasts, which were closely associated with the deposition of small amount of new loose collagen fibers on day 7. The collagen fibers became tight on day 14 and subsequently, the early scar was formed on day 28., Conclusion: The rat model of filtering bleb scarring formation may be useful for the investigation of preventing and treating conjunctival scarring resulted from glaucoma filtration surgery and other related eye diseases in the future.

Objective: To study expression and sequence differences of Echinococcus granulosus 95(Eg95) antigen cDNA from different stages of protoscolex, oncosphere and adult worm of E. granulosus from Xinjiang Uighur Aut. Reg., Methods: In accordance with the sequence of Eg95 antigen cDNA, the primers of Eg95 were designed. Eg95 antigen cDNAs were amplified by PCR from protoscolex, oncosphere and adult worm cDNA libraries of E. granulosus, respectively and were cloned into pUCm-T plasmid, and sequenced. The sequences were analyzed by DNAman and GenBank/BLAST biosoftware., Results: PCR results showed that Eg95 antigen cDNA was amplified from three stages of E. granulosus cDNA libraries. Sequencing analysis indicated that the Eg95 cDNA length was 402 bp, same as the reported data in GenBank., Conclusion: The Eg95 antigen cDNA was expressed in the different life-cycle stages of E. granulosus in Xinjiang and there was no nucleic acid sequence difference of Eg95 antigen among the protoscolex, oncosphere and adult worm of E. granulosus.