Enhanced Vaccine Immunogenicity Enabled by Targeted Cytosolic Delivery of Tumor Antigens into Dendritic Cells.

Molecular vaccines comprising antigen peptides and inflammatory cues make up a class of therapeutics that promote immunity against cancer and pathogenic diseases but often exhibit limited efficacy. Here, we engineered an antigen peptide delivery system to enhance vaccine efficacy by targeting dendritic cells and mediating cytosolic delivery. The delivery system consists of the nontoxic anthrax protein, protective antigen (PA), and a single-chain variable fragment (scFv) that recognizes the XCR1 receptor on dendritic cells (DCs).

Prevalence and risk factors for dementia in the Tibetan region: A population-based cross-sectional study.

Background: As China's population ages, the nationwide prevalence of dementia is increasing. However, the epidemiology of dementia among the Tibetan population remains unclear.

Objective: A cross-sectional study was conducted involving 9116 participants aged >50 years in the Tibetan population to investigate the risk factors and prevalence of dementia among this population.

Automated Flow Synthesis of Tumor Neoantigen Peptides for Personalized Immunotherapy.

High-throughput genome sequencing and computation have enabled rapid identification of targets for personalized medicine, including cancer vaccines. Synthetic peptides are an established mode of cancer vaccine delivery, but generating the peptides for each patient in a rapid and affordable fashion remains difficult. High-throughput peptide synthesis technology is therefore urgently needed for patient-specific cancer vaccines to succeed in the clinic.

The relationship between anthropometric indices and type 2 diabetes mellitus among adults in north-east China.

Objective: The present study was performed to test the predictive value of different cut-off points of anthropometric parameters for the presence of type 2 diabetes (T2DM) or glucose tolerance abnormalities in north-east Chinese adults.

Design: Multistage random cluster sampling method in a cross-sectional study.

Setting: Height, body weight, maximal body weight in the past, waist and hip circumferences, blood pressure, 2 h post-load glucose and other lifestyle factors were measured.

rs10505474 and rs7837328 at 8q24 cumulatively confer risk of prostate cancer in Northern Han Chinese.

Aims: Genome-wide association studies (GWAS) have identified several risk variants for prostate cancer (pCa) mainly in Europeans, which need to be further verified in other racial groups. We selected six previously identified variants as candidates and to define the association with PCa in Northern Han Chinese.

Methods: 749 subjects from Beijing and Tianjin in Northern China were included.

Analysis of allergens in 5 473 patients with allergic diseases in Harbin, China.

Objective: To analyze the allergic status to common inhalant allergens and food allergens in clinical patients in Harbin in northeastern China and provide evidence to develop the prevention strategy of allergic disease.

Methods: The data were collected from 5 473 patients with clinical suspected allergic diseases seeking medical care in the Second Affiliated Hospital of Harbin Medical University. Among these patients, 2 530 (46.

[Pre-diabetes mellitus influenced by hyperuricemia].

Objective: To investigate the relationship and the influence between pre-diabetes mellitus (PDM) and hyperuricemia (HUA).

Methods: 157 PDM patients, aged 20 to 75 years old were selected from the Second Clinical Medical College of Harbin Medical University, from 2009 February to 2010 February and were divided into HUA group (76 cases) and NUA group (81 cases). All the patients had not been on thiazide drugs.

Subtype B was the dominant strain among HIV type 1 infections except for the population of men who have sex with men in Harbin City, China.

We sought to identify the prevalent subtypes and study the genetic variation of HIV-1 circulating in HIV infections in Harbin City, China. Forty-seven samples from the env V3-V4 region were successfully sequenced and analyzed, which involved thirty-one men who have sex with men (MSM), eight heterosexuals, seven former plasma donors (FPD)/blood transfusion recipients (BT), and one injection drug user (IDU). In all, 46.

[A preliminary study on the effects of meteorological factors on intracerebral hemorrhage death using the BP neural network model].

Objective: Using the Back Propagation (BP) Neural Network Model to discover the relationship between meteorological factors and mortality of intracerebral hemorrhage, to provide evidence for developing an intracerebral hemorrhage prevention and control program, in Harbin.

Methods: Based on the characteristics of BP neural network, a neural network Toolbox of MATLAB 7.0 software was used to build Meteorological data of 2007 - 2009 with intracerebral hemorrhage mortality to predict the effect of BP neural network model, and to compare with the traditional multivariate linear regression model.

Analysis of human immunodeficiency virus type 1 Vif gene sequences among men who have sex with men in Heilongjiang province of China.

To identify the current prevalent subtypes and to study the genetic variation of HIV-1 strains in men who have sex with men (MSM) residing in Heilongjiang province, China. We analyzed the characteristics of the nucleotide sequences and the corresponding deduced protein of Vif of HIV-1 strains isolated from 17 drug-naive HIV-1-seropositive MSM. Subtypes B (7.

Meta-analysis of the association of the C677T polymorphism of the methylenetetrahydrofolate reductase gene with hyperuricemia.

Background: The association between the MTHFR C677T polymorphism and hyperuricemia has been investigated in several studies. Although these epidemiological studies have shown that genetic factors are determinants of serum uric acid levels, the power of the association is weak due to the small sample size.

Methods: To study whether the MTHFR C677T polymorphism has an effect on hyperuricemia, we carried out a meta-analysis of case-control studies from PubMed, EMBASE and CNKI (China National Knowledge Infrastructure) databases mainly in English and Chinese.

[Relationship between maximum body mass index and type 2 diabetes mellitus among adults in Heilongjiang province.].

Objective: To determine the prevalence and distribution of type 2 diabetes mellitus (T2DM) and the relationship between maximum body mass index (MAXBMI) and T2DM.

Methods: From June to August, 2005, a stratified cluster sampling of 1071 permanent residents in communities, over 20 years old, from 4 districts and 1 county of Mudanjiang was chosen. The prevalence of T2DM, and the association between T2DM and different levels of the MAXBMI, current BMI were studied.

[The components of metabolic syndrome that influencing the prevalence of cardiovascular disease in a follow-up study].

Objective: To investigate metabolic syndrome components that influencing the prevalence of cardiovascular disease (CVD).

Methods: Five hundred persons were selected from a unit in Nanning city, Guangxi, based on the cross-sectional study on a distribution of population with metabolic syndrome in 2004 and followed them up for 3.5 more years.

Genetic polymorphisms of glutathione S-transferase T1 and bladder cancer risk: a meta-analysis.

In recent years, there have been numerous papers emphasizing the relationship between Glutathione S-transferases polymorphisms and bladder cancer risk, but the findings have not reached a consensus. The relationship between glutathione S-transferase T 1 null genotype and bladder cancer susceptibility is now even more disputable. Therefore, we present a meta-analysis of (nested) case-controlled, genotype-based studies (including 37 studies, 6,986 cases and 9,166 controls) examining this association.

Analysis of human immunodeficiency virus type 1 nef gene sequences among inmates from prisons in China.

To provide the hard-won information on HIV-1 polymorphism from inmates in prison and to study the genetic variation of HIV-1 strains, we analyzed the characterization of the nucleotide and corresponding protein sequences of naturally occurring nef sequences derived from 16 HIV-1-positive inmates from prisons in China. Nested PCR and DNA sequencing were used to determine nef sequences in peripheral blood mononuclear cells. Phylogenetic analysis revealed a distribution of the viral sequences among subtype B, CRF_BC, and CRF_AE, with subtype B accounting for more than half of the genotypes.

Nipple aspirate fluid collection, related factors and relationship between carcinoembryonic antigen in nipple aspirate fluid and breast diseases in women in Harbin, PRC.

This study aimed to examine the factors related to the ability to obtain nipple aspirate fluids in Chinese women and to evaluate the diagnostic value of carcinoembryonic antigen (CEA) in nipple aspiration fluids. Cross-sectional and case-control studies were used to examine the factors associated with the ability to obtain nipple aspiration fluids. A matched case-control study was used to explore the association of CEA level in nipple aspiration fluids with breast disease.

Comprehensive evaluation of genetic and environmental factors influencing the plasma lipoprotein-associated phospholipase A2 activity in a Japanese population.

The lipoprotein-associated phospholipase A2 (Lp-PLA2) metabolizes oxidized phospholipids, generating lysophosphatidylcholine. The activity of the enzyme is known to be influenced largely by a single-nucleotide polymorphism, G994T, in the Lp-PLA2 gene. Interestingly, this polymorphism is much more prevalent in Japanese than Caucasians.

[Awareness on SARS and public health emergencies among general publics].

Objective: To explore the awareness on sever acute respiratory syndrome (SARS) and public health emergencies among general publics.

Methods: A cluster sampling method was implemented in Harbin and Jiagedaqi district of Daxinanling of Heilongjiang province. Research subjects were divided into three groups as city, township and rural areas and were given questionnaires to fill in.