Self-powered SBD solar-blind photodetector fabricated on the single crystal of β-GaO.

A Schottky barrier diode (SBD) solar-blind photodetector was fabricated based on the single crystal β-GaO. Cu and Ti/Au were deposited on the top and bottom surface of GaO as Schottky and ohmic contacts, respectively. The SBD exhibits a higher rectification ratio of up to 5 × 10 at ±2 V.

An improved gold nanoparticle probe-based assay for HCV core antigen ultrasensitive detection.

A gold nanoparticle probe-based assay (GNPA) was developed for ultrasensitive detection of Hepatitis C virus (HCV) core antigen. In the GNPA, after anti-HCV core antigen polyclonal antibodies and single-stranded barcode signal DNA were labeled on gold nanoparticle probe (NP), DNA enzyme was used to degrade the unbound barcode DNAs. The anti-HCV core antigen monoclonal antibodies were coated on magnetic microparticles probe (MMP).

Bushen Qiangji Granule () medicated serum inhibits osteogenic differentiation of fibroblasts in ankylosing spondylitis by inhibiting the BMP/Smads signal pathway in vitro.

Objective: To explore the mechanism of Bushen Qiangji Granule (, BSQJ) in restraining the osteogenic differentiation of ankylosing spondylitis (AS) fifibroblasts.

Methods: Hip joint capsules were obtained from AS patients (n=10) receiving total hip replacement and healthy hip joint capsules from patients with hip fracture (n=10) receiving surgery as a control. Finite fifibroblast lines were established from these tissue samples to observe the effect of BSQJ on suppressing osteogenic differentiation of fifibroblasts.

A Cytomegalovirus Peptide-Specific Antibody Alters Natural Killer Cell Homeostasis and Is Shared in Several Autoimmune Diseases.

Human cytomegalovirus (hCMV), a ubiquitous beta-herpesvirus, has been associated with several autoimmune diseases. However, the direct role of hCMV in inducing autoimmune disorders remains unclear. Here we report the identification of an autoantibody that recognizes a group of peptides with a conserved motif matching the Pp150 protein of hCMV (anti-Pp150) and is shared among patients with various autoimmune diseases.

Elemene, the essential oil of Curcuma wenyujin, inhibits osteogenic differentiation in ankylosing spondylitis.

Objective: To explore the effects of Elemene, the essential oil of Curcuma wenyujin, on Bone morphogenetic protein/drosophila mothers against decapentaplegic proteins (BMP/SMADs) signal pathway in ankylosing spondylitis (AS) fibroblasts.

Methods: Hip joint capsules were obtained from AS patients (n=10) receiving total hip replacement. Healthy hip joint capsules from patients with hip fracture (n=10) receiving surgery were included as a control.

[Pulmonary pathology in fatal human influenza A (H1N1) infection].

Objective: To study the pulmonary pathology in patients died of fatal human influenza A(H1N1) infection.

Methods: Eight cases of fatal human influenza A (H1N1) infection, including 2 autopsy cases and 6 paramortem needle puncture biopsies, were enrolled into the study. Histologic examination, immunohistochemitry, flow cytometry and Western blotting were carried out.

Evaluation of cross-reactive antibody response to HVR1 in chronic hepatitis C.

Aim: To evaluate the presence and cross-reactive antibodies against hypervariable region 1 (HVR1) in hepatitis C virus (HCV) infected patients and its relationship with the progression of the disease.

Methods: Sixteen representative HVR1 proteins selected from a unique set of 1600 natural sequences were used to semiquantitate the cross-reactivity of HVR1 antibodies in the sera of HCV patients. Fifty-five chronic HCV patients including 23 with asymptomatic mild hepatitis, 18 with chronic hepatitis and 16 with liver cirrhosis patients were studied.

Detection of hepatitis C virus core antigen for early diagnosis of hepatitis C virus infection in plasma donor in China.

Aim: To evaluate the efficacy of a new hepatitis C virus (HCV) core antigen assay developed in China.

Methods: After the determination of HCV infection, 49 serial samples were selected from 11 regular plasma donors in 5 different plasma stations. To compare the performance of HCV core antigen detection and HCV PCR, these samples were genotyped, and each specimen was analyzed by ELISA for the detection of HCV core antigen and by qualitative HCV PCR.

Cloning, expression, and purification of HLA-A2-BSP and beta-2m in Escherichia coli.

Tetramer analysis is a novel technique in immunological research that has dramatically changed our knowledge of the immune response to pathogens, tumors and autoimmune disease. Through the formation of major histocompatibility complex (MHC)-peptide tetrameric complexes, it can provide accurate counts of antigen-specific T-cells and it allows their phenotypical and functional analysis. The tetramer is composed of the human leukocyte antigen (HLA) heavy chain, beta-2 microglobulin (beta-2m), the nominal peptide, and streptavidin.

[Studies on the correlation between titer of antibodies against different function regions of hepatitis C virus and HCV RNA of chronic patients].

Objective: To detect humoral immune response against different function regions of hepatitis C virus (HCV) in chronic patients, and further to investigate the correlativity between anti-HCV antibody titers and HCV RNA concentration.

Methods: Using recombinant dominate epitope antigens, e.g.

Cross-reactivity of hypervariable region 1 chimera of hepatitis C virus.

Aim: To analyze the amino acid sequences of hypervariable region 1 (HVR1) of HCV isolates in China and to construct a combinatorial chimeric HVR1 protein having a very broad high cross-reactivity.

Methods: All of the published HVR1 sequences from China were collected and processed with a computer program. Several representative HVR1's sequences were formulated based on a consensus profile and homology within certain subdivision.