RF phase shifter using a distributed feedback laser in microwave transport systems.

This work experimentally demonstrates the efficacy of a radio-frequency phase shifter using a distributed feedback laser in a microwave transport system. Phase shifts of about 101 degrees are obtained at 8.75 GHz.

Population structure, origins and evolution of major Salmonella enterica clones.

The genus Salmonella consists of two species S. enterica and S. bongori.

Primary biliary cirrhosis is associated with altered hepatic microRNA expression.

MicroRNAs (miRNAs) are small RNA molecules that negatively regulate protein coding gene expression and are thought to play a critical role in many biological processes. Aberrant levels of miRNAs have been associated with numerous diseases and cancers, and as such, miRNAs have gain much interests as diagnostic biomarkers, and as therapeutic targets. However, their role in autoimmunity is largely unknown.

Inhibition of autoregulated TGFbeta signaling simultaneously enhances proliferation and differentiation of kidney epithelium and promotes repair following renal ischemia.

We studied autocrine transforming growth factor (TGF)beta signaling in kidney epithelium. Cultured proximal tubule cells showed regulated signaling that was high during log-phase growth, low during contact-inhibited differentiation, and rapidly increased during regeneration of wounded epithelium. Autoregulation of signaling correlated with TGFbeta receptor and Smad7 levels, but not with active TGFbeta, which was barely measurable in the growth medium.

Rapid and accurate typing of Bordetella pertussis targeting genes encoding acellular vaccine antigens using real time PCR and High Resolution Melt analysis.

Real Time-PCR (RT-PCR) and high resolution melt (HRM) analyses were used for rapid typing of genes encoding components of the pertussis acellular vaccine, namely prn, ptxA, fhaB, fim2 and fim3. The length polymorphisms in prn were detected by RT-PCR followed by HRM; single nucleotide polymorphisms in prn and other genes were detected by hairpin primer RT-PCR. These rapid methods are suitable for large-scale studies of vaccine-driven evolution of Bordetella pertussis.

Acrolein-derived DNA adduct formation in human colon cancer cells: its role in apoptosis induction by docosahexaenoic acid.

The apoptotic effects of docosahexaenoic acid (DHA) and other omega-3 polyunsaturated fatty acids (PUFAs) have been documented in cell and animal studies. The molecular mechanism by which DHA induces apoptosis is unclear. Although there is no direct evidence, some studies have suggested that DNA damage generated through lipid peroxidation may be involved.

In silico prioritisation of candidate genes for prokaryotic gene function discovery: an application of phylogenetic profiles.

Background: In silico candidate gene prioritisation (CGP) aids the discovery of gene functions by ranking genes according to an objective relevance score. While several CGP methods have been described for identifying human disease genes, corresponding methods for prokaryotic gene function discovery are lacking. Here we present two prokaryotic CGP methods, based on phylogenetic profiles, to assist with this task.

Costimulatory molecule B7-H1 on the immune escape of bladder cancer and its clinical significance.

B7-H1, a recently described member of the B7 family of costimulatory molecules, is thought to be involved in tumor immune escape by inducing T-cell apoptosis. In order to investigate the relationship between B7-H1 and immune escape of bladder cancer, B7-H1 expression in 50 cases of bladder cancer was detected by using immunohistochemical method. Survival curves were constructed using the Kaplan-Meier method and independent prognostic factors were evaluated using the Cox regression model.

A recalibrated molecular clock and independent origins for the cholera pandemic clones.

Cholera, caused by Vibrio cholerae, erupted globally from South Asia in 7 pandemics, but there were also local outbreaks between the 6(th) (1899-1923) and 7(th) (1961-present) pandemics. All the above are serotype O1, whereas environmental or invertebrate isolates are antigenically diverse. The pre 7th pandemic isolates mentioned above, and other minor pathogenic clones, are related to the 7(th) pandemic clone, while the 6(th) pandemic clone is in the same lineage but more distantly related, and non-pathogenic isolates show no clonal structure.

Hepatic IL-17 responses in human and murine primary biliary cirrhosis.

The emergence of new regulatory and pro-inflammatory immune cell subsets and cytokines dictates the need to re-examine the role of these subsets in various diseases involving the immune system. IL-17 has been recently identified as a key cytokine involved in numerous autoimmune processes. However, its role in liver autoimmune diseases remains unclear.

Importation of the major pilin TcpA gene and frequent recombination drive the divergence of the Vibrio pathogenicity island in Vibrio cholerae.

The Vibrio pathogenicity island (VPI) encodes the toxin-coregulated pilus and other virulence factors for Vibrio cholerae to colonize the human intestine to cause cholera. We assessed the level of genetic variation of VPI in nine nonpandemic isolates, and compared them with the sixth and seventh pandemic strains by sequencing c. 5 kb each from the start, middle and end regions of the VPI.

[Effectiveness of an immunization campaign with group A and C meningococcal polysaccharide vaccine in controlling an outbreak of group C meningococcal disease].

Objective: To assess the safety, immunogenicity and efficacy of group A and C meningococcal polysaccharide vaccine (A/C MPV) in response to an outbreak of group C meningococcal disease.

Methods: A vaccination campaign with A/C MPV was prompted 6 weeks after the use of group A MPV in Laibin city, Guangxi, where an outbreak of group C meningococcal meningitis occurred in 2002. Vaccinees were observed for local and systemic reactions after the vaccination and followed up for the meningococcal disease for 5 years.

Geminin is partially localized to the centrosome and plays a role in proper centrosome duplication.

Background Information: Centrosome duplication normally parallels with DNA replication and is responsible for correct segregation of replicated DNA into the daughter cells. Although geminin interacts with Cdt1 to prevent loading of MCMs (minichromosome maintenance proteins) on to the replication origins, inactivation of geminin nevertheless causes centrosome over-duplication in addition to the re-replication of the genome, suggesting that geminin may play a role in centrosome duplication. However, the exact mechanism by which loss of geminin affects centrosomal duplication remains unclear and the possible direct interaction of geminin with centrosomal-localized proteins is still unidentified.

Genome-wide analysis of single nucleotide polymorphisms in Bordetella pertussis using comparative genomic sequencing.

Bordetella pertussis is known to be a genotypically homogeneous pathogen but the extent of homogeneity at the genomic level is unknown. A currently circulating B. pertussis isolate from Australia was compared with the genome-sequenced Tohama I strain isolated in Japan in the 1950s from a distantly related lineage.

[Effects of testosterone on the proliferation of rat corpus cavernosum cells in vitro].

Objective: To investigate the effects of testosterone on the proliferation of penile corpus cavernosal cells in male SD rats.

Methods: Smooth muscle cells (SMCs) and fibroblasts collected from the corpus cavernosal tissues of male SD rats were cultured by the enzymatic dispersion method and detected for the expression of the androgen receptor (AR) by immunohistochemistry. The effects of testosterone on the SMCs and fibroblasts were observed by methyl thiazolyl tetrazolium (MTT) assay in different concentration groups (10(-8) mol/L, 10(-7) mol/L, 10(-6) mol/L, 10(-5) mol/L, 10(-4) mol/L and 10(-3) mol/L) in comparison with the control.

Efficient parallel synthesis of macrocyclic peptidomimetics.

A new method for solid phase parallel synthesis of chemically and conformationally diverse macrocyclic peptidomimetics is reported. A key feature of the method is access to broad chemical and conformational diversity. Synthesis and mechanistic studies on the macrocyclization step are reported.

Adoptive transfer of CD8(+) T cells from transforming growth factor beta receptor type II (dominant negative form) induces autoimmune cholangitis in mice.

Unlabelled: We recently reported that mice with a T cell-restricted expression of a dominant negative form of transforming growth factor beta receptor type II (dnTGFbetaRII) spontaneously develop autoimmune cholangitis that resembles human primary biliary cirrhosis (PBC), including antimitochondrial antibodies (AMAs) and extensive portal CD4(+) and CD8(+) lymphocytic infiltrates. On the basis of these data, we performed a series of experiments to determine whether the pathology was secondary to direct dnTGFbetaRII disruption of the liver and/or alternatively the appearance of autoreactive T cells. First, using dnTGFbetaRIIRag1(-/-) mice, we noted a normal hepatic and biliary structure.

The regulatory, inflammatory, and T cell programming roles of interleukin-2 (IL-2).

Signaling through IL-2 induces the activation of pathways that lead to the proliferation, survival and cytokine production of effector T cells. However, through negative feedback mechanisms, internalization of the IL-2 receptor, induction of activation-induced cell death, and the generation of regulatory T cells, IL-2 also promotes the suppression of inflammatory responses. In regulatory T cells, IL-2 signaling upregulates the expression of FoxP3.

Tamsulosin treatment of chronic non-bacterial prostatitis.

The efficacy of tamsulosin in the treatment of chronic non-bacterial prostatitis was evaluated in a randomized clinical observation of 105 male outpatients conducted for 90 days. Patients were randomly divided into five groups (n = 21 per group) according to prostatitis type IIIA or IIIB and therapy regimens (tamsulosin, levofloxacin, or tamsulosin plus levofloxacin combination therapy). National Institutes of Health Chronic Prostatitis Symptom Index scores, expressed prostatic massage test and urodynamic urethral pressure and urethral closure pressure tests were performed to evaluate clinical efficacy of the treatments.

Amplified fragment length polymorphism analysis of Salmonella enterica.

Amplified fragment length polymorphism (AFLP) is a powerful PCR-based fingerprinting method and has the capacity to reveal variation around the whole genome by selectively amplifying a subset of restriction fragments for comparison. The restriction fragments analyzed are small, and even mutation of 1 bp can be detected. The use of different sets of restriction enzymes or different primer combinations can generate large numbers of different AFLP fingerprints.

The distribution of insertion sequences in the genome of Shigella flexneri strain 2457T.

Shigella flexneri, which causes shigellosis in humans, evolved from Escherichia coli. The sequencing of Shigella genomes has revealed that a large number of insertion sequence (IS) elements (over 200 elements) reside in the genome. Although the presence of these elements has been noted previously and summarized, more detailed analyses are required to understand their evolutionary significance.

Regulatory T cells in the prevention of mucosal inflammatory diseases: patrolling the border.

Regulatory T (Treg) cells are important contributors to the maintenance of immune tolerance in the periphery, and deficiency of Tregs is associated with various immunopathic diseases. Murine models of autoimmune and autoinflammatory disorders have helped to elucidate how Tregs are involved in these diseases. A feature in common between human and mice that lack one or another of the key Treg subsets is the occurrence of mucosal inflammation.

Generation of functionally distinct B lymphocytes from common myeloid progenitors.

Current models of adult haematopoiesis propose that haematopoietic stem cells (HSCs) differentiate into common lymphoid (CLP) and common myeloid (CMP) progenitors and establish an early separation between myeloid and lymphoid lineages. Nevertheless, the developmental potential of CMP-associated B cells suggests the existence of alternate pathways for B lymphopoesis. The aim of this study was to compare the developmental and functional properties of CMP- and CLP-derived B cells.

Single-nucleotide-polymorphism typing and genetic relationships of Salmonella enterica serovar Typhi isolates.

Salmonella enterica serovar Typhi is a clone with a low level of variation. We developed a molecular typing method for serovar Typhi using 38 genome-wide single-nucleotide polymorphisms (SNPs) as markers detected by PCR-restriction enzyme digestion. The 73 worldwide serovar Typhi isolates studied were separated into 23 SNP profiles and four distinct genetic groups.

AMA production in primary biliary cirrhosis is promoted by the TLR9 ligand CpG and suppressed by potassium channel blockers.

Unlabelled: We previously reported that peripheral blood mononuclear cells (PBMCs) from patients with primary biliary cirrhosis (PBC) produce significantly higher levels of polyclonal IgM than controls after exposure to CpG. Furthermore, the prevalence and unusually high levels of antimitochondrial antibodies (AMAs) in patients with PBC suggest a profound loss ofB cell tolerance. We have addressed the issue of whether CpG will promote the production ofAMAs and whether new experimental agents that inhibit the lymphocyte potassium channels Kv1.