Evaluation of humoral and cellular immune responses to a DNA vaccine encoding chicken type II collagen for rheumatoid arthritis in normal rats.

A major challenge in the development of effective therapies for rheumatoid arthritis (RA) is finding a method for the specific inhibition of the inflammatory disease processes without the induction of generalized immunosuppression. Of note, the development of therapeutic DNA vaccines and boosters that may restore immunological tolerance remains a high priority. pcDNA-CCOL2A1 is a therapeutic DNA vaccine encoding chicken type II collagen(CCII).

Investigation of the roles of exosomes in colorectal cancer liver metastasis.

The leading cause of death among cancer patients is tumor metastasis. Tumor-derived exosomes are emerging as mediators of metastasis. In the present study, we demonstrated that exosomes play a pivotal role in the metastatic progression of colorectal cancer.

Microbiological influenced corrosion resistance characteristics of a 304L-Cu stainless steel against Escherichia coli.

Cu-bearing antibacterial stainless steels have been gaining popularity in recent years due to their strong antibacterial performances. However, only a few studies were reported for their actual performances against microbiologically influenced corrosion (MIC). In this study, electrochemical methods and surface analytical techniques were applied to study the MIC resistance characteristics of a 304L-Cu stainless steel (SS) against Escherichia coli in comparison with 304L SS as control.

Overexpression of Nodal induces a metastatic phenotype in pancreatic cancer cells via the Smad2/3 pathway.

Metastasis is the major cause for the high mortality rate of pancreatic cancer. Human embryonic stem cell (hESC) associated genes frequently correlate with malignant disease progression. Recent studies have demonstrated that the embryonic protein Nodal, which plays a critical role during embryonic development, is re-expressed in several types of tumors and promotes cancers progression.

γ₁34.5-deleted HSV-1-expressing human cytomegalovirus IRS1 gene kills human glioblastoma cells as efficiently as wild-type HSV-1 in normoxia or hypoxia.

Pathophysiological hypoxia, which fosters the glioma stem-like cell (GSC) phenotype, is present in high-grade gliomas and has been linked to tumor development, invasiveness and resistance to chemotherapy and radiation. Oncolytic virotherapy with engineered herpes simplex virus-1 (HSV-1) is a promising therapy for glioblastoma; however, the efficacy of γ(1)34.5-deleted HSVs, which have been used in clinical trials, was diminished in hypoxia.

[Survival analysis of AIDS patients in Liangshan prefecture, Sichuan province from 1995 to 2012].

Objective: To analyze the survival time and its related factors among AIDS patients in Liangshan prefecture of Sichuan province from 1995 to 2012.

Methods: A retrospective cohort study was conducted to analyze the information of 5 263 AIDS patients. The data were collected from Chinese HIV/AIDS Comprehensive Information Management System.

The impact of social factors on human immunodeficiency virus and hepatitis C virus co-infection in a minority region of Si-chuan, the People's Republic of China: a population-based survey and testing study.

Background: While many human immunodeficiency virus (HIV) studies have been performed in Liangshan, most were focused only on HIV infection and based on a sampling survey. In order to fully understand HIV and hepatitis C virus (HCV) prevalence and related risk factors in this region, this study implemented in 2009, included a survey, physical examination, HIV and HCV test in two towns.

Methods: All residents in two towns of the Butuo county were provided a physical examination and blood tests for HIV and HCV, and then followed by an interview for questionnaire.

HIV-, HCV-, and co-infections and associated risk factors among drug users in southwestern China: a township-level ecological study incorporating spatial regression.

Background: The human immunodeficiency virus (HIV) and hepatitis C virus (HCV) are major public health problems. Many studies have been performed to investigate the association between demographic and behavioral factors and HIV or HCV infection. However, some of the results of these studies have been in conflict.

The geographic distribution patterns of HIV-, HCV- and co-infections among drug users in a national methadone maintenance treatment program in Southwest China.

Background: HIV-, HCV- and HIV/HCV co-infections among drug users have become a rapidly emerging global public health problem. In order to constrain the dual epidemics of HIV/AIDS and drug use, China has adopted a methadone maintenance treatment program (MMTP) since 2004. Studies of the geographic heterogeneity of HIV and HCV infections at a local scale are sparse, which has critical implications for future MMTP implementation and health policies covering both HIV and HCV prevention among drug users in China.

Emerging microfluidic devices for cell lysis: a review.

Intracellular components containing information about genetic and disease characteristics are key substances to clinical diagnostics. Cell lysis is therefore a crucial step for efficient extraction and the subsequent analysis of intracellular components. With the advent of advanced manufacturing techniques, a number of micro systems have been proposed and applied for manipulating cells on chips.

[Effects of irrigation quota on moisture and salt redistribution in apple orchard soil in arid region].

Taking the salinized apple orchard soil in Qin'an County of Gansu Province, Northwest China as test object, a field experiment was conducted to study the effects of different irrigation quota (0, 900, 1800, 2700, and 3600 m3 x hm(-2)) on the redistribution of moisture and salt in 0-100 cm soil profile on the 10, 20, and 30 d during apple florescence stage. With the increase of irrigation quota, the leached depth of Na+ increased and its hysteretic effect of redistribution was more obvious, "the zero flux plane" of Ca2+ disappeared gradually, the scope of "the zero flux plane" of Mg2+ increased gradually, the leaching-migration mode of Cl- changed from "fluctuation" to "straight-line" and the evaporation-migration changed from "fluctuation" to "ladder", the redistribution pattern of SO4(2-) showed "point", and the position of redistribution and accumulation of HCO3- shifted gradually from the bottom to upper layer in soil profile. In the middle of the soil profile with deeper groundwater table, there existed a "zero flux plane" of salt, which shifted gradually from the upper layer to the bottom during the redistribution of moisture in soil profile, embodying the characteristics of moisture depletion in upland soils.

Heparanase inhibits osteoblastogenesis and shifts bone marrow progenitor cell fate in myeloma bone disease.

A major cause of morbidity in patients with multiple myeloma is the development and progression of bone disease. Myeloma bone disease is characterized by rampant osteolysis in the presence of absent or diminished bone formation. Heparanase, an enzyme that acts both at the cell-surface and within the extracellular matrix to degrade polymeric heparan sulfate chains, is upregulated in a variety of human cancers including multiple myeloma.

The changing trends of HIV/AIDS in an ethnic minority region of China: modeling the epidemic in Liangshan prefecture, Sichuan Province.

Objective: This study was to investigate the HIV current situation in Liangshan prefecture, in order to predict prevalence and transmission trends.

Methods: Region-specific population, behavior, serosurveillence, and policy/program data (from 1995 to 2010) were gathered from various local and national organizations and applied to the Asian Epidemic Model (AEM) and used to derive estimates of future HIV prevalence, epidemic trends, and outcomes of intervention strategies.

Results: The AEM projections for 2020 included increased number of people living with HIV (PLHIV; to 136 617), increased HIV prevalence (2.

Impact of psychiatric disorders and chronic physical conditions on health-related quality of life: Singapore Mental Health Study.

Background: Few studies have established Quality Adjusted Life Years (QALY) losses associated with mental and chronic physical conditions in the community. The aim of the current study was to establish and compare the QALY losses associated with select mental and chronic physical conditions in Singapore.

Methods: The Singapore Mental Health Study was a cross-sectional epidemiological survey of a nationally representative sample.

Full-term pregnant women have higher lumbar epidural pressure than non-pregnant women: a preliminary report.

The objective of this study was to compare the lumbar epidural pressure of full-term pregnant women with that of non-pregnant women. The epidural pressure of 20 full-term pregnant women and 15 non-pregnant women was measured during epidural needle insertion in the lateral position (T0), and at 30-s intervals following insertion (T1-T3), after the patient was turned supine (T4-T6), and after local anaesthetic injection (T7-T9). Results showed that the average epidural pressures following epidural insertion in the lateral position (average of T1-T3), in the supine position (average of T4-T6), and after local anaesthetic injection (average of T7-T9) were all significantly higher in the pregnant women compared with those who were not pregnant (p= 0.

Downregulating PRL-3 inhibit migration and invasion of lung cancer cell via RhoA and mDia1.

Aims And Background: The overexpression of phosphatase of regenerating liver-3 (PRL-3) affects the migration and invasion of epithelial cells. Little is known about the substrates or pathways that PRL-3 interacts with.

Methods: We studied the action and the mechanism of PRL-3 in migration and invasion of lung cancer.

[Sequence orthodontic treatment of impacted dilacerated maxillary central incisors].

Objective: To explore an effective orthodontic method for treating impacted dilacerated maxillary central incisors.

Methods: 12 impacted teeth of 11 cases were chosen. The position of the impacted teeth and the relations with neighbour tissues were assessed by X-ray images, oral examination and plaster model, etc.

Prevalence and impact of mental and physical comorbidity in the adult Singapore population.

Introduction: This study aims to assess the prevalence rates of mental disorders and chronic medical conditions in the Singapore resident population, and examine their association and respective impact on the quality of life.

Materials And Methods: A household survey was carried out on a nationally representative sample of the adult (18 years and above) resident population. The main instrument used to establish the diagnosis of mental disorders is the World Mental Health Composite International Diagnostic Interview (WMH-CIDI).

[Influence of isoliensinine on activity of CYP3A in rats].

Objective: To investigate the influence of isoliensinine (IL) on CYP3A enzyme activity.

Methods: A mixture metabolic system of liver microsome enzymes in vitro was developed. A HPLC method to test the metabolic activity of CYP3A was established with testosterone as a probe.

[Depth of focus in spherical and aspheric intraocular lenses].

Objective: To investigate depth of focus (DOF) in spherical and aspheric IOL eye models.

Methods: Computer numerical simulation experiment was used. IOL eye model based on Liou-Brennan eye model was constructed by using ZEMAX optical design software.