[Adsorption of Phosphate on Mg/Fe Layered Double Hydroxides (Mg/Fe-LDH) and Use of Mg/Fe-LDH as an Amendment for Controlling Phosphorus Release from Sediments].

We determine the efficiency and mechanism of Mg/Fe layered double hydroxides (Mg/Fe-LDH) addition for the control of phosphorus (P) release from sediments by studying the adsorption behavior and mechanism of phosphate from an aqueous solution on Mg/Fe-LDH. The impact of Mg/Fe-LDH addition on the mobilization of P in sediments as well as the adsorptive removal of phosphate by sediments is investigated, and the stabilization of P bound by Mg/Fe-LDH is also evaluated. Results showed that the kinetics data of phosphate adsorption onto Mg/Fe-LDH fitted better with the Elovich kinetics model than with the pseudo-first-order and pseudo-second-order kinetics models, and that the Freundlich and Dubinin-Radushkevich models were more suitable for describing the adsorption isotherm behavior of phosphate on Mg/Fe-LDH than the Langmuir model.

Hepatitis C virus infection of human cytotrophoblasts cultured in vitro.

Hepatitis C virus (HCV) infection in the uterus is a significant path of vertical HCV transmission. Some studies consider vertical HCV transmission in the uterus as the result of maternal blood leakage into infant blood, whereas others theorize that HCV is transmitted by the mother to the infant through cells constituting the placenta barrier. Although trophoblasts play an important role in the placenta barrier, no definitive evidence has been presented to prove that cytotrophoblasts can be infected with HCV.

Altered expression profiles of microRNAs in a stable hepatitis B virus-expressing cell line.

Background: MicroRNAs (miRNAs) are highly conserved small non-coding RNAs of 18 - 25 nucleotides (nt) that mediate post-transcriptional gene regulation. Hepatitis B virus (HBV) can cause either acute or chronic hepatitis B, and is a high risk factor for liver cirrhosis and hepatocellular carcinoma. Some mammalian viruses have been shown to modulate the expression of host cellular miRNAs.

[Screening and identification of proteins interacting with HCV NS4A via yeast double hybridization in leukocytes and gene cloning of the interacting protein].

Objective: To screen proteins interacting with HCV NS4A protein in leukocytes by yeast-double hybridization.

Methods: The bait plasmid pGBKT7-NS4A was transformed into yeast AH109 was transformed, and the expressing of the fusion protein was identified by SDS-page. The transformed yeast was mated with yeast Y187 containing leukocytes cDNA library plasmid in 2xYPDA medium.

[Analysis on factors related to X-ray outcomes in 93 SARS patients].

Objective: To study the related factors of the X-ray outcomes in recovered SARS patients.

Methods: The X-ray results of 93 patients with SARS were studied retrospectively. The possible related factors analyzed were age, sex, body temperature at onset, range of the lesion, glucocorticoid administration time.

[IFN or oxymatrine in combination with lamivudine in patients with lamivudine-resistant chronic hepatitis B].

Objective: To observe the therapeutic efficacy of IFN or oxymatrine in combination with lamivudine in patients with lamivudine-resistant chronic hepatitis B.

Methods: Forty patients ongoing treatment with lamivudine were randomized to three groups: group A, 14 patients with addition of IFN alpha-2b 3MU to ongoing lamivudine, daily, one month, followed by the same dose given every other day, five months; group B, 15 patients with addition of injectable oxymatrine 60 mg daily, three months, followed by oral oxymatrine every day, three months, and group C, 11 patients ongoing treatment with lamivudine alone. The HBV DNA level in serum, HBeAg seroconversion, and ALT level were detected at the end of the treatment.

Methodologic research on TIMP-1, TIMP-2 detection as a new diagnostic index for hepatic fibrosis and its significance.

Aim: To set up a new method to detect tissue inhibitors of metalloproteinase-1 and -2(TIMP-1 and TIMP-2) in sera of patients with hepatic cirrhosis, and to investigate the expression and location of TIMP-1 and TIMP-2 in liver tissue of patients with hepatic cirrhosis, and the correlation between TIMPs in liver and those in sera so as to discuss whether TIMPs can be used as a diagnosis index of hepatic fibrosis.

Methods: The monoclonal antibodies (McAbs) of TIMP-1 and TIMP-2 were used to sensitize erythrocytes, and solid-phase absorption to sensitized erythrocytes (SPASE) was used to detect TIMP-1 and TIMP-2 in the sera of patients with hepatic cirrhosis. Meanwhile, with the method of in situ hybridization and immunohistochemistry, we studied the mRNA expression and antigen location of TIMP-1 and TIMP-2 in the livers of 40 hepatic cirrhosis patients with pathologic diagnosis.