Prediction and identification of epitopes in the Echinococcus multilocularis thrombospondin 3 antigen.

Background: Alveolar echinococcosis is an epidemic disease caused by the parasitism of Echinococcus multilocularis (Em) larvae in the intermediate or final host.

Objective: To identify and analyze B-cell and T-cell (Th1, Th2, and Th17) epitopes of the Em antigen protein thrombospondin 3 (TSP3).

Methods: The amino acid sequence of TSP3 was obtained, and the secondary structural characteristics of TSP3 were predicted using bioinformatics software to further predict its potential T-cell and B-cell epitopes.

Correlation between serum H2S and pulmonary function in children with bronchial asthma.

Endogenous hydrogen sulfide (H2S) has generated recent research interest because of its potential function as an inflammatory mediator. Despite its apparent functions in vascular smooth muscle, an important player in airway remodeling in asthma, little research has been done to assess the role of H2S in the pathogenesis of asthma. To determine whether serum H2S concentration is correlated with pulmonary function in children with asthma, we measured serum H2S concentration and pulmonary function indices (FVC, FEV1, PEF, FEF25-75, MEF50 and MEF25) in 64 children with asthma and 60 healthy children.

[Neuro-protective effect of naomaitong to brain damage after focal cerebral ischemia reperfusion (I/R) in the aged rats].

Objective: To study neuro-protective effect of naomaitong on brain damage after focal cerebral ischemia reperfusion (I/R) in the aged rats.

Method: 11 groups of 20-22-month old SD rats were subjected to 3 hours of middle cerebral artery occlusion with the intraluminal filament technique, followed by 12 hours of reperfusion. Nervous symptom, oedema of brain, infarct size, morphology and superfine structure of brain, etc were monitored thoughout cerebral ischemia and reperfusion.