Background

We found previously that the expression of SET gene was up-regulated in polycystic ovaries. Evidences suggested that SET protein was essential for regulating both the promoter activity of CYP17A1 and the biological activity of P450c17. In this study, we explored whether SET regulated androgen production in preantral follicles.

Methods

The mouse preantral follicles were cultured in vitro. Testosterone secretion and expression of steroidogenic enzymes were observed in the preantral follicles treated in vitro by SET overexpression and knockdown.

Results

Testosterone levels in the media of the AdCMV-SET infected follicles significantly increased, and the CYP17A1 and HSD3B2 expression also significantly increased (P < 0.05). Testosterone levels in AdSiRNA-SET infected group decreased, and so did CYP17A1 and HSD3B2 expression (P < 0.05).

Conclusions

SET played a positive role in regulating ovarian androgen biosynthesis by enhancing the transcription of steroidogenic enzymes CYP17A1 and HSD3B2, which maybe contribute to the hyperandrogenism in PCOS.

We report on experimental measurements of the backbone and side chain dynamics of the elastin mimetic peptide [VPGVG]3 by 2H NMR echo spectroscopy and 2D T1-T2 correlation relaxometry. The T1 and T2 relaxation times of the Gly α-deuterons and Val α-, β- and γ- deuterons of a hydrated sample reveal a thermal hysteresis when the temperature is raised from −10°C to 45°C and then subsequently cooled back to −10°C. In addition, near 30°C we observe a reduction in the slope of the T1(T) and T2(T) heating curves, indicating a structural change that appears to be correlated well to the known inverse temperature transition of this peptide. The thermal dependence of the correlation times of the Gly α-deuterons are well fit by an Arrhenius Law, from which we have measured Eact =(20.0 ± 3.1) kJ/mol when the sample is heated, and Eact =(10.9 ± 2.8) kJ/mol when cooled. Molecular dynamics simulations support the notion that the measured activation energy is determined largely by the extent of localized water, which is observed to decrease with increasing temperature from approximately 25°C to 42°C.

The correction of severe thoracic deformities is challenging. However, the usual imaging modalities are not sufficient for performing the surgery. Our objective was to describe the procedure and results of posterior modified wedge osteotomy aided by the techniques of computer-aided design–rapid prototyping (CAD-RP) to correct thoracic deformities. Twenty-one patients with thoracic deformities (eight males; 13 females) formed the study group. All patients underwent computed tomography (CT) scanning and CAD-RP, and a model of thoracic deformities and navigation templates of pedicles were created for each patient and used to analyse the spinal deformities and serve as anatomical reference. Aided by these models, personalised modified wedge osteotomy combining the eggshell technique and posterior vertebral column resection was performed. Using CAD-RP improved the safety and accuracy of surgery and screw placement in the 21 patients in whom 41 vertebrae were removed and 216 pedicle screws were placed. The average operation time was 260 (200–420) min, with an average blood loss of 1,900 ml (range 800–3560 ml). The percentage of deformity correction was 56.3% (from 72.1° to 31.5°) in the coronal plane and 60.4% (from 81.6° to 32.3°) in the sagittal plane. No patient had serious complications or implant failure. Personalised single-stage posterior modified wedge osteotomy is an effective procedure for treating thoracic deformities. Using CAD-RP and the RP models have significant benefits for personalised surgical treatment of complex thoracic deformities.

Background

Streptococcus pneumoniae is the main pathogen that causes respiratory infections in children younger than five years. The increasing incidence of macrolide- and tetracycline-resistant pneumococci among children has been a serious problem in China for many years. The molecular characteristics of erythromycin-resistant pneumococcal isolates that were collected from pediatric patients younger than five years in Beijing in 2010 were analyzed in this study.

Results

A total of 140 pneumococcal isolates were collected. The resistance rates of all isolates to erythromycin and tetracycline were 96.4% and 79.3%, respectively. Of the 135 erythromycin-resistant pneumococci, 91.1% were non-susceptible to tetracycline. In addition, 30.4% of the erythromycin-resistant isolates expressed both the ermB and mef genes, whereas 69.6% expressed the ermB gene but not the mef gene. Up to 98.5% of the resistant isolates exhibited the cMLSB phenotype, and Tn6002 was the most common transposon present in approximately 56.3% of the resistant isolates, followed by Tn2010, with a proportion of 28.9%. The dominant sequence types (STs) in all erythromycin-resistant S. pneumoniae were ST271 (11.9%), ST81 (8.9%), ST876 (8.9%), and ST320 (6.7%), whereas the prevailing serotypes were 19F (19.3%), 23F (9.6%), 14 (9.6%), 15 (8.9%), and 6A (7.4%). The 7-valent pneumococcal conjugate vaccine (PCV7) and 13-valent pneumococcal conjugate vaccine (PCV13) coverage of the erythromycin-resistant pneumococci among the children younger than five years were 45.2% and 62.2%, respectively. ST320 and serotype 19A pneumococci were common in children aged 0 to 2 years. CC271 was the most frequent clonal complex (CC), which accounts for 24.4% of all erythromycin-resistant isolates.

Conclusions

The non-invasive S. pneumoniae in children younger than five years in Beijing presented high and significant resistance rates to erythromycin and tetracycline. The expressions of ermB and tetM genes were the main factors that influence pneumococcal resistance to erythromycin and tetracycline, respectively. Majority of the erythromycin-resistant non-invasive isolates exhibited the cMLSB phenotype and carried the ermB, tetM, xis, and int genes, suggesting the spread of the transposons of the Tn916 family. PCV13 provided higher serotype coverage in the childhood pneumococcal diseases caused by the erythromycin-resistant isolates better than PCV7. Further long-term surveys are required to monitor the molecular characteristics of the erythromycin-resistant S. pneumoniae in children.

We report on an analysis of a well known three-pulse sequence for generating and detecting spin I=1 quadrupolar order when various pulse errors are taken into account. In the situation of a single quadrupolar frequency, such as the case found in a single crystal, we studied the potential leakage of single and/or double quantum coherence when a pulse flip error, finite pulse width effect, RF transient or a resonance offset is present. Our analysis demonstrates that the four-step phase cycling scheme studied is robust in suppressing unwanted double and single quantum coherence as well as Zeeman order that arise from the experimental artifacts, allowing for an unbiased measurement of the quadrupolar alignment relaxation time, T1Q. This work also reports on distortions in quadrupolar alignment echo spectra in the presence of experimental artifacts in the situation of a powdered sample, by simulation. Using our simulation tool, it is demonstrated that the spectral distortions associated with the pulse artifacts may be minimized, to some extent, by optimally choosing the time between the first two pulses. We highlight experimental results acquired on perdeuterated hexamethylbenzene and polyethelene that demonstrate the efficacy of the phase cycling scheme for suppressing unwanted quantum coherence when measuring T1Q. It is suggested that one employ two separate pulse sequences when measuring T1Q to properly analyze the short time behavior of quadrupolar alignment relaxation data.

Background

The purpose of the study is to determine whether exposure to malnutrition during early life is associated with increased risk of stomach cancer in later life.

Methods

The design protocol included analyzing the trend of gastric cancer mortality and nutrition and evaluating the association between nutrient deficiency in early life and the risk of gastric cancer by hierarchical age–period–birth cohort (APC) analysis using general log-linear Poisson models and to compare the difference between birth cohorts who were exposed to the 1959–1961 Chinese famine and those who were not exposed to the famine. Data on stomach cancer mortality from 1970 to 2009 and the dietary patterns from 1955 to 1985 which included the 1959–1961 Chinese famine period in the Zhaoyuan County population were obtained. The nutrition information was collected 15 years prior to the mortality data as based on the latest reference of disease incubation.

Results

APC analysis revealed that severe nutrition deficiency during early life may increase the risk of stomach cancer. Compared with the 1960–1964 birth cohort, the risk for stomach cancer in all birth cohorts from 1900 to 1959 significantly increased; compared with the 1970–1974 cohort, the risk for stomach cancer in the 1975–1979 cohort significantly increased, whereas the others had a steadily decreased risk; compared with 85–89 age group in the 2005–2009 death survey, the ORs decreased with younger age and reached significant levels for the 50–54 age group after adjusting the confounding factors. The 1930 to 1964 group (exposed to famine) had a higher mortality rate than the 1965 to 1999 group (not exposed to famine). For males, the relative risk (RR) was 2.39 and the 95% confidence interval (CI) was 1.51 to 3.77. For females, RR was 1.64 and 95% CI was 1.02 to 2.62.

Conclusion

The results of the present study suggested that prolonged malnutrition during early life may increase the risk of stomach cancer mortality in later life.

Objective

Serum uric acid (SUA) is a cardiovascular risk marker associated with inflammation. The serum amyloid A protein (SAA) is an inflammatory factor and is associated with cardiovascular disease (CVD). However, the relationship between genetic polymorphisms of SAA and SUA levels has not been studied. The objective of this study was to investigate the association between SUA levels and SAA genetic polymorphisms.

Methods

All participants were selected from subjects participating in the Cardiovascular Risk Survey (CRS) study. The single nucleotide polymorphism (SNP) rs12218 of the SAA1 gene was genotyped by using the polymerase chain reaction–restriction fragment length polymorphism (PCR-RFLP) method. The association of SUA levels with genotypes was assessed by using the general liner mode.

Results

The SNP rs12218 was associated with SUA levels by analyses of a dominate model (P = 0.002) and additive model (P = 0.005), and the difference remained significant after adjustment of sex, age, obesity, ethnicity, HDL-C, alcohol intake, smoking, and creatinine (P = 0.006 and P = 0.023, respectively). The TT genotype was associated with an increased SUA concentration of 39.34 mmol/L (95% confidence interval [CI], 3.61–75.06, P = 0.031) compared with the CC genotype, and the TT genotype was associated with an increased SUA concentration of 2.48 mmol/L (95% CI, 6.86–38.10; P = 0.005) compared with the CT genotype.

Conclusions

The rs12218 SNP in the SAA1 gene was associated with SUA levels in Chinese subjects, indicating that carriers of the T allele of rs12218 have a high risk of hyperuricemia.

Background

The aim of this study was to estimate the prevalence and distribution of type 2 diabetes and to determine the status of type 2 diabetes awareness, treatment, and control in Xinjiang, China. Our data came from the Cardiovascular Risk Survey (CRS) study designed to investigate the prevalence and risk factors for cardiovascular diseases in Xinjiang from October 2007 to March 2010. A total of 14 122 persons (5583 Hans, 4620 Uygurs, and 3919 Kazaks) completed the survey and examination. Diabetes was defined by the American Diabetes Association 2009 criteria.

Methodology/Principal Findings

Overall, 9.26% of the Han, 6.23% of the Uygur, and 3.65% of the Kazak adults aged ≥35 years had diabetes. Among diabetes patients, only 53.0% were aware of their blood glucose level, 26.7% were taking hypoglycemic agents, and 10.4% achieved blood glucose control in Han, 35.8% were aware of their blood glucose level, 7.3% were taking hypoglycemic agents, and 3.13% achieved blood glucose control in Uygur, and 23.8% were aware of their blood glucose level, 6.3% were taking hypoglycemic agents, and 1.4% achieved blood glucose control in Kazak, respectively.

Conclusions/Significance

Our results indicate that diabetes is highly prevalent in Xinjiang. The percentages of those with diabetes who are aware, treated, and controlled are unacceptably low. These results underscore the urgent need to develop national strategies to improve prevention, detection, and treatment of diabetes in Xinjiang, the west China.

Eighty group G streptococcal stains were collected from Chinese children. Susceptibility testing was done by a double-dilution and a disk diffusion method. PCR was used to test drug-resistant genes, and the χ2 test and definite probability methods were used to test for statistically significant differences among the three groups. Thirty-four isolates (42.5%) showed resistance to erythromycin. There are differences between the resistance characteristics of group G streptococci from different regions of China.

Background

C5L2 has been demonstrated to be a functional receptor of acylation-stimulating protein (ASP), which is a stimulator of triglyceride synthesis or glucose transport. However, little is known about the variations in the coding region of the C5L2 gene and their association with coronary artery disease (CAD).

Methodology/Principal Findings

We identified a novel single nucleotide polymorphism (SNP), 698C>T (P233L), in exon 2 using a polymerase chain reaction direct-sequencing method. This nucleotide change causes the amino-acid order from proline to leucine at codon 233. We examined the role of this SNP for CAD using two independent case–control studies: one was in the Han population (492 CAD patients and 577 control subjects) and the other was in the Uygur population (319 CAD patients and 554 control subjects). Heterozygote carriers of the 698CT genotype were more frequent among CAD patients than among controls not only in the Han population (7.3% versus 1.7%) but also in the Uygur population (4.7% versus 1.6%). The odds ratio (OR) for carriers of the 698CT genotype for CAD was 4.484 (95% confidence interval (CI): 2.197–9.174) in the Han group and 2.989 (95% CI: 1.292–6.909) in the Uygur population. After adjustment of confounding factors such as sex, age, smoking, alcohol consumption, hypertension, diabetes, as well as serum levels of triglyceride, total cholesterol, high-density lipoprotein, the difference remained significant in the Han group (P<0.001, OR = 6.604, 95% CI: 2.776–15.711) and in the Uygur group (P = 0.047, OR = 2.602, 95% CI: 1.015–6.671).

Conclusion/Significance

The 698CT genotype of C5L2 may be a genetic maker of CAD in the Han and Uygur population in western China.

The purpose of this study was to explore the clinical features of malignant melanoma of the finger and therapeutic efficacies of different treatments. The clinical data of 22 patients with malignant melanoma of the finger (confirmed by pathological examination), admitted and treated in our hospital between February 1995 and October 2007, were analyzed retrospectively. The primary site of the tumor was the thumb in 12 cases, index finger in 3 cases, middle finger in 3 cases, ring finger in 2 cases and little finger in 2 cases. The most common presenting symptoms were pain and black patches on the fingers. A total of 15 of the 22 patients had subungual disease, 12 had a history of trauma and 2 had osteolytic bone lesions of the phalanx. The main treatments employed were surgery, chemotherapy and immunotherapy. Finger amputation was performed for all 22 patients and axillary lymph node dissection in the same side was performed for 13 patients. Nineteen cases were followed up for 1-10 years with an average of 5.5 years. Three patients were lost to follow-up 2 years after treatment. The 1-, 3- and 5-year survival rates were 86.4% (19/22), 42.1% (12/19) and 31.2% (6/19), respectively. In conclusion, malignant melanoma of the finger is a rarely occurring tumor. Comprehensive treatment, including surgery, chemotherapy and immunotherapy, is the key approach for malignant melanoma of the finger. Prognosis of the disease is associated with the size of the tumor, depth of infiltration and clinical stages.

Background

The methylotrophic yeast, Pichia pastoris, offers the possibility to generate a high amount of recombinant proteins in a fast and easy way to use expression system. Being a single-celled microorganism, P. pastoris is easy to manipulate and grows rapidly on inexpensive media at high cell densities. A simple and direct method for the selection of high-producing clones can dramatically enhance the whole production process along with significant decrease in production costs.

Results

A visual method for rapid selection of high-producing clones based on mannanase reporter system was developed. The study explained that it was possible to use mannanase activity as a measure of the expression level of the protein of interest. High-producing target protein clones were directly selected based on the size of hydrolysis holes in the selected plate. As an example, the target gene (9elp-hal18) was expressed and purified in Pichia pastoris using this technology.

Conclusions

A novel methodology is proposed for obtaining the high-producing clones of proteins of interest, based on the mannanase reporter system. This system may be adapted to other microorganisms, such as Saccharomyces cerevisiae for the selection of clones.

Background and Methodology

A low ankle-to-brachial index (ABI) is a strong correlate of cardiovascular disease and subsequent mortality. The relationship between ABI and alcohol consumption remains unclear. Data are from the Cardiovascular Risk Survey (CRS), a multiple-ethnic, community-based, cross-sectional study of 14 618 Chinese people (5 757 Hans, 4 767 Uygurs, and 4 094 Kazakhs) aged 35 years and over at baseline from Oct. 2007 to March 2010. The relationship between alcohol intake and ABI was determined by use of analysis of covariance and multivariable regressions.

Principal Findings

In men, alcohol consumption was significantly associated with ABI (P<0.001). After adjusted for the confounding factors, such as age, sex, ethnicity, body mass index, smoking, work stress, diabetes, and fasting blood glucose, the difference remained significant (P<0.001); either the unadjusted or multivariate-adjusted odds ratio (OR) for peripheral artery disease (PAD) was significantly higher in men who consumed >60.0 g/d [OR  = 3.857, (95% CI: 2.555–5.824); OR = 2.797, (95% CI: 1.106–3.129); OR = 2.878, (95% CI: 1.215–4.018); respectively] and was significantly lower in men who consumed 20.1–40.0 g/d [OR  = 0.330, (95% CI: 0.181–0.599); OR = 0.484, (95% CI: 0.065–0.894); OR = 0.478, (95% CI: 0.243–1.534); respectively] and 40.1–60.0 g/d [OR  = 0.306, (95% CI: 0.096–0.969); OR = 0.267, (95% CI: 0.087–0.886); OR = 0.203, (95% CI: 0.113–0.754); respectively] compared with never drinking, respectively (all P<0.01). Neither in unadjusted nor in multivariate-adjusted model was the association between ABI and alcohol consumption significant (all P>0.05) in women. Similarly, PAD was not correlated with alcohol intake in women (all P>0.05).

Conclusions/Significance

Our results indicated that in Chinese men, alcohol consumption was associated with peripheral artery disease, and consumption of less than 60 g/d had an inverse association with peripheral atherosclerosis whereas consumption of 60 g/d or more had a positive association.

Background

Serum amyloid A protein (SAA) is not only an inflammatory factor, but also an apolipoprotein that can replace apolipoprotein A1 (apoA1) as the major apolipoprotein of high-density lipoprotein (HDL), which has been linked to atherosclerosis. However, the relationship between genetic polymorphisms of SAA and the intima-media thickness (IMT) of the common carotid artery in healthy subjects remains unclear. We investigated the role of SAA1 and SAA2 gene polymorphisms with IMT in a cohort of healthy subjects participating in the Cardiovascular Risk Survey (CRS) study.

Methodology/Principal Findings

Anthropometric and B-mode ultrasound of the carotid IMT were measured in 1914 subjects (849 men; 1065 women) recruited from seven cities in Xinjiang province, (western China). Four SNPs (rs12218, rs2229338, rs1059559, and rs2468844) were genotyped by use of the polymerase chain reaction-restriction fragment length polymorphism (PCR-RFLP) method. The SNP rs12218 was associated with carotid IMT by analyses of a dominate model (P<0.001) and additive model (P = 0.003), and the difference remained significant after multivariate adjustment (P = 0.008, P<0.001, respectively). This relationship was also observed in rs2468844 after multivariate adjustment by recessive model analysis (P = 0.011) but this was not observed in rs2229338 and rs1059559 before and after multivariate adjustment. These associations were not modified by serum HDL concentration. Furthermore, there were significant interactions between rs2468844 and rs12218 (interaction P<0.001) and rs2229338 (interaction P = 0.001) on carotid IMT.

Conclusion/Significance

Both rs12218 of the SAA1 gene and rs2468844 of SAA2 gene are associated with carotid IMT in healthy Han Chinese subjects.

Background

Heat shock protein 27 (Hsp27), a member of the small heat shock protein family, is an apoptosis regulator. Our previous proteomic study showed that Hsp27 mainly expressed in human oocyte, and that Hsp27 expression was downregulated in the ovaries derived from women with the polycystic ovary syndrome (PCOS), a well known endocrinal disorder with abnormal apoptotic activity and folliculogenesis. However, the exact effects of Hsp27 downregulation on oocyte development have not yet been clarified.

Methods

The expression of Hsp27 gene was downregulated in the mouse oocytes cultured in vitro using siRNA adenovirus infection, while the activity of Hsp27 was decreased by microinjection of polyclonal Hsp27 antibody into the cytoplasm of germinal vesicle (GV) oocytes. Oocyte maturation rate was evaluated by morphological observation. Early stage of apoptosis was determined using Annexin-V staining analysis and some critical apoptotic factors and cytokines were also monitored at both mRNA level by real time RT-PCR and protein expression level by immunofluorescence and western blot.

Results

Hsp27 expressed at high level in maturing oocytes. Infection with AdshHsp27, and microinjection of Hsp27 antibody into GV oocytes, resulted in the improved oocyte development and maturation. Germinal vesicle breakdown (GVBD) rates were significantly increased in two AdshHsp27-treated groups (88.7%, 86.0%) and Hsp27 antibody-injected group (77.0%) when compared with control (76.2% in AdGFP, 64.4% in IgG-injected), respectively. In addition, the rates of metaphase II (MII) development in two AdshHsp27-treated groups (73.8%, 76.4%) and Hsp27 antibody-injected group (67.3%) were higher than that in the controls (59.6% in AdGFP, 55.1% in IgG-injected). We also found that the rates of early stage of apoptosis in Hsp27 downregulated groups (46.5% and 45.6%) were higher than that in control group (34.1%) after 8 h of IVM. Similarly, downregulation of Hsp27 caused a significantly enhanced the expression of apoptotic factors (caspase 8, caspase 3) and cytokines (bmp 15 and gdf 9).

Conclusions

Downregulation of Hsp27 improved the maturation of mouse oocytes, while increased early stage of apoptosis in oocytes by inducing the activation of extrinsic, caspase 8-mediated pathway.

An efficient and short synthetic route to the novel decadentate ligand 7-[2-(bis-carboxymethyl-amino)-ethyl]-4,10-bis-carboxymethyl-1,4,7,10-tetraaza-cyclododec-1-yl-acetic acid (DEPA) with both macrocyclic and acyclic binding moieties is reported. A reproducible and scalable synthetic method to a precursor molecule of DEPA, 1,4,7-tris(tert-butoxycarbonylmethyl)tetraazacyclododecane was developed. DEPA was evaluated as a chelator of 177Lu, 212Bi, and 213Bi for potential use in an antibody-targeted cancer therapy, radioimmunotherapy (RIT) using Arsenazo III based spectroscopic complexation kinetics, in vitro serum stability, and in vivo biodistribution studies.

In the crystal structure of the title compound, C7H10N2O2S, a benzoic acid derivative, inter­molecular N—H⋯O inter­actions link the mol­ecules into a three-dimensional network.

Tb (Tbilisi), the reference Brucellaphage strain, was classified as a member of the Podoviridae family with icosahedral capsids (57 ± 2 nm diameter) and short tails (32 ± 3 nm long). Brucellaphage DNA was double stranded and unmethylated; its molecular size was 34.5 kilobase pairs. Some sequences were found through RAPD analysis, TA cloning technology, and structural proteins were observed by using SDS-PAGE. Thus, the results have laid the foundation for the wider use of Brucellaphage’s basic mechanisms and practical applications.

The structurally novel bifunctional ligands C-NETA and C-NE3TA, each possessing both acyclic and macrocyclic moieties, were prepared and evaluated as potential chelates for radioimmunotherapy (RIT) and targeted magnetic resonance imaging (MRI). Heptadentate C-NE3TA was fortuitously discovered during the preparation of C-NETA. An optimized synthetic method to C-NETA and C-NE3TA including purification of the polar and tailing reaction intermediates, tert-butyl C-NETA (2) and tert-butyl C-NE3TA (3) using semi-prep HPLC was developed. The new Gd(III) complexes of C-NETA and C-NE3TA were prepared as contrast enhancement agents for use in targeted MRI. The T1 Relaxivity data indicates that Gd(C-NETA) and Gd(C-NE3TA) possess higher relaxivity than Gd(C-DOTA), a bifunctional version of a commercially available MRI contrast agent, Gd(DOTA). C-NETA and C-NE3TA were radiolabeled with 177Lu, 90Y, 203Pb, 205/6Bi and 153Gd, and in vitro stability of the radiolabeled corresponding complexes was assessed in human serum. The in vitro studies indicate that the evaluated radiolabeled complexes were stable in serum for 11 days with the exception being the 203Pb complexes of C-NETA and C-NE3TA which dissociated in serum. C-NETA and C-NE3TA radiolabeled 177Lu, 90Y, or 153Gd complexes were further evaluated for in vivo stability in athymic mice and possess excellent or acceptable in vivo biodistribution profile. 205/6Bi-C-NE3TA exhibited extremely rapid blood clearance and low radioactivity level at the normal organs, while 205/6Bi-C-NETA displayed low radioactivity level in the blood and all of the organs except for the kidney where relatively high renal uptake of radioactivity is observed. C-NETA and C-NE3TA were further modified for conjugation to the monoclonal antibody Trastuzumab.

BACKGROUND

Age-related macular degeneration (AMD) is the most common cause of irreversible visual impairment in the developed world. Advanced AMD is comprised of geographic atrophy (GA) and choroidal neovascularization (CNV). Specific genetic variants that predispose for GA are largely unknown.

METHODS

We tested (i) for association between the functional toll-like receptor-3 (TLR3) variant rs3775291 (L412F) and AMD in European Americans and (ii) the effect of TLR3 L and F variants on the viability of human retinal pigment epithelium (RPE) cells in vitro and on RPE cell apoptosis in wildtype and Tlr3−/− mice.

RESULTS

The F variant (or T allele at single nucleotide polymorphism at rs3775291) was associated with protection against GA (P=0.005); this association was replicated in two independent GA case-control series (P=5.43×10−4 and P=0.002, respectively. We observed no association between TLR3 variants and CNV. The rs377291 variant is probably critical to the function of TLR3, because a prototypic TLR3 ligand induced cell death and apoptosis in human RPE cells with the LL genotype to a greater extent than it did RPE cells with the LF genotype. Moreover, the ligand induced more RPE cell death and apoptosis in wild-type than in Tlr3−/− mice.

CONCLUSIONS

The TLR3 412F variant confers protection against GA, probably by suppressing RPE cell death. Given that double stranded RNA can activate TLR3-mediated apoptosis, our results suggest a possible role for viral dsRNA transcripts in the development of GA and raise awareness of potential toxicity induced by short interfering RNA (siRNA) therapeutics in the eye.

An antibody-targeted radiation therapy (radioimmunotherapy, RIT) employs a bifunctional ligand that can effectively hold a cytotoxic metal with clinically acceptable complexation kinetics and stability while being attached to a tumor-specific antibody. Clinical exploration of the therapeutic potential of RIT has been challenged by the absence of adequate ligand, a critical component for enhancing the efficacy of the cancer therapy. To address this deficiency, the bifunctional ligand C-NETA in a unique structural class possessing both a macrocyclic cavity and a flexible acyclic moiety was designed. The practical, reproducible, and readily scalable synthetic route to C-NETA was developed, and its potential as the chelator of 212Bi, 213Bi, and 177Lu for RIT was evaluated in vitro and in vivo. C-NETA rapidly binds both Lu(III) and Bi(III), and the respective metal complexes remain extremely stable in serum for 14 days. 177Lu—C-NETA and 205/6Bi—C-NETA possess an excellent or acceptable in vivo biodistribution profile.

Purpose

To describe the clinical phenotype of X linked juvenile retinoschisis (XLRS) in 12 Chinese families with 11 different mutations in the XLRS1 (RS1) gene.

Methods

Complete ophthalmic examinations were carried out in 29 affected males (12 probands), 38 heterozygous females carriers, and 100 controls. The coding regions of the RS1 gene that encodes retinoschisin were amplified by polymerase chain reaction and directly sequenced.

Results

Of the 29 male participants, 28 (96.6%) displayed typical foveal schisis. Eleven different RS1 mutations were identified in 12 families; four of these mutations, two frameshift mutations (26 del T of exon 1 and 488 del G of exon 5), and two missense mutations (Asp145His and Arg156Gly) of exon 5, had not been previously described. One non-disease-related polymorphism (NSP): 576C to T (Pro192Pro) change was also newly reported herein. We compared genotypes and observed more severe clinical features in families with the following mutations: frameshift mutation (26 del T) of exon 1, the splice donor site mutation (IVS1+2T to C),or Arg102Gln, Arg209His, and Arg213Gln mutations.

Conclusions

Severe XLRS phenotypes are associated with the frameshift mutation 26 del T, splice donor site mutation (IVS1+2T to C), and Arg102Gln, Asp145His, Arg209His, and Arg213Gln mutations. The wide variability in the phenotype in Chinese patients with XLRS and different mutations in the RS1 gene is described. Identification of mutations in the RS1 gene and expanded information on clinical manifestations will facilitate early diagnosis, appropriate early therapy, and genetic counseling regarding the prognosis of XLRS.

Low level of immunity for SARS-CoV among well healthcare workers reinforces the need for infection control measures in hospitals to prevent epidemics.

To determine the prevalence of inapparent infection with severe acute respiratory syndrome (SARS) among healthcare workers, we performed a serosurvey to test for immunoglobulin (Ig) G antibodies to the SARS coronavirus (SARS-CoV) among 1,147 healthcare workers in 3 hospitals that admitted SARS patients in mid-May 2003. Among them were 90 healthcare workers with SARS. As a reference group, 709 healthcare workers who worked in 2 hospitals that never admitted any SARS patients were similarly tested. The seroprevalence rate was 88.9% (80/90) for healthcare workers with SARS and 1.4% (15/1,057) for healthcare workers who were apparently healthy. The seroprevalence in the reference group was 0.4% (3/709). These findings suggest that inapparent infection is uncommon. Low level of immunity among unaffected healthcare workers reinforces the need for adequate personal protection and other infection control measures in hospitals to prevent future epidemics.

A fluorescent focus identification assay (FFIDA) was developed for use in experimental studies and for quantitation of the components in a tetravalent live oral rotavirus vaccine. The assay utilizes four serotype-specific neutralizing monoclonal antibodies (MAb) to detect and quantify individual rotaviruses by immunofluorescence staining of fixed virus-infected monkey kidney cells. In mixed virus infections, all four MAb, W1 (serotype 1), 1C10 (serotype 2), R1 (serotype 3), and S4 (serotype 4), specifically stain the relevant homologous serotype without exhibiting any cross-reactivity against the other serotypes. Furthermore, the test is sensitive enough to differentiate at least twofold (0.3 log) differences in virus titer. The results of testing four individual experimental vaccine lots three or more consecutive times showed that all four lots contained similar proportions of the four vaccine strains as detected by the classical plaque neutralization identification test. The rapidity and efficiency of the FFIDA are desirable attributes that make it suitable for use in studies requiring identification and quantitation of one or more of the four major rotavirus serotypes.