microRNA与乙型肝炎病情转归的关系

微小核糖核酸(microRNA,miRNA)是一类内源性非编码调控RNA,由二十几个核苷酸长度组成,其通过抑制蛋白质翻译或降解mRNAs调控基因转录后的表达,参与调节细胞的分化,增殖及凋亡,并在肿瘤的发生发展中起重要作用。研究表明乙型肝炎病毒和宿主之间通过miRNA进行相互调节,这在HBV相关肝病的发生发展中起着非常重要的作用。本文就miRNA与HBV感染及其相关肝病的研究现状加以综述以探讨miRNA的研究对HBV相关肝病诊治的重要意义。     

乙型肝炎病毒转录后调节机制的研究进展

乙型肝炎病毒(HBV)转录后的调节涉及多个环节,包括HBV启动子之间的相互作用、多聚腺苷酸化位点的利用、肝细胞核蛋白与HBV“转录后调节序列”的结合、HBV转录体由细胞核向细胞浆的转运等。抑制性转录后调节序列结合蛋白的发现不仅对阐明宿主抗HBV感染的非细胞溶解机制具有重要意义,而且为抗HBV治疗提供了一条新的途径。     

miRNA调节病毒复制的研究进展

miRNA的发现是分子生物学领域的一个巨大突破,它们是长约18～23nt的非编码RNA.近来,研究发现宿主和病毒都可以编码miRNA,并且两者都在调控病毒生存周期及病毒与宿主相互作用的过程中起到非常关键的作用.此文就近年来miRNA在调节病毒复制方面的研究进展进行综述.     

microRNA在HIV-1型感染及其相关疾病中的研究进展

微小RNA(microRNA, miRNA)是一种重要的转录后基因表达调节因子,其表达谱的变化与许多人类病理学有关。miRNA与人类免疫缺陷病毒(human immunodeficiency virus,HIV)之间的相互关系已成为全球研究的热点之一。本文主要从miRNA对HIV-1病毒的转录复制、潜伏感染的影响,miRNA在HIV-1相关疾病中的研究,及其对人类获得性免疫缺陷综合征(acquired immunodeficiency syndrome,AIDS)的治疗前景进行综述。     

乙型肝炎病毒X基因变异与隐匿性感染的关系

隐匿性HBV感染指患者血清HBsAg阴性,而血清和(或)肝组织HBV DNA阳性,其发生机制仍未明了.目前,对HBV基因变异的研究大多集中在S基因,而X基因是病毒复制的重要调节区,是转录、反转录和正链合成的起点,此处变异可能会影响到病毒的转录和复制,但由于X基因结构和功能的复杂性,目前对其变异与隐匿性HBV感染的关系研究相对较少.此文就HBV X基因变异对隐匿性HBV感染的发生和影响进行综述.     

乙型肝炎病毒X蛋白的生物学功能研究进展

乙型肝炎病毒(HBV)X基因编码的X蛋白(HBx)是一种多功能病毒调节蛋白,具有广泛的基因转录调控作用,并能与宿主细胞的多种蛋白质直接作用,从而调节基因表达及宿主细胞蛋白质功能,进而影响病毒的复制、宿主细胞信号转导、细胞增殖与分化、细胞凋亡及癌变等。     

乙型肝炎病毒感染的小鼠模型

小鼠不是HBV的自然宿主,不支持HBV的感染、复制,需通过一定的手段才能使其感染HBV。转基因小鼠是目前应用最多的研究HBV的动物模型,但因不能用于病毒进入以及免疫清除机制等方面的研究而限制了其应用。通过腺病毒载体介导或通过注射质粒等方法也可导致HBV在小鼠体内短暂复制,因而可作为研究HBV急性感染的模型。将人肝细胞移植到免疫缺陷小鼠体内形成嵌合小鼠来研究HBV是最近研究的热点,嵌合模型更加接近自然感染,可以用于病毒的早期进入、复制以及抗病毒治疗的研究,缺点是应用了免疫缺陷小鼠,限制了其在病毒免疫方面的研究,因此目前尚需研发更加完善的HBV动物模型。     

MicroRNAs用于诊断和治疗HBV相关肝病研究进展

微小RNA(miRNAs)是一类内源性且具有精细调控功能的非编码单链RNA,能抑制靶基因的mRNAs翻译或引起其降解,与病毒发病机制和组织癌变的发生息息相关。乙型肝炎病毒(HBV)感染宿主后会发生肝炎、肝硬化、肝癌3步转归,而在该疾病发展过程中, HBV和宿主细胞利用miRNAs进行相互调节,期间伴有不同miRNAs表达谱的变化,并且以miRNAs作为新的抗HBV作用靶点开发抗病毒药物的前景良好,而很少有人对该领域的研究进行综述,因此本文就miRNAs在诊断和治疗HBV感染相关肝病的研究进展做一综述。     

人乳头瘤病毒感染与宿主免疫应答

人乳头瘤病毒(HPV)感染能引起人皮肤、黏膜良性增生性病变乃至官颈癌等恶性肿瘤。HPV不仅可以刺激宿主固有免疫和适应性免疫并产生一定的免疫应答,还可以通过多种免疫逃逸机制逃避宿主免疫应答而致持续感染。HPV与宿主免疫系统之间的相互作用决定了HPV感染后的临床表现和疾病转归。此文对HPV感染后宿主的免疫应答及可能的免疫逃逸机制进行了综述。     

乙型肝炎病毒与肝细胞癌关系研究进展 鲍曼不动杆菌感染暴发的流行病学调查

[摘要]　HBV是一种诱发急、慢性乙型肝炎的DNA病毒，HBV感染是引起肝细胞癌（hepatocellular carcinoma, HCC）的主要原因之一。HBV诱发HCC是一个多因素、多阶段的过程，包括HBV DNA整合到宿主基因中、HBV基因组突变和病毒调节蛋白HBx异常表达等分子机制，异常免疫攻击介导慢性肝损害的免疫机制和DNA甲基化等表观遗传相关机制以及细胞自噬。本文将对近年来HBV诱发HCC的各种机制的研究进展进行综述。     

The human drama of genetics: 'hard' and 'soft' media representations of inherited breast cancer

This paper examines media coverage of 'breast cancer genetics', and explores its implications for public understanding. We present a content analysis of coverage in British newspapers and look at a variety of popular forms, including women's magazines, television soap opera and radio drama. Genetic/inherited risk receives a great deal of coverage across a wide range of media formats and outlets. Much of this attention has focused on individuals from 'high risk families' and dilemmas around prophylactic mastectomies. Through examining media coverage, combined with interviews with media personnel and their sources, we show why this story proved so attractive to the media and highlight the different production values which influence coverage. Finally, we introduce preliminary findings from focus group discussions to demonstrate how such 'human interest' framing has engaged audience attention and influenced public understandings. The paper concludes by highlighting the implications for analysing, predicting, and engaging with, media representations of science.     

Die sogenannte Vinylchlorid-Krankheit—eine berufsbedingte Systemsklerose?

Zusammenfassung Es wurden 13 Arbeiter untersucht, die zwischen 1 3/4 und 18 Jahren in einem PVC-herstellenden Betrieb beschäftigt waren. 8 von ihnen wiesen sklerodermieartige Hautveränderungen (Abb. 2) auf, die histologisch charakterisiert sind durch Verbreiterung und Homogenisierung der kollagenen Faserbündel (Abb. 3 u. 4) sowie Fragmentation und Rarefizierung der elastischen Fasern (Abb. 5). Bei 7 Patienten bestanden trommelschlegelartige Auftreibungen einzelner Fingerendphalangen (Abb. 1). 11 Patienten zeigten Durchblutungsstörungen der Extremitäten (4 von diesen ein Raynaud-Syndrom) und 6 Patienten Acroosteolysen einzelner Fingerendphalangen (Abb. 6, Tabellen 1–3).Darüber hinaus bestand bei allen Patienten eine Thrombocytopenie, bei 12 Patienten eine Splenomegalie, bei 11 Patienten eine Einschränkung der Leberfunktion (erhöhte BSP-Retention). An der Leber ließ sich histologisch bei den 5 laparoskopierten Patienten eine deutliche Fibrosierung der Portalfelder nachweisen. Bei 4 Patienten bestanden Oesophagusvaricen (Tabellen 4 u. 5). 8 Patienten zeigten eine Partialinsuffizienz mit Hinweisen für vorwiegend restriktive Veränderungen.Die hier beschriebenen Veränderungen gehen weit über das bisher bekannte Acroosteolysesyndrom hinaus. Es wird der dringende Verdacht geäußert, daß langfristige Vinylchlorid-Exposition dieses komplexe Krankheitsbild verursacht. Daher wird für diese systemische Krankheit die Bezeichnung Vinylchlorid-Krankheit vorgeschlagen.Wir danken Frau E. Voigtländer für die Herstellung der klinischen und histologischen Abbildungen.     

Empathic processes: perception by medical students of patients'' anxiety and depression

Perceptions by medical students of patients' affective states were investigated, and the effect of the students' own emotions on such perceptions. One hundred and one fourth-year medical students rated the levels of anxiety and depression of three women patients presented on videotape, rated their own levels of anxiety and depression and completed a questionnaire on aspects of the rating process. Students had widely different and often inappropriate perceptions of patients' levels of anxiety and depression. Students who consistently overrated anxiety or depression in patients, compared to those who consistently underrated, were themselves significantly more anxious or depressed. These data suggest a need in medical education for systematic teaching of empathic skills and for recognition of potential bias in clinical decision-making arising from the clinician's own emotional state.     

The reported incidence of work-related ill-health in Scotland (2002-2003)

BACKGROUND: Although incidence data for work-related ill-health in the UK are available, more detailed information for smaller geographical areas has hitherto been unpublished. AIMS: To estimate the incidence of work-related ill-health reported by clinical specialists in Scotland, 2002-2003. METHODS: THOR (The Health and Occupation Reporting network) is a UK wide reporting scheme for work-related ill-health. In 2002-2003, 241 out of 2162 physicians in THOR were based in Scotland. We have summarized the reported cases and calculated incidence rates for categories of ill-health by age, gender and industry. The UK Labour Force Survey (2002) was used to provide denominator data, with comparisons made between rates for Scotland and the rest of the UK. RESULTS: In 2002-2003, 4043 estimated cases were reported from Scotland. Mental ill-health was most frequently reported (41%); followed by musculoskeletal disorders (31%), skin disorders (16%), respiratory disease (10%), hearing disorders (2%) and infection (1%). The reported average annual incidence rate per 100,000 employees for all work-related ill-health in Scotland was 86.0. The highest reported rate for mental ill-health was found for employees in public administration and defence (76.7 per 100,000), and health and social work (72.3 per 100,000). The construction industry had the highest reported rate of musculoskeletal disorders (41.6 per 100,000), while hairdressers appeared at most risk of developing occupational contact dermatitis (rate=86.4 per 100,000). CONCLUSIONS: Despite its limitations, THOR has indicated types of work-related ill-health and related industries for targeted disease prevention in Scotland.     

Function of the protein RPE65 in the visual cycle

A protein called RPE65 performs a key role in the trans-cis isomerization of retinol in the retinal pigment epithelium of the eye. The palmitoylation of RPE65 serves to switch off the visual cycle in darkness and to switch it on in the light.     

Worker education in the primary prevention of occupational dermatoses

This paper reports the evaluation of a skin care education programmeconducted on a fine chemicals manufacturing site where over1,000 employees are located. Approximately 60% are involvedin chemical manufacture. Over a 12 month period production staffreceived training in prevention of occupational dermatoses linkedto a site-wide poster initiative. The incidence of new casesof occupational dermatoses fell from 0.055 (70 cases in 1,277employees) to 0.021 (27 cases in 1,277 employees) before andafter the intervention respectively (p<0.0001). After otherfactors such as chemicals handled, observer bias and changesin reporting related to socioeconomic climate were taken intoaccount it is concluded that this study demonstrates the importanceof worker education as a tool for primary prevention of disease.Training materials such as video and poster presentations maybe effectively used in the chemical manufacturing industry asan adjunct to prevention and control of exposure to substanceshazardous to the skin. Such methods may also be used in otherindustries where there are significant risks of dermatoses.     

Regional Variation in Travel-related Illness acquired in Africa,March 1997–May 2011

To understand geographic variation in travel-related illness acquired in distinct African regions, we used the GeoSentinel Surveillance Network database to analyze records for 16,893 ill travelers returning from Africa over a 14-year period. Travelers to northern Africa most commonly reported gastrointestinal illnesses and dog bites. Febrile illnesses were more common in travelers returning from sub-Saharan countries. Eleven travelers died, 9 of malaria; these deaths occurred mainly among male business travelers to sub-Saharan Africa. The profile of illness varied substantially by region: malaria predominated in travelers returning from Central and Western Africa; schistosomiasis, strongyloidiasis, and dengue from Eastern and Western Africa; and loaisis from Central Africa. There were few reports of vaccine-preventable infections, HIV infection, and tuberculosis. Geographic profiling of illness acquired during travel to Africa guides targeted pretravel advice, expedites diagnosis in ill returning travelers, and may influence destination choices in tourism.     

The design of hazard risk assessment matrices for ranking occupational health risks and their application in mining and minerals processing

Two hazard risk assessment matrices for the ranking of occupational health risks are described. The qualitative matrix uses qualitative measures of probability and consequence to determine risk assessment codes for hazard-disease combinations. A walk-through survey of an underground metalliferous mine and concentrator is used to demonstrate how the qualitative matrix can be applied to determine priorities for the control of occupational health hazards. The semi-quantitative matrix uses attributable risk as a quantitative measure of probability and uses qualitative measures of consequence. A practical application of this matrix is the determination of occupational health priorities using existing epidemiological studies. Calculated attributable risks from epidemiological studies of hazard-disease combinations in mining and minerals processing are used as examples. These historic response data do not reflect the risks associated with current exposures. A method using current exposure data, known exposure-response relationships and the semi-quantitative matrix is proposed for more accurate and current risk rankings.     

Acute symptoms following work with pesticides

BACKGROUND: Serious accidental poisoning by pesticides is rare in the UK, but more minor pesticide-related illness may be under-reported. Anecdotally, use of sheep dip has been linked with flu-like symptoms. AIM: To explore the frequency, nature and determinants of acute symptoms following work with pesticides. METHODS: A postal survey of men in three rural areas of England and Wales provided data on occupational use of five categories of pesticide, occurrence of 12 specified symptoms within 48 h of using pesticides and tendency to somatize. Risk factors for pesticide-related symptoms were assessed by modified Cox regression. RESULTS: Of 10 765 responders (response rate = 31%), 4108 had at some time used pesticides occupationally, including 935 (23%) who reported symptoms following such work on at least one occasion. In two areas, acute symptoms were most frequent following use of sheep dip (29 and 32% of users), but in the third area the rate was significantly lower (13% of users). The relative frequency of symptoms was similar for all five categories of pesticide, and flu-like symptoms did not cluster unusually among users of sheep dip. Risk of pesticide-related symptoms increased with somatizing tendency (prevalence ratio for highest versus lowest category 2.4, 95% confidence interval 2.0-3.0) and was higher in men who had used pesticides most often or handled concentrate. CONCLUSION: Acute symptoms are common following work with pesticides, but in many cases the illness may arise through psychological rather than toxic mechanisms.