Time-series gene expression prof iles in AGS cells stimulated with Helicobacter pylori

AIM: To extend the knowledge of the dynamic interaction between Helicobacter pylori (H. pylori) and host mucosa. METHODS: A time-series cDNA microarray was performed in order to detect the temporal gene expression prof iles of human gastric epithelial adenocarcinoma cells infected with H. pylori. Six time points were selected to observe the changes in the model. A differential expression prof ile at each time point was obtained by comparing the microarray signal value with that of 0 h. Real-time polymerase chain reaction was subsequently performed to evaluate the data quality. RESULTS: We found a diversity of gene expression patterns at different time points and identifi ed a group of genes whose expression levels were significantly correlated with several important immune response and tumor related pathways. CONCLUSION: Early infection may trigger some important pathways and may impact the outcome of the infection.

CD4(＋)CD25(＋) treg induction by an HSP60-derived peptide SJMHE1 from schistosoma japonicum is TLR2 dependent

Chronic schistosome infection results in the suppression of host immune responses, allowing long-term schistosome survival and restricting pathology.Current theories suggest that Treg play an important role in this regulation.However, the mechanism of Treg induction during schistosome infection is still unknown.The aim of this study was to determine the mechanism behind the induction of CD4(+)CD25(+) T cells by Schistosoma japonicum HSP60(SjHSP60)-derived peptide SJMHE1 as well as to elucidate the cellular and molecular basis for the induction of CD4(+)CD25(+) T cells during S.japonicum infection.Mice immunized with SJMHE1 or spleen and LN cells from naive mice pretreated.with SJMHE1 in vitro all displayed an increase in CD4(+)CD25(+) T-cell populations.Release of IL-10 and TGF-beta by SJMHE1 stimulation may contribute to suppression.Adoptively transferred SJMHE1induced CD4(+)CD25(+) T cells inhibited delayed-type hypersensitivity in BALB / c mice.Additionally, SJMHE1-treated APC were tolerogenic and induced CD4(+) cells to differentiate into suppressive CD4(+)CD25(+) Treg.Furthermore, our data support a role for TLR2 in SJMHE1-mediated CD4(+)CD25(+) Treg induction.These findings provide the basis for a more complete understanding of the S.japonicum-host interactions that contribute to host homeostatic mechanisms, preventing an excessive immune response.

Pregnancy outcomes and risk factors for low birth weight and preterm delivery among HIV-infected pregnant women in Guangxi, China

Background Six provinces in China accounted for 70%-80% of all reported HIV/AIDS cases in the country in 2009 and five provinces accounted for 78% of all reported mother-to-child transmission （MTCT） of HIV cases. Because Guangxi belonged to both groups, the Prevention of Mother-to-Child Transmission （PMTCT） Plus program was established there to understand better low birth weight （LBW） and preterm delivery （PD） birth outcomes and their associated risk factors better. Methods Pregnancy outcomes were examined among HIV-infected pregnant women who enrolled in the PMTCT Plus program from June 2006 to February 2009 in Guangxi, China. Multivariate Logistic regression analysis was used to explore the risk factors associated with LBW （〈2500 g） and PD （gestational age 〈37 weeks）. Results The prevalence of LBW and PD among 194 HIV-positive mothers was 19.6% （38/194） and 9.8% （19/194）, respectively. Multivariate Logistic regression analysis showed that CD4 cell count 〈100 cell/IJI （multivariate-adjusted odds ratio （AOR） 5.52; 95% Cl 1.11-25.55） and CD4 cell count 100-199 cells/IJI （AOR3.40; 95% Cl 1.03-11.25, compared to CD4 cell count 〉350 cells/IJI）, gestational age 〈37 weeks （AOR 4.38; 95% Cl 1.29-14.82, compared to 〉37 weeks）, maternal weight 〈45 kg （AOR 5.64; 95% Cl 1.09-29.07） and maternal weight 45-54 kg （AOR 3.55; 95% CI 1.31-9.60, compared to 〉55 kg） at enrollment, and H IV RNA 〉100 000 copies/ml at enrollment （AOR 4.22; 95% CI 1.24-14.32） and 20 000-99 999 （AOR 2.77; 95% Cl 1.01-7.77, compared to 〈20 000 copies/ml） were associated with a higher risk of LBW. For PD, only maternal injection drug use as the route of HIV transmission （AOR 5.30; 95% Cl 1.33-21.14, compared to those infected with HIV through sexual transmission） was significantly associated with a higher risk of PD. Conclusions Lower CD4 cell count and higher HIV RNA viral load at enrollment were associated with LBW. Optimal antenatal care, including earlier antenatal screening and HIV diagnosis, is critical to earlier PMTCT prophylaxis and/or HIV treatment to prevent transmission of HIV to the infant and also to prevent LBW pregnancy outcomes.

Association between the incidence of typhoid and paratyphoid fever and meteorological variables in Guizhou, China

Background Typhoid/paratyphoid fever （TPF） is endemic in Guizhou.We conducted wavelet analysis and Spearman＇s rank correlation analysis to explore the impact of meteorological variations on TPF infection in Guizhou,in an attempt to assess the risk factors associated with TPF epidemics.Methods We examined the association between TPF incidence in Guizhou and temperature,precipitation and relative humidity using 24 years of data from 1984 to 2007.Periodicities of TPF incidence and the impact of climate factors on the TPF were detected by Spearman＇s rank correlation and wavelet analysis,Results Temperature and precipitation with a 1-month lag were positively correlated with the monthly incidence of TPF.The multiyear incidence pattern of TPF in Guizhou was explicitly periodic.Moreover,the association and driving effect of precipitation on TPF were observed,and the results showed that the incidence of TPF in Guizhou had a closer correlation with precipitation than with temperature.Conclusions Safe water supply is the key issue for TPF control in Guizhou.Moreover,climate variation might impact the enteric infections,which may inform policy assessment for TPF control in Guizhou.

Differences in the population of genetics of Mycobacterium tuberculosis between urban migrants and local residents in Beijing, China

Background Currently, migration has become one of the risk factors of high burden of tuberculosis in China. This study was to explore the influence of mass migration on the dynamics of Mycobacterium （M.） tuberculosis in Beijing, the capital and an urban area of China.