Genotype and genetic variation of HCV infections with low-risk factors in Putian coastal regions, China.

Hepatitis C virus (HCV) infection is one of the leading causes of death and morbidity associated with liver disease. Risk factors identified for the transmission of HCV include contaminated blood products, intravenous drug use, body piercing, an infected mother at birth, sexual activity, and dental therapy, among others. However, the exact diversity of the HCV genotype and genetic variation among patients with low-risk factors is still unknown. In this study, we briefly described and analysed the genotype distribution and genetic variation of HCV infections with low-risk factors using molecular biology techniques. The results suggested that genotype 1b was predominant, followed by genotypes 2a and 1a. Genetic variations in the 5' UTR sequences of HCV were identified, including point mutations, deletions, and insertions. The frequency of genetic variations in 1b was higher than in 2a. This study provides considerable value for the prevention and treatment of liver disease caused by HCV among patients with low-risk factors and for the development of HCV diagnostic reagents and vaccines.

[Effect of xinmaitong capsule on damage of lipid peroxidation in coronary heart disease patients with myocardial ischemia].

OBJECTIVE: To assess the effect of Xinmaitong Capsule (XMTC) in treating coronary heart disease(CHD). METHODS: The superoxide dismutase(SOD) and malonyldialdehyde(MDA) levels, ST of electrocardiogram and clinical symptoms of 25 CHD patients with myocardial ischemia were observed before and after treatment with XMTC and 15 patients with Composite Danshen Tablet (CDT) were studied as controls. RESULTS: The SOD level was significantly lower than that of normal (P < 0.001), and MDA significantly increased (P < 0.001). After treatment with XMTC, the SOD levels and ST of ECG were significantly increased (P < 0.001). In the control group, the SOD levels and ST of ECG were unchanged (P > 0.05), MDA and scores of clinical symptoms were decreased (P < 0.05, P < 0.001), but the levels of them were markedly higher than those in the XMTC group (P < 0.01). CONCLUSION: Lipid peroxidation injury is closely related with the myocardial ischemia and Syndrome Differentiation of TCM, XMTC with function of supplementing Qi and activating blood circulation could resist lipid peroxidation injury.

[Diphasic regulatory effect of lishen injection on sex hormones in senile female patients with coronary heart disease of kidney deficiency type].

Effects of Lishen injection on serum estradiol (E2), testosterone (T) and the E2/T ratio in 30 cases of postmenopausal patients with coronary heart disease and of Kidney Deficiency type were observed. Results showed that: (1) Serum E2 and the E2/T ratio were lower (P < 0.01) in the group of Kidney-Yin Deficiency type and higher (P < 0.01) in the group of Kidney-Yang Deficiency type as compared with normal control. (2) After treatment with Lishen injection the levels of serum E2 and the E2/T ratio were elevated in the former (P < 0.01) and lowered in the later (P < 0.01). Both were approaching to normal level (P > 0.05). (3) The levels of T in both groups were unaffected (P > 0.05) before and after treatment. These results suggested the imbalance of Kidney-Yin and Kidney-Yang is related to the disturbance of sex hormones and Lishen injection could not only regulate the Kidney-Yin and Kidney-Yang, improve the symptoms of Kidney Deficiency, but also could convert the abnormal change of sex hormone, it has a good diphasic regulatory effect on E2, and is beneficial on balance of sex hormones of both sex in the inner environment of human body.

Improving heterologous gene expression in Aspergillus niger by introducing multiple copies of protein-binding sequence containing CCAAT to the promoter.

AIMS: To increase the expression level of heterologous gene in Aspergillus niger. METHODS AND RESULTS: Inserting multiple copies of an activator protein-binding site originally encoded in the cis-regulatory region of A. niger glucoamylase gene (glaA), CCAAT-containing sequence, into the promoter of an expression plasmid greatly enhanced the production of heterologous protein. CONCLUSION: The promoter activity was increased by the introduction of the CCAAT-containing sequence resulting in increased gene expression. SIGNIFICANCE AND IMPACT OF THE STUDY: This study provides evidence that the CCAAT-containing region of the glaA promoter of A. niger is a binding site for a positive transcriptional factor and demonstrates the possibility for improving the expression of both heterologous and endogenous genes in Aspergillus.