[A multicenter study of neonatal stroke in Shenzhen, China]. / 深圳市新生儿脑卒中多中心现况调查.

OBJECTIVES: To investigate the incidence rate, clinical characteristics, and prognosis of neonatal stroke in Shenzhen, China. METHODS: Led by Shenzhen Children's Hospital, the Shenzhen Neonatal Data Collaboration Network organized 21 institutions to collect 36 cases of neonatal stroke from January 2020 to December 2022. The incidence, clinical characteristics, treatment, and prognosis of neonatal stroke in Shenzhen were analyzed. RESULTS: The incidence rate of neonatal stroke in 21 hospitals from 2020 to 2022 was 1/15 137, 1/6 060, and 1/7 704, respectively. Ischemic stroke accounted for 75% (27/36); boys accounted for 64% (23/36). Among the 36 neonates, 31 (86%) had disease onset within 3 days after birth, and 19 (53%) had convulsion as the initial presentation. Cerebral MRI showed that 22 neonates (61%) had left cerebral infarction and 13 (36%) had basal ganglia infarction. Magnetic resonance angiography was performed for 12 neonates, among whom 9 (75%) had involvement of the middle cerebral artery. Electroencephalography was performed for 29 neonates, with sharp waves in 21 neonates (72%) and seizures in 10 neonates (34%). Symptomatic/supportive treatment varied across different hospitals. Neonatal Behavioral Neurological Assessment was performed for 12 neonates (33%, 12/36), with a mean score of (32±4) points. The prognosis of 27 neonates was followed up to around 12 months of age, with 44% (12/27) of the neonates having a good prognosis. CONCLUSIONS: Ischemic stroke is the main type of neonatal stroke, often with convulsions as the initial presentation, involvement of the middle cerebral artery, sharp waves on electroencephalography, and a relatively low neurodevelopment score. Symptomatic/supportive treatment is the main treatment method, and some neonates tend to have a poor prognosis.

[Expression, purification and activity identification of ZtaN-p23 fusion protein in Escherichia coli of Epstein-Barr virus].

AIM: To construct the prokaryotic expression plasmid pGEX-4T-1-BZLF1N-BLRF2, and express it in Escherichia coli. METHODS: The EB virus BZLF1N gene and BLRF2 gene were amplified by RT-PCR respectively. Then, the two genes were linked by splicing overlap extension PCR method and inserted into the vector pGEX-4T-1, and the recombinant plasmid pGEX-4T-1-BZLF1N-BLRF2 was transformed into E.coli BL21 (DE3) strain. The expression protein ZtaN-p23 was analysed by SDS-PAGE and immunoreactivity was proved by Western blotting. RESULTS: Restriction enzyme digestion and DNA sequencing showed recombinant plasmid constructed successfully. The expression product ZtaN-p23 with the molecular weight 46000 was located in the cytoplasm and insoluble. The ZtaN-p23 up to 95% purity was obtained after purified using affinity chromatography. Western blotting showed fusion protein possessed a well bioactivity and specificity. CONCLUSION: The fusion gene BZLF1N-BLRF2 is successfully constructed and effectively expressed in E.coli, which lay the foundation for further research on its biological properties and functions.