Immunogenicity and Protective Activity of Pigeon Circovirus Recombinant Capsid Protein Virus-Like Particles (PiCV rCap-VLPs) in Pigeons (Columba livia) Experimentally Infected with PiCV.

Pigeon circovirus (PiCV) is the most recurrent virus diagnosed in pigeons and is among the major causative agents of young pigeon disease syndrome (YPDS). Due to the lack of an established laboratory protocol for PiCV cultivation, development of prophylaxis is hampered. Alternatively, virus-like particles (VLPs), which closely resemble native viruses but lack the viral genetic material, can be generated using a wide range of expression systems and are shown to have strong immunogenicity. Therefore, the use of VLPs provides a promising prospect for vaccine development. In this study, transfected human embryonic kidney (HEK-293) cells, a mammalian expression system, were used to express the PiCV capsid protein (Cap), which is a major component of PiCV and believed to contain antibody epitopes, to obtain self-assembled VLPs. The VLPs were observed to have a spherical morphology with diameters ranging from 12 to 26 nm. Subcutaneous immunization of pigeons with 100 µg PiCV rCap-VLPs supplemented with water-in-oil-in-water (W/O/W) adjuvant induced specific antibodies against PiCV. Observations of the cytokine expression and T-cell proliferation levels in spleen samples showed significantly higher T-cell proliferation and IFN- γ expression in pigeons immunized with VLPs compared to the controls (p < 0.05). Experimentally infected pigeons that were vaccinated with VLPs also showed no detectable viral titer. The results of the current study demonstrated the potential use of PiCV rCap-VLPs as an effective vaccine candidate against PiCV.

The prenatal diagnosis ,classification and outcome of anomalous origin of pulmonary artery from ascending aorta / 中华超声影像学杂志

Objective To investigate the clinical value of fetal echocardiography in prenatal diagnosis , classification and outcome of abnormal origin of pulmonary artery from ascending aorta ( AOPA) . Methods From January 2014 to June 2018 ,18 cases of AOPA diagnosed by echocardiography in 43966 fetuses from Shaanxi Fetal Congenital Heart Disease Diagnostic Center were retrospectively analyzed . The echocardiographic features ,pathological and anatomical classification ,genetic characteristics and outcome of postnatal echocardiography were summarized . Results Abnormal origin of pulmonary artery branches could be demonstrated by color Doppler imaging system in 18 cases . Ten cases ( 55 .6％ ) of right pulmonary artery abnormalities originated from ascending aorta ( AORPA ) ,in which 6 cases ( 60％ ) were distal pulmonary artery abnormalities ,4 cases ( 40％ ) were proximal pulmonary artery abnormalities . Eight cases( 44 .4％ ) of left pulmonary artery abnormalities originated from ascending aorta ( AOLPA ) ,including 7 cases ( 87 .5％ ) of distal pulmonary artery abnormalities and 1 case ( 12 .5％ ) of proximal pulmonary artery abnormalities . Twelve AOPAs were associated with other intracardiac malformations with 6 right ventricular double outlet (DORV) accompanying with pulmonary stenosis ,3 tetralogy of fallots( TOF) ,2 atrioventricular septal defects( AVSD) ,1 single ventricle with single atrium ,and 1 Berry syndrome ,and no casese were associated with extracardiac malformations .Amniocentesis karyotype analysis and gene chip detection in 5 cases showed normal results . Four of 18 cases were born ,in which 3 cases died and 1 case was progressively suffered with right pulmonary artery atresia ,10 cases were inducted of labor ( 4 autopsy) and following-up was lost in 4 cases . Conclusions Incidence of AOLPA and distal type in fetal AOPA is higher than that in child and adult from references ,DORV is abnormal type mostly associated with intracardiac malformation . AOPA has no obvious genetic result for less cases . The main risk after AOPA birth is pulmonary infection . Echocardiography is of great value for AOPA in prenatal diagnosis , outcome observation and surgical planning after birth .

Study on diagnosis of fetal congenital heart disease by echocardiography and integrated management in a single center in northwestern region of China / 中华超声影像学杂志

Objective To explore the detection rate ,types ,accompanying abnormalities and prognosis of fetal congenital heart disease(CHD) in a single center in northwest China ,in order to set up a foundation for further studying the epidemiological characteristics of fetal CHD and integrated management of fetal CHD in the prenatal and postnatal . Methods A total of 2725 CHD in 45015 fetus diagnosed by fetal echocardiography were enrolled . The fetal CHD detection rate and the composition ratio were calculated . Follow-up results between the simple CHD and complex CHD were analyzed . Results The detection rate of fetal CHD in our center was up to 6 .1％ . There were 1589 cases of complex CHD ,accounting for 58 .3％ in all the fetal CHD ,of which the most common type was single ventricle ,followed by tetralogy of Fallot , atrioventricular septal defect and double outlet right ventricle ;Simple CHD 1136 cases ,accounting for 41 .7％ in all the fetal CHD ,the most common type was ventricular septal defect . The number of abortion cases ,intrauterine and postnatal natural deaths of fetal CHD accounted for 60 .3％ ( 1357/2251) of the total follow-up ,of which complex CHD and chromosomal abnormalities accounting for the majority . 68 cases of CHD underwent surgical treatment after birth ,of which complex CHD were predominant . 37 cases of simple CHD spontaneous closure and 27 cases of simple CHD genetic test results were abnormal . Conclusions The detection rate of CHD in this group is relatively high ,which is related to the prenatal diagnosis consultation center . Fetal complex CHD is more common while the prognosis is worse than simple CHD . Prenatal and postnatal integrated management of fetal CHD has important clinical value in early treatment of complex CHD .

Clinical diagnosis value of echocardiography and prognosis evaluation to fetus with persistent truncus arteriosus / 中华超声影像学杂志

Objective To evaluate prenatal diagnosis value of echocardiography in pathological types,differential diagnosis and accompanied malformations of fetal persistent truncus arteriosus(PTA).MethodsTwenty-four cases of PTA selected from 1 392 cases were analysed,who were definitely diagnosed to be suffered from cardiovascular malformation by fetal echocardiography.The ultrasound findings,pathological results and followed up were analysed.According to Van Praagh classification,the type IV PTA was excluded in this study which was classified into pulmonary artery atresia.Results The total PTA were 24 cases,in which 10 cases of A1 type,3 cases of A2 type,9 cases of A3 type,and 2 cases of A4 type.Nine cases of PTA accompanied other cardiac anomalies,and 1 case of PTA accompanied both cardiac anomalies and extracardial malformations.Two PTA cases were born,one was A1 type underwent surgical intervention,and the other was died due to multiple organ-failure.Fourteen PTA cases were termination and 7 cases were confirmed by pathology.Seven women pregnant again,of which 5 cases were born while only one was diagnosed atrial septal defect after birth,2 pregnant women were still during follow-up.Eight PTA cases follow-up were lost.Conclusions A1 type and A3 type of PTA have high incidence in fetus.Accompanied cardiac anomalies is certainly related to different types.Combination of multiple ultrosund techniques can diagnose PTA prenatally,make accurate classification and detect accompanying malformations,which is of great significance to offer proper pregnancy counselling and postpartum treatment.

Application value of fetal echocardiography in diagnosis and prognosis assessment of anomalous pulmonary venous connection (APVC) / 中华超声影像学杂志

Objective To explore the application value of fetal echocardiography for the diagnosis and prognosis assessment of anomalous pulmonary venous connection (APVC),by comparing the results of prenatal diagnosis of APVC by ultrasound and follow-up.Methods Eighty-one APVC fetuses diagnosed by fetal echocardiography were followed up regularly.These results were compared with postnatal ultrasound diagnosis,operation and anatomy.The main points of methodology and differential diagnosis were summarized.Results Eighty-one APVC fetuses included 68 cases of total APVC(31 cases of supracardiac type,15 cases of intracardiac type,22 cases of infracardiac type),13 cases of Partial APVC(2 cases of supracardiac type,10 cases of intracardiac type,1 case of infracardiac type);12 cases of isolated APVC,69 cases of complex APVC(combined with other cardiovascular abnormalities);6 cases were born(4 infants of isolated APVC survived after operation,2 infants of complex APVC died),2 cases were ongoing pregnancy,71 cases were aborted (30 cases were dissected),2 cases were lost to follow-up.Conclusions Fetal echocardiography has important application value in diagnosis and prognosis assessment of APVC and the ones with other cardiovascular abnormalities.

The Nell-1 growth factor stimulates bone formation by purified human perivascular cells.

The search for novel sources of stem cells other than bone marrow mesenchymal stem cells (MSCs) for bone regeneration and repair has been a critical endeavor. We previously established an effective protocol to homogeneously purify human pericytes from multiple fetal and adult tissues, including adipose, bone marrow, skeletal muscle, and pancreas, and identified pericytes as a primitive origin of human MSCs. In the present study, we further characterized the osteogenic potential of purified human pericytes combined with a novel osteoinductive growth factor, Nell-1. Purified pericytes grown on either standard culture ware or human cancellous bone chip (hCBC) scaffolds exhibited robust osteogenic differentiation in vitro. Using a nude mouse muscle pouch model, pericytes formed significant new bone in vivo as compared to scaffold alone (hCBC). Moreover, Nell-1 significantly increased pericyte osteogenic differentiation, both in vitro and in vivo. Interestingly, Nell-1 significantly induced pericyte proliferation and was observed to have pro-angiogenic effects, both in vitro and in vivo. These studies suggest that pericytes are a potential new cell source for future efforts in skeletal regenerative medicine, and that Nell-1 is a candidate growth factor able to induce pericyte osteogenic differentiation.

Analysis of part of M gene and genotyping for M segment of hantavirus detected from HFRS patients' sera in Qingdao region during 2000 - 2003 / 中华实验和临床病毒学杂志

<p><b>OBJECTIVE</b>To study the molecular epidemiological characteristics of hantavirus seen during 2000-2003 in Qingdao region of Shandong province.</p><p><b>METHODS</b>Sera were collected from 64 patients with hemorrhagic fever with renal syndrome (HFRS) and viral RNA was extracted from the sera. HTN and SEO universal primers were designed as outer primers and HTN and SEO specific primers as inner primers. G1 gene region of M segment from hantavirus was amplified by using RT-nest-PCR for sequencing. The data of nucleotide sequences were analyzed by DNA star software.</p><p><b>RESULTS</b>Six cases were positive by HTN specific primer of total cases (9%); 25 of 64 cases by SEO specific primer (39%); total positive rate was 48%. In general, SEO type was a prevalent type of hantavirus in Qingdao region. The variation of the nucleotide sequences among SEO viruses (nucleotide sequence divergence ranged from 0.3% approximately 8.9%) was lower than that among HTN type (nucleotide sequence divergence ranged from 2.6% approximately 11.2% ).</p><p><b>CONCLUSION</b>Majority of hantavirus found in Qingdao region belonged to SEO type and still a few strains belonged to HTN type. Most of the HTN viruses were detected in Jiaonan county.</p>