Numerical simulation of soft palate movement and airflow in human upper airway by fluid-structure interaction method

In this paper, the authors present airflow field characteristics of human upper airway and soft palate movement attitude during breathing. On the basis of the data taken from the spiral computerized tomography images of a healthy person and a patient with Obstructive Sleep Apnea-Hypopnea Syndrome (OSAHS), three-dimensional models of upper airway cavity and soft palate are reconstructed by the method of surface rendering. Numerical simulation is performed for airflow in the upper airway and displacement of soft palate by fluid-structure interaction analysis. The reconstructed three-dimensional models precisely preserve the original configuration of upper airways and soft palate. The results of the pressure and velocity distributions in the airflow field are quantitatively determined, and the displacement of soft palate is presented. Pressure gradients of airway are lower for the healthy person and the airflow distribution is quite uniform in the case of free breathing. However, the OSAHS patient remarkably escalates both the pressure and velocity in the upper airway, and causes higher displacement of the soft palate. The present study is useful in revealing pathogenesis and quantitative mutual relationship between configuration and function of the upper airway as well as in diagnosing diseases related to anatomical structure and function of the upper airway. The project supported by the National Natural Science Foundation of China (10672036, 10472025 and 10421002), the Natural Science Foundation of Liaoning Province (20032109). English text was polished by Yunming Chen.     

旋转状态半受限冲射流流动和换热特性研究

利用数值模拟的方法,通过改变冲击雷诺数Rej(20000-35000)、旋转数Ro(0-0．0117)等参数,分析旋转条件下半受限单孔冲击射流的流动和换热特性,讨论了旋转对冲击射流的流场结构和换热特性的影响．研究结果表明:冲击射流在离心力和哥氏力的共同作用下发生弯曲,造成冲击靶面上的冲击斑随着旋转数Ro的增加而不断偏移,显著影响了冲击的冷却效果．冲击靶面的平均Nu数随着冲击雷诺数Rej的增加而增加;当旋转数Ro增加时,冲击靶面的平均Nu数先增加,后减小,然后再增加．计算结果和试验结论基本一致．     

Taura 综合征病毒主要结构蛋白的表达与纯化

根据Taura综合征病毒(TSV)基因组,设计特异性引物,从感染病毒组织中提取组织总RNA后扩增,分别将3个主要结构蛋白基因VP1、VP2和VP3克隆到pGEM TEasyVector.与表达载体连接后,导入大肠杆菌中诱导表达,并纯化目的蛋白.诱导表达的融合蛋白分子量分别为54.2×103、43×103和57.1×103,在变性条件下过柱纯化VP1和VP2,一次可以纯化10mg以上纯度较高的蛋白.     

湿热证动物模型微量元素、维生素E变化及清香散的调节作用

采用多因素造模方法复制成湿热证动物模型，观察了动物模型微量元素Zn、Cu、Fe、Se和维生素E代谢水平的变化。结果显示，模型动物血清Zn下降（P＜0．05），Cu升高（P＜0．05或P＜0．01），Fe变化不大（P＞0．05），血Se水平下降（P＜0．05），血浆维生素E含量减少（P＜0．01）。经清热祛湿的经验方清香散治疗后，治疗I组动物血清Zn、血Se、血浆维生素E明显升高（P＜0．05），血清Cu下降（P＜0．05）；治疗Ⅱ组血浆血清Cu有变化（P＜0．05）外，其余变化不大。     

A molecular docking model of SARS-CoV S1 protein in complex with its receptor, human ACE2

The exact residues within severe acute respiratory syndrome coronavirus (SARS-CoV) S1 protein and its receptor, human ACE2, involved in their interaction still remain largely undetermined. Identification of exact amino acid residues that are crucial for the interaction of S1 with ACE2 could provide working hypotheses for experimental studies and might be helpful for the development of antiviral inhibitor. In this paper, a molecular docking model of SARS-CoV S1 protein in complex with human ACE2 was constructed. The interacting residue pairs within this complex model and their contact types were also identified. Our model, supported by significant biochemical evidence, suggested receptor-binding residues were concentrated in two segments of S1 protein. In contrast, the interfacial residues in ACE2, though close to each other in tertiary structure, were found to be widely scattered in the primary sequence. In particular, the S1 residue ARG453 and ACE2 residue LYS341 might be the key residues in the complex formation.     

Genomic variation and point mutations analysis of Indian COVID-19 patient samples submitted in GISAID database

Corona virus disease 2019 (COVID-19) endemic has havoc on the world; the causative virus of the pandemic is SARS CoV-2. Pharmaceutical companies and academic institutes are in continuous efforts to identify anti-viral therapy or vaccines, but the most significant challenge faced is the highly evolving genome of SARS CoV-2, which is imparting evolutionary selective benefits to the virus. To understand the viral mutations, we have retrieved nine hundred and thirty-four samples from different states of India via the GISAID database and analyzed the frequency of all types of point mutation in all structural, non-structural proteins, and accessory factors of SARS CoV-2. Spike glycol protein, nsp3, nsp6, nsp12, N and NS3 were the most evolving proteins. High frequency point mutations were Q496P (nsp2), A380V (nsp4), A994D (nsp3), L37F (nsp6), P323L & A97V (nsp12), Q57H (ns3), D614G (S), P13L (N), R203K (N), G204R (N) and S194L (N).     

治疗小儿厌食症中药强壮灵冲剂微量元素测定及其与疗效关系探讨

已证明小儿厌食症除与缺乏微量元素锌关系密切外,还与其他多种微量元素和宏量元素的缺乏或低下也有关。本院以自行研制的中药强壮灵冲剂治疗小儿厌食症疗效显著。其于浸膏粉经２０余种微量元素测定表明含有锌、铁、钴、铜、镍、锰、铬、锗、锶、铝、钡、硒、硅、钛等多种人体必需且品种齐全,含量适度的微量元素。上述元素又恰是患儿体内所缺乏和低下的品种,无疑对患儿全面适度的补充大有裨益．中药强壮灵与西药硫酸锌临床对比研究表明,无论比发锌回升数值以及从厌食等全面疗效统计,中药组均明显优于西药组,并且发现疗效与药物的补锌量不成正相关。说明中药的调理脾胃功能及综合整体治疗作用是其突出优点,值得推广．     

催化材料对病毒的吸附和灭活作用及对哺乳动物细胞的毒性

 提出了以吸附和催化原理灭活病毒的设想，旨在开发出对病毒有过滤、吸附及灭活作用的高效非特异性催化材料，应用于各种防护设施，有效控制非典型肺炎（SARS）的传播．采用与SARS病毒相似的副流感病毒作为模拟对象，进行了吸附及灭活该病毒的催化材料研究，并考察了催化材料对哺乳动物细胞的毒性．结果表明，病毒气溶胶的阻留及吸附结果与基于DNA吸附的色谱分析结果相一致；部分材料可以强烈地吸附病毒（100％），甚至在强烈振荡下并洗脱至第3次，病毒也不能脱附；一些材料不仅可以吸附病毒，而且强烈振荡后的洗脱液虽然表现出一定的血凝效价，但接种鸡胚后，病毒并不增殖，说明材料具有明显的催化病毒灭活性能；对细胞毒性极低的材料可以用在与人体接触的防护材料和设施中．筛选出的性能优异的催化材料，拟进一步考察其对SARS病毒的灭活作用．     

Intra-abdominal fat area is a predictor for new onset of individual components of metabolic syndrome: MEtabolic syndRome and abdominaL ObesiTy (MERLOT study)

Objective: To investigate the significance of intra-abdominal fat area (IAFA) on new onset of individual components of the metabolic syndrome: high blood pressure, dyslipidemia, or hyperglycemia. Methods: We conducted a longitudinal study using checkup data of a hospital from 1994 to 2010. Of 25,255 subjects, we examined 1,380 Japanese, who underwent computed tomography to measure IAFA and had no metabolic syndrome components at baseline. Results: During 3.6 years of the mean follow-up period, one of metabolic syndrome components occurred in 752 subjects. Of three components, high blood pressure was more prevalent. The multiple Cox regression analysis disclosed that IAFA is significantly associated with onset of metabolic syndrome components (HR: 1.05 per 10 cm², 95%CI: 1.03–1.07). This finding was independent of BMI, and significant even in non-obese individuals with body mass index <25 kg/m². Conclusions: MERLOT study demonstrates that IAFA is an independent predictor for new onset of individual components of the metabolic syndrome, even in non-obese healthy Japanese.     

Separation and Analysis of o.p'-DDD and its Lipophilic Metabolite,O.P'-DDE,in Tissue,Faeces and Plasma

Abstract

An analytical procedure based on electron capture gas chromatography for the determination of o,p′-DDD, a drug used for the treatment of Cushing′s syndrome, is presented. Detection of a metabolite, identified as o,p′-DDE, is also described.