21 research outputs found
Hantaviral proteins: Structure, functions, and role in hantavirus infection
© 2015 Muyangwa, Martynova, Khaiboullina, Morzunov and Rizvanov. Hantaviruses are the members of the family Bunyaviridae that are naturally maintained in the populations of small mammals, mostly rodents. Most of these viruses can easily infect humans through contact with aerosols or dust generated by contaminated animal waste products. Depending on the particular Hantavirus involved, human infection could result in either hemorrhagic fever with renal syndrome or in Hantavirus cardiopulmonary syndrome. In the past few years, clinical cases of the Hantavirus caused diseases have been on the rise. Understanding structure of the Hantavirus genome and the functions of the key viral proteins are critical for the therapeutic agents' research. This paper gives a brief overview of the current knowledge on the structure and properties of the Hantavirus nucleoprotein and the glycoproteins
Weekly 17 alpha-hydroxyprogesterone caproate to prevent preterm birth among women living with HIV: a randomised, double-blind, placebo-controlled trial
Background: Women with HIV face an increased risk of preterm birth. 17 alpha-hydroxyprogesterone caproate (17P) has been shown in some trials to reduce early delivery among women with a history of spontaneous preterm birth. We investigated whether 17P would reduce this risk among women with HIV. Methods: We did a randomised, double-blind, placebo-controlled trial in pregnant women with HIV at the University Teaching Hospital and Kamwala District Health Centre in Lusaka, Zambia. Eligible patients were women aged 18 years or older with confirmed HIV-1 infection, viable intrauterine singleton pregnancy at less than 24 weeks of gestation, and were receiving or intending to commence antiretroviral therapy during pregnancy. Exclusion criteria were major uterine or fetal anomaly; planned or in situ cervical cerclage; evidence of threatened miscarriage, preterm labour, or ruptured membranes at screening; medical contraindication to 17P; previous participation in the trial; or history of spontaneous preterm birth. Eligible participants provided written informed consent and were randomly assigned (1:1) to receive 250 mg intramuscular 17P or placebo once per week, starting between 16 and 24 weeks of gestation until delivery, stillbirth, or reaching term (37 weeks). Participants and study staff were masked to assignment, except for pharmacy staff who did random assignment and prepared injections but did not interact with participants. The primary outcome was a composite of delivery before 37 weeks or stillbirth at any gestational age. Patients attended weekly visits for study drug injections and antenatal care. We estimated the absolute and relative difference in risk of the primary outcome and safety events between treatment groups by intention to treat. This trial is registered with ClinicalTrials.gov, NCT03297216, and is complete. Findings: Between Feb 7, 2018 and Jan 13, 2020, we assessed 1042 women for inclusion into the study. 242 women were excluded after additional assessments, and 800 eligible patients were enrolled and randomly assigned to receive intramuscular 17P (n=399) or placebo (n=401). Baseline characteristics were similar between groups. Adherence to study drug injections was 98% in both groups, no patients were lost to follow-up, and the final post-partum visit was on Aug 6, 2020. 36 (9%) of 399 participants assigned to 17P had preterm birth or stillbirth, compared with 36 (9%) of 401 patients assigned to placebo (risk difference 0·1, 95% CI −3·9 to 4·0; relative risk 1·0, 95% CI 0·6 to 1·6; p=0·98). Intervention-related adverse events were reported by 140 (18%) of 800 participants and occurred in similar proportions in both randomisation groups. No serious adverse events were reported. Interpretation: Although 17P seems to be safe and acceptable to participants, available data do not support the use of the drug to prevent preterm birth among women whose risk derives solely from HIV infection. The low risk of preterm birth in both randomisation groups warrants further investigation. Funding: US National Institutes of Health and the Bill and Melinda Gates Foundation
Transport diplomacy The politics of transport cooperation in the Southern african Development Coordination Conference
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“俫人”族源浅探
我国“俫人”分布于黔桂滇三省(区)交接地带.解放三十多年来,一直未能确定其民族成份.近年来,虽引起一些专家学者的注意,然而见仁见智,看法不一.综观其研究动态,关键在于尚未对其族源问题进行过系统的探讨.笔者认为,探讨“俫人”族源,是件很有意义的事,它不仅仅是目前解决“俫人”族属问题的关键之一,而且还牵涉到汉藏语系各语族先民之间,及其与南亚语系孟高棉语族先民之间的历史关系.深入、系统地探讨这一课题,将对解决西南民族关系史中的一些疑难问题起一定的积极作用.然而,课题难度较大,非一两篇文章便可搞清,当循序分别讨论.本文为“俫”源初溯,旨在给“俫人”族属识别提供参考意见.概而言之,古今“俫人”的概念不同,今自报“俫人”的族源出自仡
Lentivirus Expression of Hantavirus Nucleocapsid Proteins
© 2016, Springer Science+Business Media New York.Hantaviruses are classified as category A pathogens due to the high mortality rate and potential for major health impact. Therefore, virus propagation is restricted to the Biological Safety Level-3 containment laboratory. In this work, we utilized the recombinant lentivirus delivery system which can be used in Biological Safety Level-2 containment. Recombinant lentiviruses were obtained using Gateway cloning technology. Lentiviruses containing S segment of Hantaan, Sin Nombre, Prospect Hill, or Andes viruses were used to transduce lung carcinoma epithelial type II cells (A549). Accumulation of hantavirus S segment RNA was detected using real-time PCR. Additionally, expression of hantavirus nucleocapsid protein was detected in cells transduced with lentiviruses coding for hantavirus S segment. Hantavirus N proteins were found localized in perinuclear region. Interestingly, localization of N protein was similar to that found in hantavirus infected cells. Therefore, we suggest that lentivirus delivery approach could be used to study the mechanisms of hantavirus pathogenesis in Biological Safety Level-2 containment