The cold case: Are rhinoviruses perfectly adapted pathogens?

Rhinoviruses, which cause common cold, belong to the Picornaviridae family, small non-enveloped viruses (diameter 15-30 nm) containing a single-stranded RNA genome (about 7 kb). Over 100 different rhinoviral serotypes have been identified thus far, establishing rhinoviruses as the most diverse group of Picornaviridae. Based on receptor binding properties, rhinoviruses are divided into two classes: the major group binding to intracellular adhesion molecule-1 and the minor group binding to the very low density lipoprotein receptors. Interactions between virus and the receptor molecules cause a conformational change in the capsid, which is a prerequisite for viral uptake. Rhinoviruses trigger a chemokine response upon infection that may lead to exacerbation of the symptoms of common cold, i.e. asthma and inflammation. The following review aims to summarize the knowledge about rhinoviral infections and discusses therapeutical approaches against this almost perfectly adapted pathogen.     

Anti-amyloidogenic therapies: strategies for prevention and treatment of Alzheimer’s disease

Deposition of amyloid β-protein (Aβ) in the brain is an early and invariant neuropathological feature of Alzheimer’s disease (AD). The current search for anti-AD drugs is mainly focused on modification of the process of accumulation of Aβ in the brain. Here, we review four anti-amyloidogenic strategies: (i) reduction of Aβ production, which has mainly been approached with secretase inhibition, (ii) promotion of the Aβ degrading catabolic pathway, including an Aβ degrading enzyme, neprilysin, (iii) immunotherapy for Aβ and (iv) inhibition of Aβ aggregation. We have reported that AD patients have a favorable molecular environment for Aβ aggregation and that various compounds, such as polyphenols, interfere with Aβ aggregation and destabilize preformed Aβ fibrils. Received 21 December 2005; received after revision 14 February 2006; accepted 29 March 2006     

Huntington’s disease: from huntingtin function and dysfunction to therapeutic strategies

Huntington’s disease (HD) is a neurodegenerative disorder that usually starts in middle age and is characterized by involuntary movements (chorea), personality changes and dementia, leading to death within 10–20 years. The defective gene in HD contains a trinucleotide CAG repeat expansion within its coding region that expresses a polyglutamine repeat in the protein huntingtin. Together with the characteristic formation of aggregates in HD, aberrant protein interactions and several post-translational modifications affect huntingtin during disease progression and lead to the dysfunction and death of selective neurons in the brains of patients. The exact molecular mechanisms by which mutant huntingtin induces cell death are not completely understood but may involve the gain of new toxic functions and the loss of the beneficial properties of huntingtin. This review focuses on the cellular functions in which huntingtin is involved and how a better understanding of pathogenic pathways can lead to new therapeutic approaches. Received 24 May 2006; received after revision 5 July 2006; accepted 23 August 2006     

甲地孕酮改善晚期肿瘤患者生活质量的疗效观察

目的:观察国产甲地孕酮改善晚期肿瘤患者生活质量的疗效.方法:110例晚期肿瘤患者分为两组,治疗组60例,常规化疗同时口服甲地孕酮,对照组50例仅行常规化疗,观察两组治疗前后生活质量的变化.结果:治疗组食欲改善占80%,体重增加占70%,生活质量指数评分提高占65%.平均生存时间延长,超过6月占55%,明显优于对照组(P＜0.01),化疗后胃肠道反应及白细胞降低明显低于对照组(P＜0.05).结论:甲地孕酮能明显改善晚期肿瘤恶液质状况、提高生活质量、减少化疗后的不良反应发生率,未见明显毒副作用.     

铋基纳米材料在肿瘤诊治和抗菌中的应用进展

随着纳米技术的快速发展,纳米材料作为新型生物材料在生物医学领域表现出独特的优势,受到研究人员的广泛关注。铋基纳米材料因其良好的生物相容性和优异的光学等物理化学特性,在肿瘤诊治和抗菌等生物医学领域的应用已被广泛研究和报道,并展现出广阔的应用前景。简要综述了生物医用铋基纳米材料在计算机断层扫描成像、光声成像等生物成像和光动力治疗、放射治疗、光热治疗等肿瘤治疗以及抗菌中的研究进展,希望为铋基纳米材料在生物医学领域中的应用提供帮助。     

惠能应对惠明夺衣印宗请衣拜师人物叙事对比

宗宝本《坛经·行由第一》记录了惠能应对惠明夺衣拜师、印宗请衣拜师两事，人物叙事对比有情节，有转机。惠明是由惠能的反对者转化为帮助者，接受的指令先后发生改变，印宗始终是惠能的帮助者，接受的还不能称为指令，接受的是信息。前事惠明与惠能有对比，后事惠能与印宗有对比。两事人物叙事也可以作对比，有异有同，如惠能与衣、法就构成了主体与客体的关系，两事有共同点。也有不同点。     

运动疗法依从性对2型糖尿病患者糖化血红蛋白的影响

目的运动疗法依从性对2型糖尿病患者糖化血红蛋白的影响。方法2型糖尿病患者60例．出院后接受每月一次的电话回访。连续6个月，全部病人首次发病，进行运动疗法相关知识教育，每3个月查糖化血红蛋白。结果运动疗法依从性达标的患者糖化血红蛋白控制明显优于不能达标的患者（P〈0．05）。结论有效的运动可提高胰岛素敏感性。减轻胰岛素抵抗，对糖化血红蛋白有明显的控制作用。     

长篇小说史诗性的流变——兼论张翎的长篇新作《阵痛》

随着时代的变迁，长篇小说引以为骄傲的史诗性元素逐渐淡化和消解。摈弃了英雄主义价值取向的现代小说家们，审视、质疑、静观历史的潮变，揭示人物内心的冲突、痛苦、绝望……张翎的长篇新作《阵痛》成功地给中国当代文学以启示：在告别宏大历史叙事、告别强而硬的政治激情之后，建立在男权基础上的历史解构之后，小说应以怎样的讲述来开辟新径，来完成影像时代里自身的重新建构。     

知识分子精神的日常消解

在中国社会发展的历史进程当中，知识分子的社会身份和文化属性一直处于变动之中，今天的知识分子面临着更为复杂、多元的社会现实。李洱、孙瑜等当代作家通过小说叙事对于知识分子的生存现状进行了深入、细致的考察，向我们展示了一个普遍化的社会现实：知识分子精神生活的日常消解，成为现代社会中积郁已久的“文化病”。