HSDPA在亚洲3G真的来了?

HSDPA的度理论上最高达4.4M bit/s,但额的流量对无线接网络和空载传输容量要求有巨大影响。“3G的势头已经成为一个始终如一的主题。不过,正如我们所指出的,对3G手机的深刻领会并不总是伴随着对3G服务的持续理解。看上去高速下行包接入(HSDPA)技术可能是一个例外。它在欧洲发布,并且已经引起了人们浓厚的兴趣。看看它在亚洲的发展,我们不禁要问:它就是最终真正的3G吗?回首2002～2003年,HSDPA的部署看上去是一条漫长的道路,并且3GPP方面没有什么紧迫感,它的成员忙于应付WCDMA部署方面的复杂性。两件事的发生加速了HSDPA的部署:…     

Quantitative analysis of ephedrines in urine by HPLC

Simultaneous determination of six ephedrines in urine sample has been achieved by high performance liquid chromatography on a Lichrospher RP-18 column, using methylamphetamine as internal standard. The 6 ephedrines are well separated in 25 minutes with resolution better than 1.8. This method has high recovery, selectivity and reproducibility, and the linearity is satisfactory from 1.5 micrograms/ml to 25 micrograms/ml with correlation coefficients better than 0.999.     

Antisense oligonucleotide inhibition of hepatitis C virus gene expression in transformed hepatocytes

Genetic and biochemical studies have provided convincing evidence that the 5' noncoding region (5' NCR) of hepatitis C virus (HCV) is highly conserved among viral isolates worldwide and that translation of HCV is directed by an internal ribosome entry site (IRES) located within the 5' NCR. We have investigated inhibition of HCV gene expression using antisense oligonucleotides complementary to the 5' NCR, translation initiation codon, and core protein coding sequences. Oligonucleotides were evaluated for activity after treatment of a human hepatocyte cell line expressing the HCV 5' NCR, core protein coding sequences, and the majority of the envelope gene (E1). More than 50 oligonucleotides were evaluated for inhibition of HCV RNA and protein expression. Two oligonucleotides, ISIS 6095, targeted to a stem-loop structure within the 5' NCR known to be important for IRES function, and ISIS 6547, targeted to sequences spanning the AUG used for initiation of HCV polyprotein translation, were found to be the most effective at inhibiting HCV gene expression. ISIS 6095 and 6547 caused concentration-dependent reductions in HCV RNA and protein levels, with 50% inhibitory concentrations of 0.1 to 0.2 microM. Reduction of RNA levels, and subsequently protein levels, by these phosphorothioate oligonucleotides was consistent with RNase H cleavage of RNA at the site of oligonucleotide hybridization. Chemically modified HCV antisense phosphodiester oligonucleotides were designed and evaluated for inhibition of core protein expression to identify oligonucleotides and HCV target sequences that do not require RNase H activity to inhibit expression. A uniformly modified 2'-methoxyethoxy phosphodiester antisense oligonucleotide complementary to the initiator AUG reduced HCV core protein levels as effectively as phosphorothioate oligonucleotide ISIS 6095 but without reducing HCV RNA levels. Results of our studies show that HCV gene expression is reduced by antisense oligonucleotides and demonstrate that it is feasible to design antisense oligonucleotide inhibitors of translation that do not require RNase H activation. The data demonstrate that chemically modified antisense oligonucleotides can be used as tools to identify important regulatory sequences and/or structures important for efficient translation of HCV.     

Synthesis of Hexp-(1-->4)-beta-D-GlcpNAc-(1-->2)-alpha-D-Manp-(1-->O) (CH2)7 CH3 probes for exploration of the substrate specificity of glycosyltransferases: Part II, Hex = 3-O-methyl-beta-D-Gal, 3-deoxy-beta-D-Gal, 3-deoxy-3-fluoro-beta-D-Gal, 3-amino-3-deoxy-beta-D-Gal, beta-D-Gul, alpha-L-Alt, or beta-L-Gal

Seven analogues of the trisaccharide beta-D-Galp-(1-->4)-beta-D-GlcpNAc-(1-->2)-alpha-D-Manp-(1-->O)(CH 2)7CH3 have been synthesized as potential substrates for glycosyltransferases involved in the chain-termination of N-acetyllactosamine-type N-glycans. These compounds include: 3-O-methyl-beta-D-Galp-(1-->4)-beta-D-GlcpNAc-(1-->2)-alpha-D-Manp -(1-->O) (CH2)7CH3, 3-deoxy-beta-D-Galp-(1-->4)-beta-D-GlcpNAc-(1-->2)-alpha-D-Manp-(1 -->O) (CH2)7CH3, 3-deoxy-3-fluoro-beta-D-Galp-(1-->4)-beta-D-GlcpNAc-(1-->2)-alpha-D-M anp- (1-->O)(CH2)7Ch3, 3-amino-3-deoxy-beta-D-Galp-(1-->4)-beta-D-GlcpNAc-(1-->2)-alpha-D-Ma np- (1-->O)(CH2)7CH3, beta-D-Gulp-(1-->4)-beta-D-GlcpNAc-(1-->2)-alpha-D-Manp-(1-- >O)(CH2)7CH3, beta-L-Galp-(1-->4)-beta-D-GlcpNAc-(1-->2)-alpha-D-Manp-(1-->O)(CH 2)7CH3, and alpha-L-Altp-(1-->4)-beta-D-GlcpNAc-(1-->2)-alpha-D-Manp-(1- ->O) (CH2)7CH3. All trisaccharides were obtained by condensation of suitably modified glycosyl donors based on imidates or thioglycosides with the same disaccharide acceptor, octyl 3,4,6-tri-O-benzyl-2-O-(3,6-di-O-benzyl-2-deoxy-2-phthalimido-beta-D- glucopyranosyl)-alpha-D-mannopyranoside, followed by deprotection.     

Revised cutoff values of serum aminotransferase in detecting viral hepatitis among CAPD patients: experience from Taiwan, an endemic area for hepatitis B

BACKGROUND: To determine the best cutoff values of aspartate aminotransferase (AST) and alanine amino-transferase (ALT) in detecting viral hepatitis C infection among patients of continuous ambulatory peritoneal dialysis (CAPD). METHODS: 90 (44 male and 46 female) CAPD patients and 526 adult controls (266 male, 260 female) were enrolled. Serum AST and ALT were measured by an auto-analyser monthly. Serum HBsAg was examined using a RIA method and anti-HCV by an second-generation EIA method. The best cutoff values of AST and ALT for detecting viral hepatitis were obtained from the ROC (receiver-operating characteristic) curve. RESULTS: The prevalence of anti-HCV(+) was significantly higher in CAPD patients (16.7%) than in normal controls (4.9%), while that of HBsAg(+) was similar in both groups. CAPD patients had significantly lower levels of serum aminotransferases compared to normal controls. Mean AST were 23.8 IU/l in normal control and 18.8 IU/l in the CAPD patients (P < 0.001). Mean ALT were 21.9 IU/l in normal controls and 15.3 IU/l in the CAPD patients (P < 0.001). CAPD patients with HCV infection had higher serum AST and ALT levels than those without. However, HBV infection did not cause significant serum aminotransferase elevation in patients. The conventional cutoff values of AST (40 IU/l) and ALT (40 IU/l) for detecting viral hepatitis yielded only a sensitivity of 27.3 and 18.2% respectively; on the contrary, our revised cutoff values of AST (24 IU/l) and ALT (17 IU/l) had better sensitivities (AST, 72.7%; ALT, 63.6%). For serial aminotransferase values, the sensitivity of AST and ALT for detecting HCV were 36.4 and 27.3% by conventional criteria, and were both 81.8%, by our newly revised criteria. CONCLUSIONS: Serum aminotransferase cutoff values should be modified for screening viral hepatitis in a CAPD population. Our new cutoff criteria had important clinical implications in providing benefits of earlier detection and possible prevention from chronic hepatic deteriorations.