Animals ; Arrestins ; metabolism ; Hypoxia ; metabolism ; Male ; Prefrontal Cortex ; metabolism ; Rats ; Rats, Sprague-Dawley ; Receptors, G-Protein-Coupled ; metabolism ; beta-Arrestin 1 ; beta-Arrestins

Objective To observe the dynamic changes of NO,NOS in serum and CSF in patients with CNS infection and lay an experimental basis for discrimination of CNS infection due to different agents.Methods The method of nitrate redutase and the method of chromometry were employed to measure NO,NOS in serum and CSF at different time.The dynamic changes of NO,NOS in serum were observed on admission,on 3,5,9,14 day after admission.The dynamic changes of NO,NOS in CSF before treatment and two weeks after treatment were ob- served,too.Results There were no difference between the the concentration of NO and the vigor of total NOS in serum and in CSF of viral meningitis,bacterial meningitis and tubercular meningitis patients due to different agents. Conclusion The changes of the concentration of NO in serum and CSF,the vigor of total NOS in serum and CSF could not he seen as laboratory basis for discrimination of CNS infection due to different agents.

A simple and quick method is described for the determination of ferulic acid, senkyunolide I, senkyunolide H, senkyunolide A and ligustilide in rhizomes of Ligusticum chuanxiong. The 5 active ingredients in the sample was extracted using 40% ethanol and analyzed by reversed-phase high performance liquid chromatography (HPLC). Chromatography separation was performed using Agilent 1100 series HPLC system with a Symmetry C18 column and gradient elution with a mixture of three solvents : solvent A, acetonitrile, solvent B, methanol and solvent C, 1% aqueous acetic acid, 0 min to 5 min A: B: C 20: 40: 40, 5 min to 30 min A: B: C 60 to 100 : 0 : 40 to 0. The effluent was monitored using a VWD detector set at 321 nm (0-4.3 min) and 275 nm (4.31-30 min). The flow rate was set at 1 mL x min(-1) and the injection volume was 10 microL. The column temperature was maintained at 35 degrees C. The calibration curve was linear (r > or = 0.99) over the tested ranges. The average recovery was 94.44%-103.1% (n = 6). The method has been successfully applied to the analysis in different harvest periods of L. chuanxiong samples. In this paper, single-factor randomized block design to study the 5 components content of L. chuanxiong on ten collecting stages. For the L. chuanxiong collected from April 15th to May 30rd, the content of 5 ingredients increased primarily, and then decreased. Determine the appropriate harvest time has important significance to the promotion of the quality of L. chuanxiong.
4-Butyrolactone ; analogs & derivatives ; analysis ; Acetic Acid ; chemistry ; Acetonitriles ; chemistry ; Benzofurans ; analysis ; Chromatography, High Pressure Liquid ; methods ; Coumaric Acids ; analysis ; Ligusticum ; chemistry ; Methanol ; chemistry ; Solvents ; chemistry ; Time Factors

Objective To observe the change of expression of WNT4/β-catenin signaling pathway and its inhibitory factor secreted frizzled-related protein 1 (SFRP1) in renal tissue in diabetic nephropathy(DN) rats, and to explore its possible role in the development of renal fibrosis. Methods Rats were randomly divided into normal control(NC) group and DN group, and equipped with 8 in each group. The IDDM model was prepared by tail vein injection of STZ 55 mg/kg. Hemotoxyin and eosin、Periodic Acid-Schiff and Masson stain were used to observe the morphological structure and fibrotic lesions in renal tissue;Immunohistochemical analysis was used to observe the protein expression of WNT4 and β-catenin in renal tissue;Western blot was used to detect the protein expression changes of WNT4, SFRP1, β-catenin, p-GSK-3β, GSK-3β, Collagenl, a-SMA, E-cadherin in renal tissue in each group;The mRNA expression of WNT4 and SFRPl in renal tissues of rat was detected by realtime PCR. Results Compared with NC group, renal tissue fibrosis was obvious in DN group. Compared with NC group, the protein and mRNA expressions of WNT4 significantly increased (P＜0.05), the protein expressions of β-catenin, p-GSK-3β, α-SMA and collagen I significantly increased (P < 0.05), the protein expressions of Ecadherin significantly decreased (P＜0. 05), the protein and mRNA expression of SFRPl significantly decreased (P＜0.05). Conclusions In the case of DN, the signal pathway of WNT4/β-catenin is abnormal activation. The expression of SFRPl is decreased, and that may inhibit this pathway and promote the development of renal fibrosis in DN.

Cytokines such as erythropoietin (EPO) and thrombopoitein (TPO) and so on, which stimulate hematopoiesis, can regulate self-renewal, proliferation, differentiation, maturation and programmed cell death of hematopoietic cells through specifically binding to surface receptors. Recently random phage display peptide libraries and other screening methods have been used to isolate mimetic including small peptides and non-peptides molecules, which can mimic the same effects as cytokines, such as EPO and TPO, and demonstrate the similar potency and activity as EPO and TPO in a panel of in vitro biological assays and in animal experiments. These approaches are critical to further research of interactive mechanisms between cytokine and receptor, receptor activation and rational design of other desired cytokine mimetic. This review concisely introduced recent advances in research on mimetic of EPO, TPO and other cytokines and future directions.
Animals ; Cytokines ; pharmacology ; Erythropoietin ; pharmacology ; Hematopoiesis ; drug effects ; physiology ; Humans ; Peptide Library ; Peptides ; pharmacology ; Thrombopoietin ; pharmacology

The overall efficacy of neoadjuvant chemotherapy for locally advanced gastric cancer has been recognized. However, neoadjuvant chemotherapy is ineffective in a subset of patients due to tumor heterogeneity. The tumor regression grade (TRG) has unique advantages in assessing the efficacy of neoadjuvant chemotherapy for gastric cancer. Nonetheless, since TRG is dependent on postoperative pathology, it becomes a significant topic today to mine TRG predictors to more accurately select appropriate patients for neoadjuvant chemotherapy. Therefore, to understand the relevant research progress and current research challenges of TRG predictors after neoadjuvant chemotherapy for gastric cancer from the aspects of biomarkers, immunity, inflammatory indicators, body composition, imaging indicators, etc., is conducive to further clinical research and practice.

ObjectiveTo investigate the clinical value of 320-slice spiral CT in diagnosis of metastatic liver cancer with atypical CT manifestations.MethodsClinical data of 62 patients with metastatic liver cancer with atypical CT manifestations who were conifrmed by the pathological examination and underwent 320-slice CT plain scan and enhanced scan in the First People's Hospital of Guangzhou from August 2010 to August 2014 were studied retrospectively. Of the 62 patients, 45 were males and 17 were females with the age ranging from 37 to 83 years old and the median of 63 years old. The informed consents of all patients were obtained and the local ethical committee approval had been received. The imaging characteristics of the lesions by spiral CT plain scan and enhanced scan were observed, including density, number, boundary and enhancement pattern of the lesions.ResultsOn CT plain scan of the 62 cases, 94% (58/62) displayed low or slightly low density and 6% (4/62) displayed mixed high and low density, 77% (48/62) were with multiple lesions and 23% (14/62) were with single lesion; 79% (49/62) were with obscure boundary and 21%(13/62)were with well-deifned boundary. On CT enhanced scan, 50% (31/62) were with progressive enhancement, 21% (13/62) were without obvious enhancement, 11% (7/62) were with wreath-like edge enhancement, 5% (3/62) were with fast in fast out enhancement and 13% (8/62) were with multiple patterns enhancement.Conclusions320-slice dynamic contrast enhanced spiral CT may better relfect the histological and blood supply characteristics of metastatic liver cancer with atypical imaging manifestations and provide more accurate imaging evidences for the formulation of clinical therapeutic regimen.

This study was aimed to prepare the polyclonal antibody against the soluble proliferation-inducing ligand (sAPRIL) antigen and to investigate its effects in suppressing sAPRIL mediated lymphocyte proliferation. Mutated recombinant sAPRIL protein, which lacks biological activity but maintains immunogenicity, was used as antigen to immunize humanized SCID mice. Sera were obtained at 6 weeks after immunization. Indirect ELISA and Western blot were used to detect the antibody titer and specificity. The inhibition of polyclonal antibodies on Raji and Jurkat cell proliferation stimulated by sAPRIL was assessed by the MTT assay. The results showed that the mutant of sAPRIL could induce the production of polyclonal antibodies against human sAPRIL. Western blot and indirect ELISA analyses indicated that the anti-serum had higher specificity with a titer of 1:640. Functional analysis revealed that these polyclonal antibodies significantly inhibited the proliferation of Raji and Jurkat cell stimulated by sAPRIL (p < 0.05). It is concluded the polyclonal antibody against human sAPRIL is successfully prepared, which can inhibit the proliferation of Raji and Jurkat cells stimulated by sAPRIL in vitro.
Animals ; Antibodies ; genetics ; immunology ; pharmacology ; Antibody Specificity ; immunology ; Cell Proliferation ; drug effects ; Cloning, Molecular ; Humans ; Immune Sera ; analysis ; immunology ; Jurkat Cells ; Mice ; Tumor Necrosis Factor Ligand Superfamily Member 13 ; genetics ; immunology

In order to confirm the reasonability of designed recombinant exotoxin B7-1-Linker-PE40 and B7-2-Linker-PE40, their molecular biology characteristics, such as flexibility, antigenicity, hydrophilicity, epitope and secondary structure, were predicted by using a computer software GOLDKEY. It had been found that the recombinant fusion exotoxin had kept the epitope characterstics of B7-1, B7-2 and PE40, and had not got new epitope, and the antigenicity in flexible linker was extxemely low. The linker inserted in the recombinant fusion exotoxin had low epitope, low antigenicity and high flexibility. Compared to B7-1, B7-2 and PE40, there are several amino acid residues changes in B7-1-Linker-PE40 and B7-2-Linker-PE40, respectively, which might have some effect on secondary structure of the recombinant fusion exotoxins. Western blot analysis revealed that both B7-1-Linker-PE40 and B7-2-Linker-PE40 could bind specifically with antibodies against B7-1, B7-2 and PE40, respectively. The result of Western blot was consistant with the computer prediction that the recombinant proteins retain the antigenicity and spacial structure of B7 and PE40. It is suggested that both fusion proteins designed and constructed were resonable and computer analysis would be helpful for us to study the biological activity of the recombinant fusion exotoxin B7-1-Linker-PE40 and B7-2-Linker-PE40 and construct other recombinant proteins further.

OBJECTIVETo study the expression of recombinant human SCF-TPO fusion protein and its biological function.

METHODSFour primers were designed according to known sequences of TPO and SCF. The functional amino acid domains of TPO and SCF were amplified by RT-PCR from fetus hepatocytes, respectively. The expression plasmid pET32a/SCF-TPO was constructed by VOE gene fusion technique and expressed in E. coli BL21(DE3) plysS as inclusion body after isopropyl-beta-D-1-thiogalactopyranoside (IPTG) induction. The fusion protein was tested by SDS-PAGE and Western blot. The biological functions of SCF-TPO fusion protein in MO7e cells was investigated by MTT method after purification with metal chelating chromatography.

RESULTSThe high expression SCF-TPO fusion protein was obtained, reaching up to 30% of the total cellular protein. Western blot verified the correct fusion expression and MTT results showed the growth promoting effect of the SCF-TPO fusion protein on MO7e cells, with a higher promoting activity at 100 ng/ml.

CONCLUSIONSExpressed SCF-TPO fusion protein after renaturation has biological activity in promoting the proliferation of MO7e cells.

Blotting, Western ; Cell Line, Tumor ; Cell Proliferation ; Cell Survival ; genetics ; physiology ; Cloning, Molecular ; Electrophoresis, Polyacrylamide Gel ; Escherichia coli ; genetics ; Genetic Vectors ; Humans ; Recombinant Fusion Proteins ; genetics ; metabolism ; physiology ; Reverse Transcriptase Polymerase Chain Reaction ; Stem Cell Factor ; genetics ; metabolism ; physiology ; Thrombopoietin ; genetics ; metabolism ; physiology