Objective Preparation of specific antibody of neuron protein 14 3 3 and application for the diagnosis of prion diseases. Methods The rabbits were immunized with prokaryotic expressed GST 14 3 3 fusion protein and the collected antiserum was evaluated by ELISA and Western blot assays. Results ELISA revealed that the reactive titer of the prepared antibody against purified 14 3 3 protein was up to 1:4 096 000; Western blot assays confirmed that both prokaryotic expressed,and the natively presenting 14 3 3 proteins in the brain extracts were recognized by the prepared antibody. Two cases of clinically diagnosed Creutzfeldt Jakob disease (CJD)with typical EEG changes showed the positive 14 3 3 protein in cerebral spinal fluid (CSF). Four patients with dementia and narcoma but without typical EEG change were 14 3 3 negative in CSF,three of them being even further tested by brain biopsies without typical histological change of CJD and presentation of protease resistant PrP Sc protein. 35 samples CFS collected from patients without dementia were 14 3 3 negative in CSF. All the results were the same as that of standard 14 3 3 polyclonal antibody.Conclusion Using purified prokaryotic expressed GST 14 3 3 fusion protein as antigen,the specific antibody was elicited in the immunized animals. The prepared antibody can be used in identification of 14 3 3 protein in CSF for the diagnosis of CJD.

The clinical features and lung CT findings of 174 heart failure patients,including 85 cases with normal left ventricular ejection fraction (LVEF) and 89 cases with reduced LVEF were reviewed.Patients with normal LVEF had a higher proportion of hypertension,diabetes and obesity than patients with normal LVEF; and cough and dyspnea were more common.The lung CT findings in patients with normal LVEF were frequently presented as interstitial lung edema,increased pulmonary texture,subpleural line,Kerley lines and diffuse ground-glass opacity.Patients with reduced LVEF had a higher proportion of coronary heart disease and clinical manifestations of acute left heart failure,and central alveolar edema presented in lung CT images.Results suggest that heart failure patients with normal LVEF usually have longer clinical history and occult symptoms,and have a different lung CT imaging features from those in heart failure patients with reduced LVEF.

Objective To study the absorption features of isoimperatorin in intestine of rat.Methods Establish a single-pass intestinal perfusion model of rat,take phenolsulfonphthalein as a marker for the detection of isoimperatorin concentration from crude extracts of notopterygium,and observe the absorption features of isoimperatorin and its reference substance in intestine of rat.Results The content of isoimperatorin in crude extracts was (0.43±0.02)% (n=5).The absorption parameters of duodenum,jejunum,ileum,colon were (5.28±0.82),(4.47±0.56),(4.17±0.94),(4.32±0.68)×10-5 cm·s-1,respectively.There were no significant differences among them (P>0.05).Compared with the reference substance of isoimperatorin,crude extracts showed better absorption features.Conclusion Isoimperatorin from crude extracts have better characteristics of absorption.This study can provide theoretical basis for design of notopterygium oral formulation.

Objective To investigate the effects of aerobic exercise on cardiorespiratory function in patients with obstructive sleep apnea/hypopnea syndrome (OSAHS).Methods A total of 84 patients with OSAHS were randomly divided into a control group and an aerobic exercise group (42 in each group).The control group was given only training in the activities of daily living (ADL).The acrobic exercise group was given ADL training combined with aerobic exercise training.The regime was maintained for 16 weeks.Each patient's VO2max,maximum heart rate (HRmax),exercise time to exhaustion,6-minute walking distance and quality of life (QOL) were evaluated before and after treatment.Results VO2max,HRmax,VO2max/HRmax,maximum exercise time,6-min walking distance and QOL all increased significantly more in the aerobic exercise group compared with the control group.Conclusion Aerobic exercise training can significantly improve cardiorespiratory function in patients with OSAHS.

To indicate the relationship between structure and function of loops from Bacillus thuringiensis insecticidal crystal protein Cry1Ba, and the influence of amino acids mutation on toxicity against diamond back moth Plutella xylostella, five mutations at the loops of Cry1Ba were constructed by overlapping primer PCR, and expressed in E. coli BL21 (DE3). Bioassay results showed that the toxicity of mutation M1 (loop1: 340WSNTR344-deletion), compared with that of Cry1Ba (LC50 0.96 microg/mL), decreased significantly with LC50 35.51 microg/mL. And the toxicity of mutation M2 (402Y-G), M3 (400GIYLEP405-PSAV), M4 (400GIYLEPIH407-ILGS) was also reduced to some extent respectively. Only M5 (mutation at loop3: 472LQSRV476 - AGAVYTL) showed slightly increased activity against P. xylostella, but not significantly (LC50 0.81 microg/mL). Referring to the structures of Cry1Ba which was predicted using Swiss-Model software, and bioassay data, we can conclude that loop1 and loop2 play a important role on determining the activity of Cry1Ba against P. xylostella.
Animals ; Bacillus thuringiensis ; genetics ; metabolism ; Bacterial Proteins ; chemistry ; genetics ; Endotoxins ; chemistry ; genetics ; Escherichia coli ; genetics ; metabolism ; Hemolysin Proteins ; chemistry ; genetics ; Models, Molecular ; Moths ; microbiology ; Mutation ; Protein Structure, Secondary ; Structure-Activity Relationship

Hydroxy amino acids, constituents of chiral pharmaceutical intermediates or precursors, have a variety of unique functions in the research fields of biotechnology and molecular biology, i.e. antifungal, antibacterial, antiviral and anticancer properties. Biosynthesis of hydroxy amino acids is preferred because of its high specificity and selectivity. The hydroxylation of hydrophobic amino acids is catalyzed by hydroxylase, which belongs to the mononuclear non-heme Fe(Ⅱ)/α-ketoglutarate-dependent dioxygenases (Fe/αKGDs). Fe/αKGDs utilize an (Fe(Ⅳ)=O) intermediate to activate diverse oxidative transformations with key biological roles in the process of catalytic reaction. Here, we review the physiological properties and synthesis of hydroxy amino acids, especially for the 4-HIL and hydroxyproline. The catalytic mechanism of Fe/αKGDs is elucidated, and the applications of hydroxy amino acids in industrial engineering are also discussed.

Promoter is an important genetic tool for fine-tuning of gene expression and has been widely used for metabolic engineering. Corynebacterium glutamicum is an important chassis for industrial biotechnology. However, promoter libraries that are applicable to C. glutamicum have been rarely reported, except for a few developed based on synthetic sequences containing random mutations. In this study, we constructed a promoter library based on the native promoter of odhA gene by mutating the -10 region and the bystanders. Using a red fluorescent protein (RFP) as the reporter, 57 promoter mutants were screened by fluorescence imaging technology in a high-throughput manner. These mutants spanned a strength range between 2.4-fold and 19.6-fold improvements of the wild-type promoter. The strongest mutant exhibited a 2.3-fold higher strength than the widely used strong inducible promoter P_trc. Sequencing of all 57 mutants revealed that 55 mutants share a 1-4 bases shift (4 bases shift for 68% mutants) of the conserved -10 motif "TANNNT" to the 3' end of the promoter, compared to the wild-type promoter. Conserved T or G bases at different positions were observed for strong, moderate, and weak promoter mutants. Finally, five promoter mutants with different strength were employed to fine-tune the expression of γ-glutamyl kinase (ProB) for L-proline biosynthesis. Increased promoter strength led to enhanced L-proline production and the highest L-proline titer of 6.4 g/L was obtained when a promoter mutant with a 9.8-fold higher strength compared to the wild-type promoter was used for ProB expression. The use of stronger promoter variants did not further improve L-proline production. In conclusion, a promoter library was constructed based on a native C. glutamicum promoter P_odhA. The new promoter library should be useful for systems metabolic engineering of C. glutamicum. The strategy of mutating native promoter may also guide the construction of promoter libraries for other microorganisms.
Corynebacterium glutamicum/metabolism* ; Gene Library ; Metabolic Engineering ; Promoter Regions, Genetic/genetics*

BACKGROUNDAn zidovudine (AZT)-substitution regimen containing 24-week stavudine (d4T) followed by long-term AZT for HIV therapy is potential to trade off short-term AZT-related anemia and long-term risks associated with d4T in resource-limited settings. However, evidence is scarce. This study aims to assess the efficacy and safety of AZT-substitution regimen, aiming to find a regimen with better efficacy, less adverse events, and more affordability in resource-limited settings.

METHODSThis prospective, multicenter study enrolled 499 (190 on d4T regimen, 172 on AZT regimen, and 137 on AZT-substitution regimen) HIV-1-infected subjects who initiated combined antiretroviral therapy and attended follow-up visits over 96 weeks from 2009 to 2011. Lamivudine (3TC) and either nevirapine (NVP) or efavirenz (EFV) were the other two drugs in the antiretroviral regimens. Virologic and immunologic responses and adverse events were monitored at baseline and at weeks 4, 12, 24, 36, 48, 60, 72, 84, and 96.

RESULTSIn terms of hematological adverse effects, AZT-substitution group had similar safety profiles to d4T group and was superior to AZT group. In comparison with AZT-substitution group, AZT group was associated with higher risk of developing anemia (adjusted hazard ratio (aHR) for anemia ≥ grade II, 8.44, 95% CI 1.81-39.46) and neutropenia (aHR for neutropenia ≥ grade II, 1.86, 95% CI 1.19-2.93). The prevalence of lipodystrophy in d4T group was 19.5%, while that in AZT-substitution group was zero. As to antiretroviral efficacy, these three groups showed no differences.

CONCLUSIONAZT-substitution regimen provides a relatively safe and effective first-line antiretroviral strategy in resource-limited settings.

Adult ; Anti-HIV Agents ; administration & dosage ; adverse effects ; therapeutic use ; Female ; HIV Infections ; drug therapy ; Humans ; Male ; Middle Aged ; Prospective Studies ; Stavudine ; administration & dosage ; adverse effects ; therapeutic use ; Zidovudine ; administration & dosage ; adverse effects ; therapeutic use