To measure carotid intima media thickness(IMT) and to investigate the relationship between carotid atherosclerosis and some major risk factors in elder uremic patients, a cross sectional study was carried out in 30unselected elder uremic patients (16on hemodialysis). Fasting blood sampling for serum lipids, BUN, creatinine, hemoglobin, and echo colour Doppler evaluation of common carotid arteries and heart were performed , BP was measured in all patients (before dialysis day in hemodialysis patients). Relationship between the results and miltifactoral regression analysis were also carried out. 17 patients(56 6%)had carotid IMTwhile 12 dialysis patients(75%) had it. 6patients (20%) had at least one plaque. A significant correlation was found in internal diameter of carotid arteries, IMT and blood vessel resistance between left and right carotid arteries. Carotid IMT had a close relationship with serum BUN, creatinine, cholesterol, systolic BP and heart ejection fraction. In multiple regression models, serum creatinine and cholesterol was significant and an independent predictor of the degree of carotid IMT. In elder uremic patients, carotid IMT is quite common. Elder age, hypertension, degree of renal insufficiency and dyslipidemia are associated with carotid atherosclerosis. Serum creatinine and cholesterol appears to serve as an independent predictor of carotid atherosclerosis, which contributes to the cardiovascular complications and high mortality in elder uremic patients.

Objective:To prepare mesalazineβ-cyclodextrin inclusion compound and observe its properties. Methods:The struc-ture was characterized by UV, IR and DSC. The inclusion process of mesalazine andβ-cyclodextrin was simulated using molecular doc-king technique. The solubility and dissolution of inclusion compound were determined. Results:UV, IR and DSC were used to deter-mine the formation of inclusion complex. The inclusion ratio was 1: 1 and the phase solubility diagram was AL type. The solubility of inclusion compound in deionized water (25 ℃, pH 7. 0) was 7. 8 mg·ml-1 . The preparation of mesalazine β-cyclodextrin inclusion compound could significantly increase the dissolution rate and solubility of mesalazine. Conclusion:The prepared mesalazineβ-cyclo-dextrin inclusion compound can obviously improve the poor water solubility and dissolution of mesalazine.

The knowledge of the relationship between sequence characteristics of insecticidal crystal proteins (ICP) and their inhibitory against Plutella xylostella provided helpful information for the rational design of ICP with desirable activity against Plutella xylostella. The four key loops of ICP with determined activities against Plutella xylostella were selected to study the quantitative relationship between sequence characteristics and insecticidal activity. The first principle components' score vectors for 20 amino acids were assigned to converting amino acids into data. The six key sites X3, X9, X12, X13, X14 and X19 were predicted by stepwise regression method. The amino acids L/ X3, S/ X9, S/ X12, T/ X13, A/ X14 and G/ X19 found by partial least squares regression and second order polynomial models were predicted to increase the activity of ICP against Plutella xylostella.
Amino Acid Sequence ; Animals ; Bacterial Proteins ; genetics ; pharmacology ; Endotoxins ; genetics ; pharmacology ; Hemolysin Proteins ; genetics ; pharmacology ; Insecticides ; metabolism ; pharmacology ; Models, Biological ; Molecular Sequence Data ; Moths ; genetics ; metabolism ; Pest Control, Biological ; Sequence Analysis, Protein

The increasing atmospheric carbon dioxide levels have been correlated with global warming. Carbonic anhydrases (CA) are the fastest among the known enzymes to improve carbon capture. The capture of carbon dioxide needs high temperature and alkaline condition, which is necessary for CaCO₃ precipitation in the mineralization process. In order to use CAs for biomimetic carbon sequestration, thermo-alkali-stable CAs are, therefore, essential, and polyextremophilic microbes are one of the important sources of these enzymes. The current review focuses on both those isolated by thermophilic organisms from the extreme environments and those obtained by protein engineering techniques, and the industrial application of the immobilized CAs is also briefly addressed. To reduce the greenhouse effect and delay global warming, we think further research efforts should be devoted to broadening the scope of searching for carbonic anhydrase, modifying the technology of protein engineering and developing highly efficient immobilization strategies.
Biomimetics ; Carbon Dioxide ; Carbon Sequestration ; Carbonic Anhydrases ; Protein Engineering