Components separation is the key technology in biorefinery. Combination of steam explosion and laccase was used, and synergistic effect of the combined pretreatment was evaluated in terms of physical structure, chemical components and extraction of lignin. The results showed that steam explosion can destroy the rigid structure and increase the specific surface area of straw, which facilitated the laccase pretreatment. The laccase pretreatment can modify the lignin structure based on the Fourier transform infrared test, as a result the delignification of straw was enhanced. Nuclei Growth model with a time dependent rate constant can describe the delignification, and the kinetics parameters indicated that the combined pretreatment improved the reaction sites and made the delignification reaction more sensitive to temperature. The combined pretreatment enhanced delignification, and can be a promising technology as an alternative to the existing pretreatment.
Biotechnology ; methods ; Laccase ; chemistry ; Lignin ; chemistry ; Plant Stems ; chemistry ; Steam

The research and development (R & D) of novel Chinese materia medica (CMM) have made a great progress in recent years.But problems still exist in druggability evaluation of novel CMM,such as uncertain evaluation content and lack of key technology.Druggability evaluation is the key to the success or failure for R & D of novel CMM.Observation on the effect and safety of novel CMM is the core of druggability evaluation.The important pharmacological problems include the choice of evaluation indicator,clinical indication,analysis of material basis,investigation of mechanism,research on pharmacokinetics and safety evaluation.Modem technologies should be used in druggability evaluation.We should have a correct understanding of the concept of novel CMM.The grasp of the meaning of novel drugs and the essence of CMM theory will be helpful for R & D of novel CMM.

Lectin like oxidized low density lipoprotein receptor 1(LOX 1) is a type Ⅱ membrane protein belonging to the C type lectin family molecules which can act as a cell surface endocytosis receptor for oxidized LDL.LOX 1 can support binding, internalization and proteolytic degradation of oxidized LDL. And LOX 1 is involved in the platelet endothelium interaction and mediates phagocytosis of aged/apoptotic cells in endothelial cells ox LDL. Purification of soluble LOX 1 and the N terminal amino acid sequencing identified the two cleavage sites (Arg 86 Ser 87 and Lys 89 Ser 90 ). LOX 1 expression is not constitutive, but can be induced by proinflammatory stimuli, such as Angiotension Ⅱ, fluid shear stress and so on.

Phosphodiesterases(PDEs) is the only protein enzyme family,which catalyze the hydrolysis of cyclic nucleotide second messages(cAMP and cGMP).PDEs regulate many physiologic and pathologic processes.Recent advance showed that PDE7 hydrolyze cAMP exclusively and is divided into PDE7A and PDE7B. PDE7 mainly express in immune and inflammatory cells.The selective inhibition of this family generates profound,functional effects and PDE7 has been used as a therapeutic target for diseases related with inflammation,such as chronic obstructive pulmonary disease(COPD),rheumatoid arthritis and Alzheimers disease(AD).

AIM The aim of our study was to establish drug screening models which can evaluate samples' effects on cytokines related with inflammtion, capable of fast and efficient screening of anti-inflammatory lead compounds on the release of inflammtory cytokines. METHODS Heparinized human blood leukocytes was evaluated as a model to study the effects of various classes of anti-inflammatory lead compounds on cytokine release/biosynthesis from leukocytes. Human blood leukocytes was stimulated with LPS (final concentration 0.5～50 mg?L -1), with or without test drugs (diclofenac, a cytooxygenase inhibitor, nordihydroguaiaretic acid NDGA, a 5-lipoxygenase inhibitor) for 1～4 h to induce cytokine release. RESULTS Human blood leukocytes stimulated with LPS could product IL-1, IL-8 and TNF-? in a dose-dependent manner. Human blood leukocytes was stimulated with LPS(5 mg?L -1) for 4h to induce cytokine release. TNF-?, IL-1 and IL-8 time-course profiles were determined in culture media, using bioassays and ELISA. LPS-mediated release of IL-1 and TNF-? was significantly suppressed by NDGA and Diclofenac. In LPS stimulated blood, NDGA and Diclofenac inhibited the release of TNF-?(IC 50 of 149 ?mol?L -1 and 23.88 ?mol?L -1) or IL-1 (IC 50 of 222.57 ?mol?L -1 and 126 ?mol?L -1). CONCLUSION This human blood leukocytes screening system in vitro has the potential to screen new cytokine release inhibitors and sites of action of new anti-inflammatory lead compounds, and increases the screening efficiency.

Objective To investigate the role of miR-125b-1 gene in oncogenesis and progression of human lung cancer. Methods PCR-SSCP was used to detect miR-125b-1 gene mutation in 121 specimens from primary site of lung cancer tissues and 22 samples of nor- real adjacent lung tissues. Results There were 40 cases of miR-125b-1 gene mutation, and gene mutation was positively correlated to the status of lymph node metastasis ( r,=0.285, P＜0.01 ) and clinical stage metastasis( r, =0. 241, P ＜0. 01 ), but no relationship between miR-125b-1 mutation and other clinical features was found. The postoperative survival time in patients with miR-125b-1 gene mutation was significantly longer than those with low expression ( P＜0.05). Conclusion There exist miR-125b-1 gene mutation in lung cancer, miR- 125b-1 gene mutation probably plays a crucial role in lung carcinogenesis.

Objective: To study the anti-inflammatory, analgesic and immunosuppressive action of Niuhuang Qianjin San (NQS). Methods: The anti-inflammatory action of NQS was studied by the methods of rat paw swelling and mouse ear swelling and the analgesic action by mouse body torsion method and K + subcutaneous penetration method in rats.Immunosuppressive effect was evaluated by peripheral T lymphocyte percentage, splenic lymphocyte transformation ratio, phagocytic function of intraperitoneal magocytes, the activity of delayed hypersensitivity, serum hemolysin level and the function of antibody-yielding cells in mice. Results: NQS could obviously alleviate inflammation, increase codeine's analgesic action and suppress immunity. The difference were significant (P

Objective: To study the anti-inflammatory, analgesic and immunosuppressive action of Niuhuang Qianjin San (NQS). M ethods: The anti-inflammatory action of NQS was studied by the methods of rat pa w swelling and mouse ear swelling and the analgesic action by mouse body torsion method and K+ subcutaneous penetration method in rats.Immunosuppressive effec t was evaluated by peripheral T lymphocyte percentage, splenic lymphocyte transfor mation ratio, phagocytic function of intraperitoneal magocytes, the activity of delayed hypersensitivity, serum hemolysin level and the function of antibody-yie lding cells in mice. Results: NQS could obviously alleviate inflammation, increa se codeine's analgesic action and suppress immunity. The difference were signif icant (P<0.01) as compared with normal saline contr ol group.Conclusion:NQS exerts certain anti-inflammatory,analagisic and immunosu ppressive action.

Objective To investigate the role of CD80/CD86 and CTLA-4 in the pathogenesis of systemic lupus erythematosus(SLE) and its clinical significance. Methods Applying RT-PCR technique to semiquantitatively analyze CD80/CD86 and CTLA-4 mRNA expression on peripheral blood mononuclear cells (PBMC) from 32 active SLE patients. Results Compared with normal controls, the percentage of positive CD86 expression in active SLE, accounted for 90.63% (29/32), was significantly increased (P 0.05, both). Conclusion The abnormal expression of CD86 and CTLA-4 might play an important role in the pathogenesis of SLE.

Objective To compare the analgesic effect of morphine combined with lornoxicam in different proportions in rats. Methods 63 male adult SD rats were assigned randomly into nine groups (7 each). Under the 1.4% isoflurane anesthesia, an incision of 1cm in length was made in the plantar region of the left hind paw parallel to the muscle according to the method of Brennan. The rats in sham operation group (A) inhaled 1.4% isoflurane for 5 min but no incision was made, the rats in operation control group (B) received hypodermic injection of 1ml 0.9% NaCl 1h after incision, the rats in groups C to H and group L received hypodermic injection of morphine combined with lornoxicam in different proportions (6mg/kg∶0mg/kg; 1mg/kg∶5mg/kg; 2mg/kg∶4mg/kg; 3mg/kg∶3mg/kg; 4mg/kg∶2mg/kg; 5mg/kg∶1mg/kg and 0mg/kg∶6mg/kg, respectively) 1h after incision. Analgesic effect was assessed by cumulative pain score within 1 hour after administration. Results The cumulative pain scores of rats in group A was 0.375?0.518, which was significantly lower than that of the other groups (P0.05). The scores in groups F and G were 3.625?1.061 and 3.750?1.165 respectively, which were significantly lower than those in groups C, D, E and L (P