P-glycoprotein (P-gp) is an ATP-dependent multidrug efflux pump that acts as a major obstacle for oral drug delivery and cancer therapy. Recent reports have provided evidence that excipients often used in pharmaceutical formulations, such as Pluronic and TPGS, also have inhibitory effects on P-glycoprotein. Because inhibition of efflux transporters by polymeric inhibitors may dramatically increase the bioavailability of P-gp substrates with negligible side effects, identification of the mechanism and their structure activity relationship is therefore of significant importance for pharmaceutical development. Other than competitive inhibition for traditional inhibitors, polymeric inhibitors may modify P-gp function through alterations on membrane fluidity, inhibition of P-gp ATPase, depletion of intracellular ATP and down-regulating of P-gp expression. In the present review, the inhibition mechanism of potential polymeric inhibitors and their structure activity relationship will be discussed along with a brief introduction to the established methodologies.

Objective To explore the diagnostic value of three-dimensional ultrasound parameters-vascularity index (VI) and the volume of kidney in chronic kidney disease (CKD). Methods A total of 80 CKD patients at different stages and 30 healthy adults were enrolled in the study. VI and the renal volume were calculated with three-dimensional ultrasound, while resistance index (RI), cortical thickness (CT) and the volume of kidney were calculated with two-dimensional ultrasound, and the correlation of those parameters were analyzed statistically. Results VI of CKD2 patients reduced significantly compared with the control group, and RI of CKD3 patients increased significantly, CT of CKD3 patients reduced significantly. The diagnostic sensitivity, specificity and diagnostic value of VI in patients with early and late CKD were all higher than thpse of RI. Compared with the control group, three-dimensional ultrasound of renal volume and two-dimensional ultrasound volume of CKD 1 patients increased significantly, three-dimensional ultrasound volume of CKD2 patients reduced significantly, and two-dimensional ultrasound volume of CKD4 patients reduced significantly. There was significant negative correlation among VI, three-dimensional ultrasound volume, CT, two-dimensional ultrasound volume and pathological change scoring (r=-0.67, -0.52, -0.43, -0.52). Conclusion VI and three-dimensional ultrasound volume can detect renal function damage more earlier and sensitively than RI and two-dimensional ultrasound volume.

Objective To study the role of Bid in simulated ischemia/reperfusion injury in cultured neonatal rat cardiocytes and its possible mechanism.Methods A cell culture model of neonatal rat(born within 3 days) cardiocytes was used to establish simulated ischemia/reperfusion model.Unrelated siRNA or Bid specific siRNA was transfected into rat cardiocytes by Oligofectamine.The activation of Bid and caspase-8 was detected by Western blotting.The apoptotic rate of cardiocytes was determined by flow cytometry.Results Bid and caspase-8 of cardiocytes were activatied in simulated ischemia/reperfusion injury model.The activation of caspase-8 of cardiocytes in Bid-specific siRNA group decreased significantly compared with those in simulated(ischemia/reperfusion) group and unrelated siRNA group;the apoptotic rate of cardrocytes(7.4%) was lower than those in simulated ischemia/reperfusion group(51.2%) and unrelated siRNA group(48.7%)(P

ObjectiveTo study the value of quantitive scoring methodby ultrasound in differential diagnosis of thyroid nodule.MethodsTotally 1 360 patients with thyroid carcinoma or nodular goiter were given preoperative ultrasound examination of thyroid. The features of thyroid nodule and their signiifcances in diagnosing thyroid carcinoma were evaluated by logistic regression analysis. Surgical pathology was taken as golden standard. Signiifcant feature was scored as 1 point, and insigniifcant feature was scored as 0 point. In two groups, the data were analyzed statistically.ResultsLow echo, obscure boundary, incomplete or no capsule, incomplete or no halo, aspect ratio≥1, internal lfow, posterior acoustic attenuation, no cystic echo, microcalciifcation and background Hashimoto′s thyroiditis showed correlation with malignancy. There were statistically significant difference between thyroid cancer and nodular goiter in thyroid nodules scores (χ2=802.08,P<0.05). Of 768 thyroid nodules with<6 points, 742 were benign and 24 were malignant. Of 60 thyroid nodules≥10 points, 2 were benign and 58 were malignant. Of 314 thyroid nodules with 8-9 points, 60 were benign and 254 were malignant. Of 368 thyroid nodules with 6-7 points, 155 benign and 213 were malignant.ConclusionsQuantitive scoring of thyroid nodule had clinic signiifcance in differential diagnosis. Thyroid nodule with>8 points accounted for the majority of malignancy and should be considered for surgery.

Objective To enhance the knowledge of pulmonary aspergilloma on CT and chest radiography. Methods CT scans and chest radiographs of 10 cases with pulmonary aspergilloma were reviewed retrospectively. Of these 10 patients,9 were men,1 was woman, ranged in age from 25～55 years old(means 36.4 years old).Results Of 10 cases,8 cases manifested themselves as an oval or round masses .9 cases were located both upper lobes. Air crescent sign or air ring sign were shown in all 10 cases. The fungus ball could move with the change of patient’s body position in 3 cases.Conclusion A mobile intracavitary mass with air crescent sign or air ring sign is the imaging characteristic of pulmonary aspergilloma.

Objective To validate the therapeutic effect of Centella Triterpenes after surgical excision and X-ray irradiation.Methods Surgical excision was performed on one hundred and six patients with keloid,after operation superficial X-ray irradiation was given to the patients.Then,they were divided into three groups:36cases in group A treated with higher dose of Centella Triterpenes;39cases in group B treated with lower dose of Centella Triterpenes;31cases took placebo as controls.All patients were followed up for12months after treatment.Results All patients were healed completely after operation.The effective rate was significantly higher in Centella Triterpenes groups than that in the control group(P

Objectives To investigate gestational multiple metabolic abnormalities aggregation and diagnostic criteria for gestational metabolic syndrome(GMS),and to analyze the risk factors of GMS.Methods A cohort study recruiting 309 pregnant women with preeclampsia,627 pregnant women with gestational diabetes mellitus(GDM)and 1245 normal pregnant women was performed from January 2008 to December 2011 in Guangdong Women and Children's Hospital.Information regarding age,gestational weeks,basic blood pressure,admission blood pressure,height and body mass index(BMI)before pregnancy was recorded.Biochemical indicators including fasting plasma glucose(FPG),fasting insulin (FINS),total cholesterol(TC),triglyceride(TG),high density lipoprotein(HDL-C),low density lipoprotein(LDL-C),free fatty acids(FFA)were tested.GMS was diagnosed with three or all of the following conditions:(1)overweight and/or obesity before pregnancy(BMI ≥ 25 kg/m2);(2)hypertension with blood pressure ≥ 140/90 mm Hg(1 mm Hg =0.133 kPa);(3)hyperglycemia:diagnosed as GDM;(4)dyslipidemia with TG≥3.23 mmol/L The incidence of GMS of the three groups were calculated and the risk factors were analyzed.Results(1)The age,gestational weeks,basic blood pressure,admission blood pressure,BMI before pregnancy of women with preeclampsia and women with GDM were significantly different compared to normal women,respectively(P ＜ 0.01).(2)Biochemical indicators of women with preeclampsia were as following:FPG(4.6 ± 1.0)mmol/L,FINS(10.1 ± 5.6)mU/L,TC(6.3 ±1.6)mmol/L,TG(3.9 ± 1.8)mmol/L,HDL-C(1.4 ±0.4)mmol/L,LDL-C(3.0 ± 1.0)mmol/L,FFA (0.8 ±0.4)mmol/L.And those in women with GDM were:FPG(4.7 ± 0.9)mmoL/L,FINS(10.2 ± 5.8)mU/L,TC(5.7 ± 1.3)mmol/L,TG(3.2 ± 1.1)mmol/L,HDL-C(1.4 ± 0.4)mmol/L,LDL-C (2.7 ± 0.9)mmol/L,FFA(0.6 ± 0.3)mmol/L In normal pregnant women they were:FPG(4.3 ±0.5)mmol/L,FINS(9.0±4.4)mU/L,TC(5.7 ±1.1)mmol/L,TG(2.8 ±1.1)mmol/L,HDL-C (1.5 ± 0.4)mmol/L,LDL-C(2.9 ± 0.8)mmol/L,FFA(0.6 ± 0.2)mmol/L Statistic differences were found in preeclampsia and GDM women compared to normal women respectively(P ＜ 0.01).(3)The prevalence of GMS in preeclampsia group and in GDM group was 26.2％(81/309)and 13.6％(85/627),statistically different from that of the control group(0)(P ＜0.01).(4)Compared to normal women,women with preeclampsia had higher risk of developing GMS(OR =1.62,95 ％ CI 1.31-2.00,P ＜ 0.01).The risk factors were BMI(OR =1.29,95％ CI 1.13-1.47)and TG(OR =2.49,95％ CI 1.87-3.31).Also,women with GDM had higher risk of developing GMS than normal women(OR =1.27,95％ CI 1.09-1.49,P ＜ 0.01),and the risk factors were BMI(OR =1.13,95 ％ CI 1.04-1.23)and TG(OR =1.16,95 ％ CI 1.02-1.33).TG was the independent risk factor in both preeclampsia women and GDM women(P ＜ 0.01,P ＜ 0.05).HDL-C seemed to have less importance in identifying GMS(P ＞ 0.05).Conclusions According to the GMS diagnostic criteria used in this study,some preeclampsia patients and some GDM women had aggregation of multiple metabolic abnormalities including pre-pregnancy overweight/obesity,hyperglycemia,high blood pressure and dyslipidemia.TG was the independent risk factor for GMS.HDL-C seemed to have less importance in identifying GMS.

Objective: To evaluate the induced membrane technique combined with microsurgery for repair of open leg fractures of Gustilo types ⅢB-C. Methods: This retrospective study reviewed 15 patients who had been treated for open leg fractures of Gustilo types ⅢB and ⅢC by the induced membrane technique and microsurgery between January 2015 and January 2017 at Institute of Orthopedics, 920 Hospital, The Joint Logistic Service of The People’s Liberation Army. They were 10 men and 5 women, aged from 18 to 41 years(average 32 years). There were 9 cases of Gustilo type IIIB and 6 ones of Gustilo type IIIC. After thorough debridement, the fractures were reduced and fixated temporarily using external frames. The bone defects were filled with antibiotic bone cement to induce biofilm formation. After necessary reconstruction of limb structures, including neurovascular repair and transposition of tendon and nerve, crucial soft-tissue wounds were covered with surgical flaps. In the secondary surgery 6 to 8 weeks later, with the external frames replaced by internal fixation or not, the bone cement was removed without damaging the biofilm before graft reconstruction with autogenous cancellous bone. Results: The 15 legs were all salvaged successfully. The in-hospital time ranged from 21 to 39 days (mean, 29 days). Crucial wounds were repaired primarily without any severe or persistent infection. Follow-ups ranged from 12 to 24 months (average, 15 months). Bone union time ranged from 10 to 17 months (average, 11.2 months) with satisfactory aesthetic and functional recovery of the leg. Conclusion Reconstruction of open leg fractures of Gustilo types Ⅲ B-C with induced membrane technique and microsurgery can result in decreased therapeutic duration, reduced complications and positive outcomes.

Self-assembling amphipathic peptides (SAPs) have alternating hydrophilic and hydrophobic residues and can affect the thermal stabilities and catalytic properties of the fused enzymes. In this study, a novel multifunctional tag, S1vw (HNANARARHNANARARHNANARARHNARARAR) was developed to modify fused enzymes. After fusing S1vw at the enzymes/proteins N-terminus through a PT-linker, the crude enzymatic activities of polygalacturonate lyase and lipoxygenase were enhanced 3.1- and 1.89-fold, respectively, compared to the wild-type proteins. The relative fluorescence intensity of the green fluorescent protein was enhanced 16.22-fold. All the three S1vw fusions could be purified by nickel column with high purities and acceptable recovery rates. Moreover, S1vw also induced the thermostabilities enhancement of the fusions, with polygalacturonate lyase and lipoxygenase fusions exhibiting 2.16- and 3.2-fold increase compared with the corresponding wild-type, respectively. In addition, S1vw could enhance the production yield of green fluorescent protein in Escherichia coli and Bacillus subtilis while the production of GFP and its S1vw fusion changed slightly in Pichia pastoris. These results indicated that S1vw could be used as a multifunctional tag to benefit the production, thermal stability and purification of the fusion protein in prokaryotic expression system.
Escherichia coli ; Green Fluorescent Proteins ; Hydrophobic and Hydrophilic Interactions ; Peptides ; Pichia ; Recombinant Fusion Proteins ; metabolism

As one of the top 10 breakthrough and emerging technologies in the world in 2018, cultured meat has attracted extensive attention due to its advantages of traceable origin, food safety and green sustainable development. Europe and the United States have invested a lot of resources to focus on research about cultured meat, which will affect our domestic meat and food market in the future. At present, the challenge of cultured meat production is how to efficiently simulate the growth environment of animal muscle tissue and realize large-scale production in bioreactor. Although cell tissue engineering has been deeply studied and achieved varying successful application, it is still difficult to obtain large-scale cultured meat production due to the high cost and technical requirements. Therefore, the development of efficient and safe cell culture technology is an urgent problem for large-scale cultured meat production, which can effectively reduce costs and achieve industrial application. In this review, we summarize the research progress of animal cell tissue culture technology used for cultured meat, and highlighted the current challenges and possible strategies in further applications.
Animals ; Bioreactors ; Cell Culture Techniques ; Meat ; Tissue Engineering ; United States