The prevalence of obesity is increasing. It is associated with conditions such as type 2 diabetes mellitus, hypertension, dyslipidaemia and non-alcoholic fatty liver disease and together with its co-morbidities, obesity has become a fast-growing public health concern and health burden. However, weight loss has been shown to reduce the development and improve these conditions. This paper looks at the epidemiology, obesity-related comorbidities, in particular pre-diabetes, and the various strategies that can be implemented to prevent and treat this looming problem.

Four specific salt-tolerant fungi for dissolving phosphate rock (FM) w ere isolated from the coastal saline soils. It was found that the biomass and a b ility to release phosphate from the materials decreased with increasing of the N aCl content. During pH7.0～8.5, the biomass and ability of to release phospho rus from the materials of FM1 decreased sharply with pH rising, but the FM2 and FM4 decreased not considerably, optimal pH for FM3 was at pH8.5. At pH9.0, the bi oma ss and ability of to release phosphorus from the materials decreased quickly. F M2 was stable at alkaline and high salt content condition.

Objective To study the mechanisms of Curcumin-induced apoptosis on human gastric cancer cell line SGC-7901.Methods SC,C-7901 cells were treated with various concentrations of Curcumin and the growth inhibition rates of it were accessed by MTT method.Apoptosis of gastric cancer cells were in- spected by flow cytometry.The expression of Fas and survivin in gastric cancer cells were evaluated by west- ern blot.Results Curcumin could effectively inhibit the growth of gastric cancer cells in dose-dependent and time-dependent manners,the sub-peak appeared and the apoptotic rate was increased.The expressions of Fas was higher in Western blot,meanwhile,the expressions of survivin was decreased.Conclusion Curcumin could significantly inhibit the growth and induce apoptosis of gastric cancer cells(SGC-7901),Curcumin could probably through up-regulating Fas and down-regulating surviving to induce apoptosis.

Objective To study the pharmacokinetics profiles of ibupro-fen and pseudo ephedrine with chlorpheniramine suspension after single and multiple dosing in healthy volunteers.Methods Three single and one multiple oral doses of ibuprofen and pseudo ephedrine with chlorphe-niramine suspension were given to healthy volunteers respectively.Ibu-profen concentrations in plasma were determined by HPLC-UV method.Pseudo ephedrine and chlorpheniramine concentrations in plasma were determined by HPLC-MS-MS method.The pharmacokinetic parameters were obtained with statistical analysis by DAS Ver 2.0.Results The main pharmacokinetic parameters of 3 single doses(ibuprofen:200,400,600 mg pseudo ephedrine:30,60,90 mg;chlorpheniramine:2,4,6 mg)and multiple dose(ibuprofe,pseudo ephedrine and chlorphe-niramine 200,30,2 mg,respectively)shown that the concentration-time curves of ibuprofen,pseudo ephedrine and chlorpheniramine were described by one-compartment open model and physiological disposi-tions were assumed by linear kinetics characteristics.Conclusion In multiple dosing study,physiological dispositions of ibuprofen,pseudo e-phedrine and chlorpheniramine all existed no induction and inhibition of drug enzyme phenomenon.

OBJECTIVETo investigate the enhanced effect of bone marrow-derived dendritic cells (DC) pulsed with SVYDFFVWL, a MHC class I peptide located in 180-188 amino acid residues of human melanoma-associated antigen tyrosinase- related protein 2 ( hTRP2) on the immunity against melanomas elicited by adenovirus encoding hTRP2 (Ad hTRP2).

METHODSThe mice were intradermally immunized with Ad hTRP2, and three weeks later with Ad hTRP2 or DC/SVYDFFVWL once more. Analysis of CTL killing activity and IFN-gamma-producing CD8 + T cells in the total CD8 + T cells of spleen were made using in vivo CTL and intracellular staining of IFN-gamma, respectively. Additionally, the survival of mice was checked after the subcutaneous inoculation with mouse melanoma B16. F10 cells.

RESULTSThe 6 h CTL killing and IFN-gamma producing CD8 +T cells in the total CD8 ' T cells of spleens were 68. 40%+/-5. 50% and 0. 67%+/-0.16% in Ad hTRP2 (priming)-Ad hTRP2 (boosting) group,28. 50%+/-6.40% and 0.22%+/-0.07% in DC/SVYDFFVWL (priming)-DC/ SVYDFFVWL (boosting) group,and 98. 90%+/-0.90% and 1.05%+/-0.21% in Ad hTRP2 (priming)-DC/ SVYDFFVWI, (boosting) group, respectively. In the tumor-bearing model, none of mice survived in DC/SVYDFFVWL (priming)-DC/SVYDFFVWL (boosting) group, and just only 40% of mice were tumor-free in Ad hTRP2 (priming) -Ad hTRP2 (boosting) group, whereas 100% of mice survived in Ad hTRP2 (priming)-DC/SVYDFFVWL (boosting) group.

CONCLUSIONBoosting with DC/ SVYDFFVWL can significantly enhance the immunity against melanomas elicited by priming with Ad hTRP2, indicating that first priming with Ad hTRP2 and then boosting with DC/SVYDFFVWL is a potentially effective regimen for overcoming the disadvantage that anti-tumor immune response can not be significantly increased by readministration of adenovirus.

Adenoviridae ; genetics ; Animals ; CD8-Positive T-Lymphocytes ; immunology ; Cancer Vaccines ; immunology ; Cell Line, Tumor ; Cells, Cultured ; Cytotoxicity Tests, Immunologic ; Dendritic Cells ; cytology ; immunology ; Female ; Genetic Vectors ; genetics ; Humans ; Immunization, Secondary ; methods ; Intramolecular Oxidoreductases ; immunology ; Melanoma, Experimental ; immunology ; pathology ; therapy ; Membrane Proteins ; immunology ; Mice ; Mice, Inbred C57BL ; Peptide Fragments ; immunology ; Survival Analysis ; T-Lymphocytes, Cytotoxic ; immunology

Adult ; Fatty Liver ; diagnostic imaging ; physiopathology ; Female ; Humans ; Liver ; diagnostic imaging ; Liver Circulation ; Male ; Middle Aged ; Ultrasonography, Doppler, Color

To explore the role of regulatory peptides in the secretion of bronchial epithelial cells (BECs), we observed the effects of four peptides, i.e.vasoactive intestinal peptide (VIP), epidermal growth factor (EGF), endothelin-1 (ET-1), and calcitonin gene-related peptide (CGRP), on the secretion of ILs from unstimulated or O3-stressed BECs. The results of the experiments showed that VIP exerted an inhibitory effect on the secretion of IL-1 and IL-8 from unstimulated and O3-stressed BECs, VIP also decreased the secretion of IL-5 from O3-stressed BECs; EGF promoted secretion of IL-1 and IL-8 from unstimulated BECs, but decreased the secretion of ILs from O3-stressed BECs; ET-1 and CGRP enhanced the secretion of IL-1, IL-5, and IL-8 from unstimlated BECs, CGRP also increased the secretion of ILs from O3-stressed BECs. The results obtained demonstrate that intrapulmonary regulatory peptides modulate the secretion of ILs from BECs, and may play an important part in transduction of inflammatory signals.
Animals ; Bronchi ; cytology ; Calcitonin Gene-Related Peptide ; pharmacology ; Cells, Cultured ; Endothelin-1 ; pharmacology ; Epidermal Growth Factor ; pharmacology ; Epithelial Cells ; drug effects ; secretion ; Female ; Interleukins ; secretion ; Male ; Rabbits ; Vasoactive Intestinal Peptide ; pharmacology

INTRODUCTIONNew-onset diabetes after transplantation (NODAT) is an increasingly recognised metabolic complication of kidney transplantation that is associated with increased morbidity and mortality. This study aimed to determine the incidence of NODAT and identify risk factors for development of NODAT among kidney allograft recipients in a single centre.

MATERIALS AND METHODSWe retrospectively reviewed all kidney allograft recipients in our centre between 1998 and 2007. NODAT were determined using criteria as per American Diabetes Association guidelines. Logistic regression analyses were performed to identify predictors of NODAT.

RESULTSAmong 388 patients included in the analysis, NODAT was reported in 94 patients (24.2%) after a median follow-up time of 52.1 months. The cumulative incidence of NODAT was 15.8%, 22.8% and 24.5% at 1, 3, and 5 years following transplantation. Seven clinical factors were independent predictors of NODAT: older age, HLA B13 and B15 phenotypes, use of sirolimus, acute rejections, higher pre-transplant and post-transplant (day 1) plasma glucose levels. Patients with NODAT had poorer outcomes in both graft and patient survival.

CONCLUSIONOur study demonstrates a significant risk and burden of NODAT in an Asian transplant population. Risk stratification and aggressive monitoring of blood glucose early post-transplantation is necessary to identify high-risk patients so that appropriate tailoring of immunosuppression and early institution of lifestyle modifications can be implemented.

Adult ; Blood Glucose ; analysis ; Diabetes Mellitus ; etiology ; genetics ; Female ; Graft Rejection ; complications ; HLA-B Antigens ; analysis ; Humans ; Immunosuppressive Agents ; Kidney Transplantation ; adverse effects ; Male ; Middle Aged ; Risk Factors

At present time, the widely used hepatitis B virus( HBV) vaccines consist of only the small hepatitis B surface antigen expressed in yeast or CHO cells. The frequency of non-responders to these vaccines has increased the demand for a more immunogenic vaccine. Some studies have suggested that the addition of preS region to the vaccine will improve its efficacy. However, the large protein (L) containing the whole preS region can not be effectively expressed in vitro. To overcome this problem, two chimeric contructs, SS1, surface gene containing preS1 region at C-terminus and SS2, surface gene containing preS2 region at C-terminus, were constructed and effectively expressed in our previous studies. Here we further constructed an expression vector containing both SS1 and SS2 expression cassettes by separation and ligation the SS2 cassette to a linearized SS1 expression vector pAO815-SS1. The recombinant vector was transformed into Pichia pastoris GS115 by electroporation. A high-level expression strain (GS115-SS1S2) was established by primary screening for His+ transformants and further analysis for induction products. ELISA results demonstrated that the expressed protein had S, preS1 and preS2 antigenicities simultaneously. Western blotting showed that the product can bind to all of the three antibodies, anti-S, anti-preS1 and anti-preS2. The expression protein was present in the form of particles of 20-35 nm diameter and the yield of recombinant particles reached 300-600 mg/L by fermentation. The SS1 and SS2 polypeptides kept intact in purified particles, suggesting that the stability of preS region has been significantly improved.
Animals ; CHO Cells ; Cricetinae ; Cricetulus ; Epitopes ; genetics ; immunology ; Hepatitis B Surface Antigens ; genetics ; immunology ; Hepatitis B Vaccines ; immunology ; Peptide Fragments ; genetics ; immunology ; Pichia ; genetics ; Protein Precursors ; genetics ; immunology ; Vaccines, Synthetic ; immunology

To explore application value of Rho kinase inhibitor (RKI) combined furosemide and spironolactone in patients with acute left heart failure (ALHF).Methods : A total of 94 ALHF patients were randomly and equally divided into diuretic group (received furosemide and spironolactone based on routine treatment ) and triple therapy group (received RKI‐‐fasudil hydrochloride based on diuretic group ) , both groups were continuously treated for 7d.LVESV , LVEDV , LVEF ,serum levels of aspartate transaminase (AST) , lactate dehydrogenase (LDH) and creatine kinase isoenzyme MB (CK‐MB) before and after treatment , therapeutic effects were observed and compared between two groups .Results : Total effective rate of triple therapy group was significantly higher than that of diuretic group (95.75% vs.82.98%) , P＝0.045. Compared with before treatment , there was significant rise in LVEF , and significant reductions in LVESV , LV‐EDV ,serum levels of AST , LDH and CK‐MB in two groups after treatment , P＝0.001 all ;compared with diuretic group after treatment , there was significant rise in LVEF [ (48.27 ± 5.95)% vs.(55.14 ± 6.74)%] , and significant reductions in LVESV [ (86.29 ± 10.41) ml vs.(65.96 ± 9.84) ml] , LVEDV [ (133.71 ± 13.42) ml vs.(120.35 ± 11.25) ml] , serum levels of AST [ (81.23 ± 10.44) U／L vs.(57.58 ± 8.42) U／L] , LDH [ (184.24 ± 13.51) U／Lvs.(124.65 ± 12.42) U／L] and CK‐MB [ (187.84 ± 13.45) U／L vs.(132.54 ± 11.69) U／L] in triple therapy group , P＝0.001 all. There was no significant difference in adverse reactions during treatment between two groups , P＞0.05 both .Conclusion :Rho kinase inhibitor combined furosemide and spironolactone can significantly improve cardiac function and reduce myocar ‐dial damage , and it＇s safe and reliable , which is worth extending .