Apoptosis is involved in a variety of diseases. Cysteine aspartate specific protease (caspase), a protease family which executes apoptosis, plays a crucial role in course of apoptosis. It can be activated through various pathways. Some natural and synthetic caspase inhibitors will strengthen anti apoptotic action through inhibiting one or several caspase activity, and will become effective means in treating diseases caused by overapoptosis.

In order to improve the expression efficiency of recombinant IL~6 in eukaryotic cells, we constructed a new vector pcDIIL-6 to express IL-6 in eukaryotic cells on the basis of an eukaryotic vector pcDNA3IL-6 by introducin g the first intron of human?-globin gene into the downstream of CMV promoter in the pcDNASIL - 6. The IL-6 level expressed by pcDIIL - 6 is 7. 5 times higher than that of pcDNA3IL - 6. On the other hand , we studied the influence of pAdVAntage vector co - transfection on the expression level of IL-6 in eukaryotic cells and found the level of IL-6 is 3. 6 times higher than that of pcDNA3IL - 6. The results we got are beneficial to express cytokines with high efficiency in eukaryotic cells.

Background and purpose:The time from ifrst onset of symptoms or signs to a deifnitive diagnosis is deifned as diagnostic interval (DI). The relation of DI to other clinicopathological parameters andthe impact of DI on prognosis of patients with triple-negative breast cancer (TNBC) remain unclear.This article plans to make an intensive study of these questions.Methods:The clinical records of a series of 83 consecutively presenting unselected patients referred to the Shanghai Sixth People’s Hospital with diagnosed TNBC between September 2009 and September 2015 were retrospectively reviewed. Clinical and pathological factors included were investigated by univariate analysis using the Kaplan-Meier method, the factors associated with prognosis were further evaluated by multivariable analysis with Cox progression model.t-test and Kruskal-Wallis test were used to study the correlation between DI and other characters.Results:DI: stage T3>T1 (P=0.01), stageⅢ>Ⅱ (P=0.03) andⅠ (P=0.01). Compared with patients of DI≥3 months, the <3 months group had earlier age (P=0.028) and TNM stage (P=0.035). T stage, N stage, neoadjuvant chemotherapy, TNM stage and DI are inlfuencing factors of overall survival (OS). Age, T stage, N stage, TNM stage, menstrual status and neoadjuvant chemotherapy are inlfuencing factors of progression-free survival (PFS). TNM staging is an independent inlfuencing factor for OS and PFS.Conclusion:Patients with later disease stage were more likely to have a longer DI; The shorter DI, the earlier age and stage of disease; DI is the inlfuence factor of OS; TNM stage is an independent inlfuencing factor for OS and PFS.

The Fe-N-C composite catalyst was prepared by the thermal decomposition of the chelate precursors based on Fe central ions and o-phenylenediamine ligands.It was observed from the scanning electron microscopy that the crumpled carbon micro-and nano-sheets were intertwined to form a free-standing tremella-like 3D structure.The N2 adsorption/desorption experiments revealed that the composite contained ample micro-and meso-pores and had a specific surface area of 290 m2/g.Graphitic C and multi-crystal Fe3C as main components were confirmed by the X-ray diffraction, and N-doping in the general form of graphite N and pyridine N was also verified by X-ray photoelectron spectroscopy.The electrochemical measurement showed that the tremella-like Fe-N-C composite catalyzed oxygen reduction through a four-electron path in an alkaline solution, and its activity was comparable to the commercial Pt/C catalyst.After 2000 cycles, the limited current density of the Fe-N-C catalytic electrode only decreased less than 5%, and the half-wave potential shift negatively 5 mV, which suggested that the Fe-N-C composite catalyst had better catalytic stability than the commercially used Pt/C catalyst.

Objective To label the amino-glucomannan(AGM) with fluram and to explore the properties of the compound of fluram-AGM in transmembrane transport.Methods After AGM was labeled with fluram,the peripheral blood mononuclear cells(PBMC) and HepG2 were respectively cultured with Fluram-AGM,then observed under fluorescence microscope with violet light as exciting light.Results Both PBMC and HepG2 showed intracellular indigotic fluorescence.Conclusion AGM can be transported into cells across cell membrane.

Objective To study the condensation mechanism of aminoglucomannan(AGM)with plasmid DNA and some influencing factors in this process.Methods The polysaccharide-DNA complex was analyzed with agarose gel electrophoresis by observing the changes of DNA bands under various influencing conditions including different pH,ionic strength(NaCl concentration),temperature and plasmid DNA sorts.Results The new bands appeared in the slow migration positions after reaction between AGM and plasmid DNA,and the changes of DNA bands content were dependent on AGM concentrations.The condensation degree could be effected by pH,temperature,and ionic strength.Conclusion Our study suggests that the AGM can be condensed with plasmid DNA in proper conditions.

AIM To study the effects of matrine (Ma) on the action potential and contractile force in guinea pig papillary muscles. METHODS Conventional microelectrode technique was used to record the fast action potentials (FAP) and slow action potentials (SAP) induced by histamine and BaCl_2 of guinea pig papillary muscles. RESULTS Ma 10,25,50 ?mol?L -1 dose-dependently prolonged the action potential duration at 50%, 90% repolarization (APD_ 50 , APD_ 90 ) and effective refractory period (ERP) of FAP, and lengthened the APD_ 50 , APD_ 90 of SAP induced by histamine and BaCl_2 when perfused with KCl 25 mmol?L -1 Tyrode's solution. The maximal upstroke velocity (V_ max ) of FAP, SAP and contractile force (Fc) were not affected by matrine 10,25,50 ?mol?L -1 . CONCLUSION It was suggested that Matrine could block K + channels in the myocardium.-

Objective To analyze the Cyt b gene sequences in Tibet mini-pigs and clarify the differences and genetic relationship with other Chinese pigs.Method The sequence of Cyt b gene was amplified from genome DNA of Tibet mini-pig,Bama miniature pigs,Guizhou xiang pigs and Wuzhishan (WZS) pigs.After sequencing,the base sequences were compared and analysed.The blood relationship tree and evolution position of Tibet mini-pig were established.Result There were 14 mutation sites between domestic pigs in China and pigs from Europe.Besides there was a significant differenee in two nucleotide site:a T→C switch in site 420 and the G→A switch in site 883 at the same time.Conclusion Chinese pigs include Bama miniature pigs,Guizhou xiang pigs and WZS pigs,have a very close blood relationship with some of Tibet mini-pigs.It has been confirmed that there is a certain genetic differentiation in the Tibet mini-pig.

Objective To comparatively analyze the domestic and foreign sicentific product, academic impact and cooperation in toxicology from 1980 to 2015.Methods The countries, Chinese scientific research institutions and authors engaged in research of toxicology were analyzed according to the InCites-covered number of published pa-pers, cited papers and collaborations .The highly cited papers covered in Web of Sciene were analyzed by biblio-metric analysis.Results The number of papers on toxicology published by USA, Britian and Japan was greater than that published by other countries.The number of papers on toxicology published by China increased significantly and their academic level was notebly improved.Conclusion China should strengthen the subject system construc-tion, attach importance to frontier and retrospective analysis and international cooperation, speed up the develop-ment of toxicology and improve the academic level of its scientific achievements .

BackgroundPocket hematoma is one of the major complications associated with cardiovascular implantable electronic devices (CIEDs) implantation. The aim of this study is to evaluate the impact of body mass index (BMI) on the occurrence of pocket hematoma after CIEDs implantation.MethodsThe study is a retrospective review of 972 patients receiving CIEDs implantation between 2008 and 2012 in a tertiary hospital.ResultsTwenty two patients (2.2%) developed severe pocket hematoma requiring re-intervention. The hematoma rate (4.6%,n = 15) of patients with a BMI of < 23 kg/m2 was significantly higher compared with that of patients with a BMI of≥23 kg/m2 (1.1%, n = 7,P< 0.001). In multivariate regression analysis, a BMI < 23.0 kg/m2 may be associated with the development of severe pocket hema-toma. An increase of 1.0 kg/m2 in BMI was associated with lower incidence of hematoma formation (OR: 0.84; 95% CI: 0.74-0.95;P = 0.006).ConclusionBMI < 23 kg/m2 was associated with a higher incidence of pocket hematoma, requiring re-intervention. The data sup-port that great care must be taken when patients were with a lower BMI received CIEDs implantation.