Aim Vascular endothelial cell growth inhibitor(VEGI) is a recently discovered novel member of the TNF superfamily,which is expressed predominantly in endothelial cells.As an endothelial cell-specific negative regulator of angiogenesis,the relationship between structure and function of VEGI is not understood at present.Methods In order to explore the functional key amino acids of VEGI,four mutants of VEGI(E45→R,G47→A,Y111→F,Y111→T) were construced by site-directed mutagenesis,and recombinant proteins were generated from E.coli.Four mutant proteins behaved similar to the wild type VEGI in various physico-chemical assays.The proliferation of HUVEC and chick choriallantic membrane assay were performed to study the activity of four mutants.Results The mutant E45→R significantly decreased the biological activity,and the mutant G47→A caused a slight drop on activity,but the mutants Y111→F,Y111→T almost completely abolished biological activity.Conclusion It suggests that Y111 is an important residue in biological activity,which may play a direct role in receptor recognition.Moreover,the tyrosine ring and hydroxy group of the amino acid are important determinant of biological activity.Additionally,E45 also plays an important role in biological activity of VEGI.

Objective To investigate the effects of chronic hepatitis B virus (HBV) infection on human hepatic cytochrome P450 2C9 (CYP2C9).Methods Liver tissue samples and blood samples were obtained from 10 patients with chronic HBV infeetion and 10 healthy controls.CYP2C9 genotypes were determined by polymerase chain reaction-restriction fragment length polymorphism (PCR-RFLP) method.The activity of CYP2C9 was detected utilizing high performance liquid chromatography (HPLC).The expressions of CYP2C9 mRNA and protein were determined by reverse transcriptase-polymerase chain reaction (RT-PCR) and Western-blotting.The data were analyzed by t test.Results All the liver samples showed CYP2C9 wild-type (*1*1),while CYP2C9 (*2) and CYP2C9 (*3) were not detected.The maximum velocity (Vmax) of CYP2C9 in patients chronic HBV infection and healthy controls were (263.5±66.4) μmol/L and(284.6±85.9) μmol/L,respectively (t=0.614,P=0.5471).The expression of CYP2C9 mRNA in patients with chronic HBV infection (0.39±0.28) was significantly lower than that of healthy controls (0.65±0.13) (t=2.628,P=0.0171).Accordingly,the protein expression in patients with chronic HBV infection (0.26±0.13) was lower than that of healthy controls (0.60±0.19) (t=4.688,P=0.000 2).Conclusion The expressions of CYP2C9 mRNA and protein are decreased in chronic HBV infection which may down-regulate the enzyme activity.

Dyspnea is an important issue for the patients with chronic heart failure. Breathing training, especially the inspiratory muscle training can help to improve the patients′ cardiopulmonary function, endurance and quality of life. In this paper, the foreign research about the method, effect evaluation and appropriate case of inspiratory muscle training in patients with chronic heart failure were reviewed so as to explore a specific strategy of inspiratory muscle training for China′s patients with chronic heart failure.

Objective To provide effective reference for quality analysis of the chemical composition and extraction of astragalus separation process by comparing the extract of astragalus and it’s IR spectra. Methods The saponins and flavonoids in astragalus were firstly extracted by the method of circumfluence with ethanol as solvent and the residue of ethanol-extraction was then used to extract polysaccharides by distilled water. Fourier transform infrared spectroscopy (IR) combined with second derivative infrared spectroscopy was applied to quickly identify astragalus herbs powder, water extraction of astragalus, astragalus alcohol extraction and water extraction of the residue of ethanol-extraction. Results The powder and 70% ethanol extract, 80% ethanol extract were around at 1 735 cm-1 (carbonyl stretching vibration absorption peak) has a weak, broad absorption, while the absorption peak was less obvious in boiling water extraction. So the maln components of astragalus water extraction are polysaccharides and also contaln a small amount of water-insoluble flavonoids. Alcohol extraction malnly contalns saponins and flavonoids, and flavonoid extract volume increases with increasing alcohol concentration in a certaln range.Conclusion This method can be a quick and easy identification for astragalus and it’s extraction for its chemical composition class, and provide the basis for further research quality.

Objective:To compare the dynamic changes of transcutaneous partial pressure of carbon dioxide (PtCO 2) and treatment effect of non-invasive intermittent nebulization and non-invasive simultaneous nebulization in patients with acute exacerbation of chronic obstructive pulmonary disease (COPD). Methods:This was a randomized parallel controlled trial study. A total of 70 patients with acute exacerbation of COPD in Changzhou First People′s Hospital from October 2021 to September 2022 were selected by convenience sampling method, and divided into control group and experimental group by randomized digits table method with 35 cases in each group. The control group was given non-invasive intermittent oxygen-driven nebulization, and the experimental group was given non-invasive simultaneous oxygen-driven nebulization. The PtCO 2 values at 0, 5, 10, 15 min (the end point of atomization) of the 2 groups were observed, the daily arterial blood gas analysis indexes (mainly including PaCO 2, PaO 2 and pH) were recorded, and the clinical pulmonary infection score and the self-assessment score of COPD patients were recorded before treatment, on the 4th and 7th day of treatment. Results:Finally, 33 patients were included in both the control group and the experimental group. There were 25 males and 8 females in the control group, aged (75.33 ± 8.24) years old. There were 25 males and 8 females in the experimental group, aged (72.39 ± 8.56) years old. The PtCO 2 values at 0, 5, 10, 15 min in the control group were (63.83 ± 12.47), (64.40 ± 12.57), (65.42 ± 13.77), (66.62 ± 14.59) mmHg (1 mmHg=0.133 kPa). There were statistically significant differences in PtCO 2 at all time points ( F=8.05, P<0.01). Further pairwise comparison by Sidak method showed that there were statistically significant differences in PtCO 2 at 15 min compared with 0, 5, 10 min (all P<0.05). The PtCO 2 values at 0, 5, 10, 15 min in the experimental group were (67.62 ± 11.89), (67.15 ± 12.12), (67.82 ± 12.22), (68.15 ± 12.09) mmHg. There was no statistically significant difference in PtCO 2 at all time points ( F=2.00, P>0.05). The PaCO 2 and pH value of the two groups were improved with the treatment time, the control group had a statistically significant difference on the 4th day of treatment compared with before treatment ( P<0.05), while the experimental group on the second day of treatment compared with before treatment ( P<0.05). Conclusions:Both kinds of nebulization have achieved good therapeutic effects, but non-invasive simultaneous nebulization can better maintain the stability of PtCO 2 in the process of nebulization with higher safety, and can improve the arterial blood gas index PaCO 2 and pH value of patients earlier, which is a more suitable nebulization method for the combination of non-invasive ventilation and nebulization, especially for patients with hypercapnia.