Reduced graphene oxide-BiPO4 ( RGO-BiPO4 ) nanocomposite was synthesized successfully via a one-pot solvothermal method using graphene oxide and bismuth nitrate as precursors and glycerin as solvent at 200℃ for 1 h. The morphology and structure of as-prepared nanocomposite were characterized by SEM, TEM, XRD, XPS, SERS and UV-Visible spectrum. The photocatalytic activity of the nanocomposite was evaluated by the photodegradation of Rhodamine B ( RhB) dye under UV irradiation and it was found that RGO-BiPO4 nanocomposite possessed higher photocatalytic activity than that of pure BiPO4 . RhB could be decomposed 87. 5% within 2 h. Under the same conditions, only 45. 7% of the RhB dye could be decomposed by BiPO4 . The enhancement of photocatalytic activity could be attributed to the effective charge separation due to the electron-accepting and transporting properties of graphene.

Objective To study T lymphocyte subsets and expression of costimulatory molecule CD154 on T-cells in peripheral blood from patients with ankylosing spondylitis and their changes after treated with Enbrel. Methods Sixty-six patients with AS(39 active and 27 inactive, 35 axial and peripheral joint involvement and 31 axial involvement only), 30 patients with rheumatoid arthritis(RA), 30 healthy volunteers were analyzed. The expression of CD154 on CD3+ T cell as well as T-cells subsets were evaluated using flow cytometry respectively. The changes of the expression of costimulatory molecule CD154 in 39 active AS patients(Enbrel treatment or placebo treatment) were observed in a randomized, double-blind, placebothan that of healthy volunteers, and CD154 expression on CD3+ T cells in peripheral blood in AS patients was on CD3+ T cells in the peripheral blood of active AS or AS patients with peripheral joint involvement were significantly higher than those in inactive or axial involvement only AS patients(P＜0.05), and CD154 on CD3+ placebo, in AS patients group, there was significant reduction in CD154 expression on CD3+ T cells in Enbrel group at week 6(P＜0.05), there was no significant difference between Enbrel group and healthy volunteers at week 6(P＞0.05). Conclusion T lymphocyte subsets are significantly abnormal and CD154 is overexpressed on T-cells in peripheral blood of patients with AS. A six-week course of treatment with Enbrel in active AS can induce a down-regulation of the expression of CD154 on T cells.

Objective To investigate the distribution of HLA-B27 subtypes in ankylosing spondylitis(AS) patients of Chinese Han population by using the updated HLA-B27 typing data. Methods One hundred AS subjects were randomly selected from spondyloarthritis patients data bank of the third affiliated hospital of Sun Yat-sen university. All subjects were independent individuals, and the duplicated samples in the same family were excluded. Salt fraction method was used to prepare genome DNA. Luminex liquid array combining PCR-SSOP was used to perform the low resolution HLA-B genotyping. PCR-SSP was applied to perform the high resolution HLA-B27 typing for HLA-B27 positive subjects. Results Ninety-eight independent AS patients were recruited randomily, of which, 93 were HLA-B27 positive, with positive rate 94.9%, and covered 96% patients with family history of AS. Three subtypes were detected in this population including B * 2704 (n=76, 81.7%), B * 2705 (n=12, 12.9%) and B * 2715 (n=5, 5.4%). Compared with the two reports about HLA-B27 subtype distribution in healthy HLA-B27 positive Han population there was no significant difference between AS patients and healthy controls. But no B * 2715 case was found in those two reports of healthy population. Three reports (including 1 report in Chinese) could found about B * 2715 subtype, but all positive cases were oriental people. Furthermore, all B * 2715 positive patients were AS patients. Conclusion B * 2704 is the predominant subtype ,in AS patients of Chinese Han population, and followed by B * 2705. We found five cases with positive B * 2715, a considerable rare allele. This may suggest association between B * 2715 and AS.

Objective To investigate the association between serum ferritin(SF) level at early and mid trimester of pregnancy and gestational diabetes mellitus (GDM) and insulin resistance (IR).Methods A total of 192 cases of women who were accepted antenatal examination from the first trimester of pregnancy at Yueqing People Hospital from July,2012 to October,2013 was prospectively analyzed and followed up.All cases were divided into two groups:96 cases of GDM pregnant women who were diagnosed as GDM at mid trimester of pregnancy as GDM group,and 96 cases of pregnant women with normal glucose tolerance at the same time as the control,normal glucose tolerance (NGT group).The differences in clinical data were compared between two groups.The relationship between SF level and fasting plasma glucose (FPG),fasting insulin (FINS),homeostasis model assessment insulin resistance (HOMA-IR),and C-peptide was investigated with Spearman rank correlation analysis.The predictive values of SF and relative variables to GDM were calculated by receiver operating characteristic curve (ROC) or Logistic regression analysis.Results (1) There was statistically significant difference in body weight and body mass index (BMI) at prepregnancy and mid trimester of pregnancy,Hb,FPG,FINS,SF,and C-peptide at the first trimester of pregnancy,SF level and FPG and HOMA-IR and C-peptide at mid trimester of pregnancy between two groups (P ＜ 0.01 or P ＜ 0.05).(2) As showed by Spearman rank correlation analysis,there was statistical correlation between SF at mid trimester of pregnancy,and FPG,FINS,HOMA-IR and C-peptide (P ＜0.01 or P ＜ 0.05);while no statistical correlation was found between SF at the first trimester of pregnancy and the same factors above (P ＞ 0.05).(3) The area under the ROC curve of SF at mid trimester of pregnancy for GDM was 0.653.The sensitivity and specificity were 68.8％ and 59.4％ in predicting GDM at the cut-off value of 16.61 ng/ml.As showed by Logistic regression analysis,high level of SF at mid trimester of pregnancy was a independent risk factor for GDM.Odds ratio (OR) was 1.032 (95％ CI:1.008 ～ 1.058,P ＜ 0.01).Conclusions The relationship between SF at different trimester of pregnancy and GDM is variant.There is relationship between high level SF of mid trimester of pregnancy in GDM pregnant women and IR.The level of SF might predict the occurrence of GDM.

An enzyme-displaying yeast as a whole-cell biocatalyst seemed an alternative to immobilized enzyme, due to its low-cost preparation and simple recycle course. Here, we tried to use a recombinant Pichia pastoris displaying Candida antarctica lipase B (CALB) to catalyze the synthesis of short chain flavor esters in n-heptane. We studied some major influential factors of esterification reactions, such as carbon chain length of the substrates, alcohol structure, enzyme concentration, substrates concentration, molar ratio of the substrates. The acid conversions were determined by titration and gas chromatography analysis. About ten kinds of esters were synthesized successfully, and the acid conversions of eight esters reached as high as 90% after reaction for 6 h. The result also indicated that ethanol and hexanoic acid were the most suitable substrates for this whole-cell catalyst. Under the optimal reaction conditions (the amount of lipase 20 g/L (306.0 U/g-dry cell), hexanoic acid concentration 0.8 mol/L, the molar ratio of hexanoic acid to ethanol 1:1.1), hexanoic acid conversion reached 97.3% after reaction for 1.5 h. To our knowledge, the CALB-displaying P. pastoris whole-cell biocatalyst showed good tolerance for high substrates concentration and exhibited high reaction rate on esterification of short chain flavor esters among the present enzyme/cell reported. Thus, CALB-displaying P pastoris whole-cell biocatalyst was promising in commercial application for flavor esters synthesis in non-aqueous phase.
Biocatalysis ; Candida ; enzymology ; Enzymes, Immobilized ; Esters ; metabolism ; Fungal Proteins ; Lipase ; biosynthesis ; genetics ; Pichia ; genetics ; metabolism ; Recombinant Proteins ; biosynthesis ; genetics

HIV-1 gp41 has been successfully anchored on the cell surface of yeast Saccharomyces cerevisiae by yeast cell-surface display systems using His-tag for the detection of protein expression. Gp41 activity has been detected by gp41 monoclonal antibody. The vector for gp41 yeast display has been constructed as follows: the gene-encoding gp41 was amplified by PCR using pMD18T-gp41 as a template, and then inserted into shuttle vector pICAS-His by restriction enzyme digestion. Next, the vectors were introduced into Saccharomyces cerevisiae MT8-1. After cultivation, recombinant cells were immunofluorescence labelled. The bright green cells were observed by the microscopy indicating the proteins have been displayed on the cell surface successfully, flow cytometry convinced that gp41 has been folded correctly on the cell surface. Then different concentrations of initial glucose were used to enhance the expression of protein. gp41 has been expressed by 82.46% yeast cells as the concentration of glucose was 1%. Protein expression was depressed when the concentration was increased.
Genetic Engineering ; methods ; Genetic Vectors ; genetics ; metabolism ; HIV Envelope Protein gp41 ; biosynthesis ; genetics ; Humans ; Protein Folding ; Recombinant Fusion Proteins ; biosynthesis ; genetics ; Saccharomyces cerevisiae ; cytology ; genetics ; metabolism ; Saccharomyces cerevisiae Proteins ; genetics ; metabolism ; Surface Properties

Short-chain esters play a significant role in the food industry as flavor and aroma constituents. Candida antarctica lipase B (CALB) is one of the most effective catalysts for organic synthesis. We constructed a CALB-displaying yeast whole-cell biocatalyst and applied it to esterification from caproic acid and ethanol. CALB was fused with the alpha-agglutinin C-terminal and the signal peptide of Glucoamylase in pICAS, a yeast surface display vector, to construct plasmid pICAS-CALB. An extremely Asn-rich linker, named celAL was inserted in the Xho I of pICAS-CALB to construct plasmid pICAS-celAL-CALB. The fused gene was under the control of GAPDH promoter. After incubated at 30 degrees C for 96 h the lipase hydrolytic activity of the yeast whole cells reached a plateau, 26.26 u/(g x dry cell). In nonaqeous media, the yield of 98.0% ethyl hexanoate was obtained after 24 h esterification from caproic acid and ethanol (the molar ratio of caproic acid : ethanol = 1 : 1.25) using lyophilized CALB displaying yeast whole cells.
Biocatalysis ; Candida ; enzymology ; Caproates ; metabolism ; Cloning, Molecular ; Fungal Proteins ; Genetic Engineering ; Lipase ; biosynthesis ; genetics ; Saccharomyces cerevisiae ; genetics ; metabolism

Objective:To analyze the imaging manifestations of 18F-fluorodeoxyglucose positron emission tomography/computed tomography(18F-FDG PET/CT)in the patients with pleural and peritoneal mesothelioma,and to enhance the diagnostic accuracy for this disease.Methods:A retrospective analysis was conducted on the 18F-FDG PET/CT imaging and immunohistochemical results of 22 patients confirmed pleural and peritoneal mesothelioma(21 malignant and 1 benign)by pathology.The imaging features and glucose metabolism characteristics were summarized.Results:The majority of the patients with malignant pleural mesothelioma presented with unilateral pleural diffuse thickening accompanied by increased radiotracer uptake,and the thicknesses were ranged from 1.0 to 10.6 cm and the average semi-quantitative maximum standard uptake value(SUVmax)was 10.1.Over half of these patients also had a small amount of pleural effusion.The patients with malignant peritoneal mesothelioma mostly showed diffuse thickening of the peritoneum,omentum,and mesentery with increased radiotracer uptake,and the thicknesses were from 1.2 to 6.6 cm and the average SUVmax was 8.4,and over half of these patients had a significant amount of abdominal ascites.Besides the primary sites,nodular,striated,and mass-like abnormal radiotracer uptakes were observed in other metastatic sites in 17 cases of malignant mesothelioma,suggesting metastasis,and the average SUVmax was 7.4,predominantly surrounding lymph node metastasis.Bone and muscle metastases were visible in the patients with malignant pleural mesothelioma,while no such metastasis were seen in those with malignant peritoneal mesothelioma.One patient with benign pleural mesothelioma presented with bilateral pleural diffuse thickening approximately 3.5 cm thick,without significant abnormal radiotracer uptake and with a minor pleural effusion.Conclusion:The 18F-FDG PET/CT imaging manifestations of pleural and peritoneal mesothelioma exhibit the distinctive characteristics.The mode and thickness of pleural and peritoneal thickening,the presence and degree of 18F-fluorodeoxyglucose uptake,can preliminarily differentiate between benign and malignant mesothelioma,thus providing valuable references for the early clinical diagnosis of mesothelioma.PET/CT based on whole-body imaging can determine whether there are other sites of metastasis,which is helpful for clinical staging.

With good prognosis of differentiated thyroid cancer (DTC), the 10-year survival rate of DTC patients is more than 90%. As a kind of radiation exposure, radioactive iodine (RAI) treatment has the potential to induce malignancies. Based on this view, whether RAI treatment will increase the risk of secondary primary malignancy (SPM) still has a lot of controversy. This review summarizes current situation of related researches, and also summarizes the limitations of the current researches and the problems to be solved in the future research. In this review, it is believed that RAI treatment does not increase the overall risk of SPM in postoperative-DTC patients.

We developed a new enzymatic-catalyzing producing process of glucose laurate monoester. In the process we used Candida antarctica lipase B-displaying Pichia pastoris whole-cells as biocatalyst, glucose as the acyl acceptor and lauric acid as the acyl donor. The product glucose laurate monoester was purified by silica gel column chromatography and preparative liquid chromatography, and identified by liquid chromatography-mass spectrometry. Then we optimized the process from various aspects, such as solvent composition, ratio of dmethyl sulfoxide to 2-Methyl-2-butanol (V/V), catalyst dosage, substrate concentration, water activity and temperature. The optimal reaction conditions were: glucose 0.5 mmol/L, lauric acid 1.0 mmol/L, ratio of 2-Methyl-2-butanol to Dmethyl sulfoxide is 7:3 in 5 mL volume, temperature 60 degrees C, the best initial water activity of whole-cells biocatalyst is 0.11. The maximum glucose conversion could be 48.7% after 72 h.
Biocatalysis ; Candida ; enzymology ; Esters ; chemistry ; metabolism ; Fungal Proteins ; Genetic Engineering ; Glucose ; chemistry ; metabolism ; Laurates ; chemistry ; metabolism ; Lipase ; biosynthesis ; genetics ; Pichia ; genetics ; metabolism ; Recombinant Proteins ; biosynthesis ; genetics