The antimicrobial peptide magainin II is expressed in the skin of the African clawed frog, Xenopus laevis, and exhibits a broad spectrum of antimicrobial activity as well as tumoricidal properties at low concentrations. In addition, magaininII plays a synergistic role during antimicrobial and tumoricidal processes with another antimicrobial peptide PGLa that is also expressed in Xenopus laevis. The optimized cDNA sequence of magainin II and magainin II-PGLa hybrid peptide according to E. coli or Pichia pastoris codon usage frequency were synthesized and sub-cloned into prokaryotic expression vector pGEX and Pichia pastoris secreted expression vector pPIC9k. The resulting recombinant plasmids were named as pGEX-magainin II and pPIC9k-magainin II-PGLa. The GST-magainin II fusion protein was highly expressed in E. coli. Furthermore, magainin II was successfully purified by digestion with PreScission Protease to cleave the GST tag. Additionally, our data obtained from the ELISA revealed that magainin II -PGLa hybrid peptide was successfully expressed in Pichia pastoris. These experiments establish a useful system for further studies of these antimicrobial peptides.
Animals ; Escherichia coli ; metabolism ; Genetic Vectors ; Magainins ; biosynthesis ; genetics ; Peptides ; genetics ; metabolism ; Pichia ; metabolism ; Plasmids ; Recombinant Fusion Proteins ; biosynthesis ; genetics ; Xenopus Proteins ; biosynthesis ; genetics ; Xenopus laevis

OBJECTIVETo observe the effects and toxicity of docetaxel given once weekly combined with cisplatin and 5-fluororacil in the treatment of advanced gastric cancer (AGC).

METHODSThirty-one patients with AGC were given docetaxel at 35 mg/m square by intravenous infusion completed in 1 h on the 1st, 8th and 15th days. Cisplatin was given at 20 mg/m square for 4 h between the 2nd and 6th days, during which time 5-fluororacil was also given at 750 mg/m square for 24 h. One treatment cycle lasted for 28 days and 2 consecutive cycles were administered.

RESULTSIn the 31 patients available for therapeutic effect evaluation, the overall effective rate was 48.4%. The effective rate in patients without previous treatments was 64.7% (CR in 2 cases), and 28.6% in the retreated patients. The median TTP, median survival time and one-year survival rate were 6 months, 11 months and 41.9%, respectively. The main toxic reactions of the combined treatment were myelosuppression, gastrointestinal tract reaction and alopecia of mostly grade 1 or 2.

CONCLUSIONWeekly dosage of docetaxel combined with cisplatin and 5-fluororacil is an effective regimen for AGC with only mild toxic reactions and good patient tolerance.

Adult ; Aged ; Aged, 80 and over ; Antineoplastic Combined Chemotherapy Protocols ; administration & dosage ; Cisplatin ; administration & dosage ; Dose-Response Relationship, Drug ; Drug Administration Schedule ; Female ; Fluorouracil ; administration & dosage ; Humans ; Infusions, Intravenous ; Male ; Middle Aged ; Stomach Neoplasms ; drug therapy ; mortality ; Taxoids ; administration & dosage ; Treatment Outcome

Objective Some children with congenital heart defect would get serious acute respiratory distress syndrome in ICU postoperatively,which is a tough problem.We summarized the clinical effects of synchronized intermittent mandatory ventilation (SIMV)with expiratory high frequency ventilation (HFV) for these patients in our center.Methods A total of 13 pediatric patients,with(8.15 ±4.34)months old and (8.23 ±4.01 )kg weight,used SIMV with expiratory HFV from Jan 2012 to Aug 2013.Keeping the original SIMV conditions unchanged,the expiratory oscillation amplitude were 25 to 35 Ann(A)and the oscillation frequency of 7 to 9 hertz(Hz).All patients were divided into two groups to oxygenation index(OI)30 min before HFV,high OI group(OI≤20,n ﹦5)and low OI group(OI 〈20,n ﹦8).OI ﹦MAP ×FiO2 /PaO2 .The values of OI,PaO2 /FiO2 and PaCO2 of two groups were monitored before and at 2,6,24,48 h after HFV re-spectively.Results The values of OI of all 13 patients were 19.31 ±4.42 before HFV,and then decreased to 18.77 ±5.18,16.00 ±5.22,14.77 ±6.56,and 13.92 ±6.53 respectively at 2,6,24 and 48 hours later (P 〈0.01 ).But there was no significant difference of OI in high OI group in different time points.The val-ues of PaCO2 of all 13 patients were(43.46 ±5.67)mmHg(1 mmHg ﹦0.133 kPa)before HFV,and de-creased to(38.31 ±4.21)mmHg,(37.61 ±3.36)mmHg,(34.77 ±3.81 )mmHg,and(35.92 ±2.39)mmHg respectively at 2,6,24,and 48 hours after HFV(P 〈0.01 ).Three dead patients were all in high OI group. Conclusion The mortality rate of serious acute respiratory distress syndrome with congenital heart diseases postoperatively is high.SIMV with expiratory HFV can improve oxygenation and reduce carbon dioxide,and the effect is better when OI 〈20.

OBJECTIVETo explore the species, distributing and resource of Paris genus plants in Xishuangbanna area of Yunnan province.

METHODTwo steps, talking with the folk doctors and field survey, were employed to explore the resource status of Paris plants. Twenty six villages and towns, which are at an elevation of 500 m to 2000 m, were investigated.

RESULTA total of 214 specimens were collected and identified according to morphological characteristics. All investigated spots had Paris genus resources distribution but there always had a small Paris population less than 20. The Paris genus is an understory plants which lives always in a specific environment beside creek in hill valley and with many commensal plants such as bamboo and broadleaf. Three species of Paris, P. polyphylla var. yunnanensis, P. polyphylla var. chinensis, and P. vietnamensis were collected and identified.

CONCLUSIONParis genus resources declined rapidly in recent year, particular the P. polyphylla var. yunnanensis. Developing the breeding and cultivation technologies and enhancing the resources protection are needed urgently.

China ; Conservation of Natural Resources ; Liliaceae ; classification ; growth & development

Objective To investigate the correlation between the features of multimodal magnetic resonance imaging (MRI) and the expression of human epidermal growth factor receptor-2 (HER-2) in ductal carcinoma in situ (DCIS). Methods A total of 53 patients with DCIS confirmed by surgery and pathology in Dezhou Second People’s Hospital from September 2018 to June 2021 were analyzed retrospectively. The patients were divided into HER-2 positive group (29 cases) and HER-2 negative group (24 cases). MRI features were compared between the two groups. Results There were significant differences in the internal enhancement characteristics, microvascular sign, and time-intensity curve type between the two groups (P < 0.05). There were no significant differences in lesion morphology, non-mass-like enhancement pattern, and apparent diffusion coefficient value (P > 0.05). The HER-2 positive group showed clumped enhancement (65.5%), type Ⅱ (48.1%) andtype Ⅲ (29.6%) time-intensity curves, and microvascular sign (89.7%). The HER-2 negative group showed clusteredring enhancement (50.0%), type Ⅱ (45.8%) and type I (54.2%) time-intensity curves, and microvascular sign (54.2%). A combination of clumped enhancement, microvascular sign, and type Ⅲ time-intensity curve showed 100% specificity and 100% positive predictive value for the diagnosis of HER-2 positive DCIS. Conclusion Clumped enhancement, microvascular sign, and type Ⅱ or Ⅲ time-intensity curve on MRI can largely reflect the expression of HER-2 in DCIS. The three can be used in combination to improve the diagnostic efficiency of HER-2 positive DCIS.

OBJECTIVE: To determine the effects of Chinese medicine (CM) involving triple rehabilitation therapy on the progression of knee osteoarthritis (KOA). METHODS: A total of 722 patients recruited from 38 community health service centers located in China from March 2013 to March 2017 were randomly divided into treatment and control groups equally, using a cluster randomization design. Health education combined with CM involving triple rehabilitation therapy for KOA (electro-acupuncture, Chinese medicinal herb fumigating-washing, and traditional exercises) was administered in the treatment group while conventional rehabilitation therapy (physical factor therapy, joint movement training, and muscle strength training) was administered in the control group. Patients with a visual analog scale (VAS) scores ≽4 were treated with dispersible meloxicam tablets (7.5 mg, once daily). The Lequesne index scores, VAS scores, range of motion (ROM), lower limb muscle strength, knee joint circumference, quantitative scores of KOA symptoms, and the short-form 36 item health survey questionnaire (SF-36) scores were measured for each patient at 5 checkpoints (before treatment, at the 2nd week and the 4th week during the 4-week treatment period, at 1 month and 3 months after end of treatment), and adverse reactions were observed also. RESULTS: A total of 696 patients completed the entire process, with 351 in the treatment group and 345 in the control group. At all treatment checkpoints, the treatment group demonstrated better outcomes than the control group with regard to the total Lequesne index scores, effective rate and improvement rate of the total Lequesne index scores, VAS scores, lower limb muscle strength, knee circumference, quantitative scores of KOA symptoms, and SF-36 scores as well (P<0.05 or P<0.01). No adverse reactions were encountered in this study. CONCLUSIONS CM involving triple rehabilitation therapy can alleviate KOA-related pain and swelling, improve lower limb muscle strength, promote flexion and activity of the knee and improve the quality of life in patients undergoing KOA. It is suitable for patients with early or mid-stage KOA. (Registration No. ChiCTR-TRC-12002538).
Humans ; Medicine, Chinese Traditional ; Osteoarthritis, Knee/therapy* ; Outpatients ; Quality of Life ; Treatment Outcome