SWNTs are a mixture of 1/3 metallic SWNTs (m-SWNTs) and 2/3 semiconducting SWNTs (s-SWNTs). It is desirable to separate the metallic SWNTs from the semi-conducting ones. In this study m-SWNTs was separated by using a poly[(m-phenylenevinylene)-alt-(p-phenylenevinylene)] (PmPV) derivative and used as photo-thermal media instead of SWNTs. The separation effects of m-SWNTs were evaluated by Raman spectra, molecular modeling and TEM images. The effects of m-SWNTs on MCF-7 cell proliferation and apoptosis were evaluated with MTT assay and flow cytometry, respectively. m-SWNTs were separated with high purity. A strong inhibition of MCF-7 cell growth was observed with the m-SWNTs under near-infrared (NIR) light irradiation. Our results will be helpful for the potential applications of m-SWNTs in clinical photothermal cancer therapy.
Apoptosis ; Breast Neoplasms ; pathology ; Flow Cytometry ; Humans ; Light ; MCF-7 Cells ; drug effects ; Models, Molecular ; Nanotubes, Carbon

OBJECTIVE To investigate the disinfectant and antibiotic resistance genotypes in 60 strains of Escherichia coli isolated from urine.METHODS Sixty strains of E.coli isolated from inpatients′ urine were collected from Jan 2006 to Oct 2008.Antibiotic susceptibility tests for fifteen antibiotics were performed by Kirby-Bauer method.And three kinds of disinfectant and antibiotic resistance genes(qacE△1,tehA,merA)were analyzed by polymerase chain reaction(PCR) and DNA sequencing.RESULTS More than 70.0% of the sixty strains of E.coli were susceptible to imipenem,piperacillin/tazobactam,cefoxitin,amikacin and gentamicin,and less than 50.0% were susceptible to the other ten antibiotics.There were 42 strains with qacE△1 gene(70.0%),10 strains with merA gene(16.7%) and all strains with tehA gene.The sequence of the first strain was different from those reported in GenBank,so it was a new subtype.CONCLUSIONS There are 70% of E.coli strains isolated from urine samples with qacE△1 gene.And disinfectant resistance may be one of the main factors for hospital infection in the future.

Akt1 is a serine-threonine protein kinase that has been implicated in the control of cellular metabolism,survival and growth.Elevated expression of Akt1 has been noted in a significant percentage of human tumors,promoting cellular metastasis.Conversely,some studies have revealed hyperactivated Akt1 inhibited the invasiveness and metastasis of breast cancer cells.To clarify the definite effect of Akt1 on tumorigenesis and development,Akt1 was silenced by RNAi in the highly metastatic murine breast cancer 4T1 cells.Akt1 silencing didn't affect the proliferation of breast cancer cells in MTT assay,while reduced the migration in Transwell assay.Consistent with the above results,Akt1 silencing didn't change the primary tumor weight,but significantly suppressed lung metastasis of 4T1 cells.These observations indicated Akt1 plays an important role in murine breast cancer metastasis,and suggested that Akt1 might be a therapeutic target for breast cancer metastasis.

To synthesize aristolochic acid (AA)-2'-deoxyguanosine 5'-monophosphate (dGp) adducts in vitro and develop a novel method for the characterization of the adducts using multiple mass spectrometric techniques. AA was incubated with dGp in vitro using either enzymatic activation (by xanthine oxidase) or chemical activation (by zinc) to synthesize AA-dGp adducts, and the reaction conditions were optimized. Crude extracts were analyzed by techniques of liquid chromatography-electrospray ionization/tandem mass spectrometry (LC-MS/MS) and high accuracy mass data and isotope pattern of super high resolution Fourier transform-ion cyclotron resonance mass spectrometry (FT-ICRMS). The quasi-molecular ion peaks of the AA-dGp adducts were obtained in the negative ion mode. Analysis by electrospray ionization/tandem mass spectrometry (ESI-MS/MS) provided useful structural information about AA-dGp adducts. AA can bind covalently to the exocyclic amino group of deoxyguanosine to form AA-dGp adducts. MS analysis is a powerful tool to detect and identify AA-dGp adducts simply, rapidly and accurately.
Aristolochic Acids ; chemical synthesis ; chemistry ; Chromatography, High Pressure Liquid ; methods ; DNA ; chemistry ; metabolism ; DNA Adducts ; chemical synthesis ; Deoxyguanosine ; chemistry ; Tandem Mass Spectrometry ; methods

Objective:To evaluate the effect of remote ischemic conditioning (RIC) on left ventricular (LV) myocardial perfusion, myocardial viability, LV remodeling, regional and global LV function serially following acute myocardial infarction (AMI) in Chinese mini-pigs.Methods:AMI was established in 12 Chinese mini-pigs (8 males, 4 females; age: 6-8 months) and they were randomly divided into RIC group ( n=6) and non-RIC group ( n=6). RIC was performed in pigs by blood pressure inflation on the lower limbs for 5 min period and 4 cycles immediately after surgery. A series of myocardial perfusion imaging and gated 18F-fluorodeoxyglucose (FDG) myocardial metabolism PET/CT imaging were performed longitudinally at the 1st, 14th, 28th and 56th days after AMI, and parameters including total perfusion defect (TPD), hibernating myocardium (HM), Scar, left ventricular ejection fraction (LVEF), left ventricular end-diastolic volume (LVEDV), left ventricular end-systolic volume (LVESV), summed motion score (SMS), summed thickening score (STS) and changes of these parameters were obtained. Independent-samples t test and Mann-Whitney U test were used to analyze data. Results:Nine Chinese mini-pigs survived after surgery and were performed imaging. Compared to non-RIC group ( n=4), HM at the 28th ((6.0±2.4)% vs (17.0±4.6)%; t=-4.158), TPD 14th-1st ((-11.8±5.4)% vs 9.0%(4.5%, 15.0%); z=2.449), TPD 28th-1st ((-15.3±3.9)% vs (12.0±3.0)%; t=-10.071), TPD 56th-1st ((-18.0±6.5)% vs 9.0%(4.5%, 12.0%); z=2.449), HM 28th-1st ((-10.5±6.9)% vs (8.3±2.1)%; t=-4.507), HM 56th-1st (-15.0%(-17.5%, -8.5%) vs 2.0%(0%, 7.0%); z=2.449) and LVEDV 14th-1st (-0.5(-2.5, 0) ml vs (13.0±4.4) ml; z=2.470) were reduced in RIC group ( n=5; all P<0.05). Conclusion:RIC can improve myocardial perfusion, delay LV remodeling in the acute stage and salvage hibernating myocardium in the subacute stage and chronic stage.

Objective To explore the application value of CEUS in diagnosis of renal occupying lesions.Methods Totally 67 patients with renal occupying lesions underwent conventional ultrasound and CEUS before surgical operation.CEUS enhancement characteristics were observed and compared between 40 patients with clear cell renal cell carcinoma (CCRCC)and 14 patients with angiomyolipoma (AML).Meanwhile the time-intensity curves were analyzed,including peak intensity (IMAX),rise time (RT),time-to-peak time (TTP) and mean transit time (mTT).Results There were significant differences in enhancement patterns,degrees,homogeneity of enhancement and pseudocapsule sign between CCRCC and AML (all P＜0.01).Compared with AML,IMAX of CCRCC was higher,RT and mTT were both earlier (P＜0.05).The sensitivity,specificity and accuracy of CEUS in diagnosis of malignant renal occupying lesions was 91.49 ％ (43/47),75.00 ％(15/20) and 86.57％ (58/67),respectively.Conclusion CEUS combined with quantitative analysis software is helpful to diagnosis and identification of CCRCC and AML.

OBJECTIVETo evaluate the clinical efficacy of syndrome differentiation-based treatment with traditional Chinese medicine (TCM) versus losartan therapy in addition to basic treatment for management of proteinuria in patients with chronic kidney disease.

METHODSThis multicenter, randomized, and case-controlled clinical trial was conducted among 81 consecutive patients meeting the inclusion criteria. The patients were randomized consecutively to receive TCM treatments according to the syndrome patterns in TCM (spleen and kidney Qi and Yin deficiency, and spleen and kidney Qi and Yang deficiency, n=60) or oral losartan therapy (50 mg/day, n=21) in addition to the basic treatments. All the patients were followed up for 24 weeks to observe the clinical effects.

RESULTSThe patients in TCM group showed a significantly higher overall response rate (93.33%) than those in losartan group (76.20%, P<0.05). The TCM score in the two groups were all decreased at week 24 as compared with baseline (P<0.01 or P<0.05). The TCM scores in both groups decreased significantly after the treatments as compared with the baseline scores (P<0.05). After a 8-week-long treatment, Scr, eGFR and Cys-C, U-Pro/24 h, and MA/Cr all decreased significantly in TCM group (P<0.05) but showed no significant changes in losartan group (P>0.05).

CONCLUSIONSyndrome differentiation-based TCM treatment in addition to basic treatments can produce satisfactory therapeutic effects on proteinuria in patients with chronic kidney disease by improving the clinical symptoms, reducing TCM symptom scores and proteinuria, and protecting the renal functions.

Adult ; Aged ; Drugs, Chinese Herbal ; therapeutic use ; Female ; Humans ; Losartan ; therapeutic use ; Male ; Medicine, Chinese Traditional ; methods ; Middle Aged ; Phytotherapy ; Prospective Studies ; Proteinuria ; drug therapy ; etiology ; Renal Insufficiency, Chronic ; complications ; drug therapy

19 cinnamamide/ester-triazole compounds were designed, synthesized and evaluated for their anti-Alzheimer's disease (AD) activity. Among them, compound 4f displayed excellent anti-β-amyloid protein (Aβ)-mediated cytotoxicity (EC₅₀ = 2.03 ± 2.45 μmol·L^-1) in APPswe cells and acetylcholinesterase inhibiton (IC₅₀ = 4.88 ± 4.70 μmol·L^-1). Further study indicated that, at dosages of (1, 5 and 25 mg·kg^-1), compound 4f was effective in improving spatial learning and memory deficits in Aβ_1-42-impaired mice, which was achieved by promoting the nonamyloidogenic signaling and inhibiting the amyloidogenic pathway, along with the suppression of Aβ-induced Tau phosphorylation. All animal experiments in this study were approved by the Experimental Animal Care and Use Committee of the Institute of Medicinal Biotechnology (IMB-20220908D701). In conclusion, compound 4f holds promise as a lead candidate for AD treatment, and the present study lays the foundation for its subsequent development.

OBJECTIVETo observe the therapeutic effect of Yishen Qingre Huashi Recipe (YQHR) in treating proteinuria of chronic glomerular disease patients with Pi-Shen deficiency complicated damp-heat syndrome (PSDCDHS).

METHODSTotally 121 stage 1 -2 primary chronic glomerular disease patients with PSDCDHS were randomly assigned to the treated group (85 cases) and the control group (36 cases) according to 2:1. All patients received conventional and symptomatic treatment. Patients in the treated group took YQHR additionally, while those in the control group took Losartan Potassium Tablet (50 mg each time, once per day) additionally. The therapeutic course for all was 6 months. Changes of 24 h urine protein, blood urea nitrogen (BUN), serum creatinine(SCr), and estimated glomerular filtration rate (eGFR) were observed at different time points. And the difference in therapeutic effects were compared between the two groups.

RESULTSCompared with the control group after 6 months of treatment, 24 h urine protein obviously decreased in the treated group (P <0. 05). There was no statistical difference in SCr, BUN, or eGFR between the two groups after 6 months of treatment (P >0. 05). The total effective rate after 2, 4, and 6 months of treatment in the treated group was 77. 6% (66/85 cases), 82. 4% (70/85 cases), and 89. 4% (76/85 cases), respectively. They were 47. 2% (17/36 cases), 55. 6% (20/36 cases), and 61. 1% (22/36 cases) in the control group, respectively. Compared with before treatment in the treated group, the total effective effect after 6 months of treatment was higher than that after 2 months of treatment (χ2=4. 28, P <0. 01). Compared with the control group at the same time points, the total effective rate in the treated group after 2, 4, and 6 months of treatment was higher (χ2=10. 87, 9. 53, 13.16, P <0. 01).

CONCLUSIONYQHR could significantly lower proteinuria in chronic glomerular disease patients with PSDCDHS, improve the clinical effect, thereby providing clinical evidence for treating chronic glomerular disease proteinuria from resolving dampness and clearing heat.

Blood Urea Nitrogen ; Drugs, Chinese Herbal ; therapeutic use ; Hot Temperature ; Humans ; Kidney Diseases ; complications ; therapy ; Kidney Glomerulus ; pathology ; Losartan ; Medicine, Chinese Traditional ; Phytotherapy ; Proteinuria ; etiology ; therapy ; Syndrome ; Tablets

OBJECTIVENucleic vaccine of pVVP3IL-18HN expressing apoptin gene, Newcastle disease virus HN gene and IL-18 gene were constructed to observe the combinative antitumor effect of the above three genes.

METHODSEukaryotic expression plasmid pVVP3IL-18HN was constructed by inserting apoptin gene and fragment comprising fused IL-18HN gene and IRES promoter into the downstream of CMV promoter of vector pVAX1. The expression of inserted gene was identified by RT-PCR, indirect immunofluorescence and Western-blot. The recombinant plasmid was introduced into Hep-2 cells by liposome, then suppression rate of Hep-2 of different time and different quantity was calculated according to MTT results.

RESULTThe recombinant plasmid of pVVP3IL-18HN suppressed Hep-2 successfully and its suppression rate was up to 61.9% with 20 microg/ml, incubation of 72 hours.

CONCLUSIONThe nucleic vaccine constructed pVVP3IL-18HN had antitumor effect on Hep-2. It may can be used to the therapy and research of laryngeal carcinoma.

Cancer Vaccines ; biosynthesis ; Gene Expression ; Genetic Vectors ; HN Protein ; genetics ; Hep G2 Cells ; Humans ; Interleukin-18 ; genetics ; Laryngeal Neoplasms ; immunology ; prevention & control ; Newcastle disease virus ; immunology ; Plasmids ; Transfection ; Vaccines, DNA ; biosynthesis