The glutamate dehydrogenase (EC.1.4.1.4) gene which amplified from the genome of Brevibacterium flavum GDK-9 by polymerase chain reaction was linked with pUCm-T for sequence alignment. Analysis of gdh sequences revealed that the whole sequence is 1927 bp, only one ORF existed, which used ATG as the initiation codon and coded a peptide of 448 amino acids with a calculated molecular weight of 48 kD. The comparability between the cloned gdh sequence to the reported sequence is high to 99.55%. Only the 1190th base mutation (C→A) lead to the change of amino acid sequence (Thr→Asn), the others are not. The recombinant plasmid pXG was then transformed into E. coli XL-Blue and Brevibacterium flavum GDK-9 which was induced by IPTG. SDS-PAGE analysis revealed that there was a clear induced protein band with molecular mass of 48.7 kD on expected position. Standard glutamate fermentations indicated that although the level of GDH increases the intracellular glutamate pool, the level of GDH has no influence on glutamate secretion.

To explore the possible linkage between telomerase and acute leukemia, we detected telomerase activity expressed in 3 leukemia cell lines, 22 acute leukemia bone marrow and 6 normal bone marrow with PCR ELISA assay. Results showed that telomerase activities of three leukemia cell lines were positive with the average (1.57 +/- 0.056) U, normal bone marrow samples average was (0.085 +/- 0.081) U, telomerase value from 22 acute leukemia patients was (0.512 +/- 0.294) U. Telomerase activity is higher expressed in acute leukemia than normal samples and decreased significantly after chemotherapy (P < 0.01). The results suggested that telomerase activity was related to some malignant diseases and might be used as a marker for tumor diagnosis and therapy.

OBJECTIVETo study the effects of comprehensive interventions in community on smoking, chronic bronchitis, and asthma in rural areas of Beijing.

METHODSTwenty-three villages in rural areas of Beijing were randomly divided into interventional (13 villages) and control villages (10 villages) in 1992. Comprehensive interventions including education of former-smokers and improvement of living environment were carried out in the interventional villages, and none was done in the control villages. In April 2000, surveys on smoking, chronic bronchitis, and asthma were carried out among 34,436 participants aged 15 or more in the interventional and control villages. During the same period, knowledge on prevention from chronic obstructive pulmonary diseases (COPD), living environments, and smoking were assessed among 1658 high-risk individuals of COPD at baseline and following-up period.

RESULTSThe scores of knowledge and improvement on living environments in the interventional villages were significantly higher than those in control villages (P < 0.001). The decrease rate of smoking and current smoking rate in the interventional villages were significantly higher than in the control villages (0.4% vs -0.8%, P < 0.001; 2.4% vs 1.3%, P < 0.001) in men, while not different in women (P > 0.05). Among never smokers at baseline, the accumulated incidence of smoking among people aged 15 to 24 from 1993 to 2000 was significantly lower in the interventional villages than in the control villages in men (18.9% vs 23.7%, P = 0.005) and in women (0% vs 0.7%, P = 0.005). Daily cigarettes smoked by smokers in the interventional villages were less than in control villages in both men (14.8 +/- 7.0 vs 17.2 +/- 8.2 cigs daily, P < 0.001) and women (12.8 +/- 6.9 vs 13.4 +/- 7.2 cigs daily, P = 0.088). The increase of prevalence of chronic bronchitis in the interventional villages was less than in the control villages (men: 0.9% vs 1.3%, P = 0.012; women: 0.1% vs 0.3%, P = 0.003). After the age factor is adjusted, odds ratio (OR) for accumulated incidence of chronic bronchitis from 1993 to 2000 in the interventional villages were 0.80 (95%CI: 0.60-1.07) for men, 0.76 (95%CI: 0.45-1.28) in women. The OR for asthma was not significant in both men and women.

CONCLUSIONSComprehensive interventions in community may improve knowledge of COPD prevention and living environments, decrease the smoking rate, cigarettes smoked per day, and incidence of chronic bronchitis, but have no significant effects on asthma.

Adolescent ; Adult ; Aged ; Asthma ; epidemiology ; etiology ; Attitude to Health ; Bronchitis ; epidemiology ; etiology ; China ; epidemiology ; Chronic Disease ; Female ; Health Education ; Health Surveys ; Humans ; Incidence ; Male ; Middle Aged ; Rural Health ; Rural Population ; Smoking ; adverse effects ; Smoking Cessation

OBJECTIVETo improve the method for preparing rabbit VX2 liver tumor model and observe the magnetic resonance imaging (MRI) features of the implanted tumors.

METHODSSixteen adult New Zealand white rabbits were assigned randomly into 4 equal groups, and VX2 tumor tissues were implanted into the right and left liver lobes with spiral CT guidance. Plain and contrast-enhanced MR scan and pathological analysis were performed in different stages (14, 18, 22 and 26 days) after tumor implantation.

RESULTSTumor implantation was successful in all the rabbits, and 18 to 22 days after tumor implantation, the diameters of the tumor ranged from 1 to 2 cm, which allowed observation and study. In plain MR scans, lower or equivalent tumor signal in comparison with hepatic parenchyma was observed, and contrast-enhanced scans produced obvious enhancement of the tumor edges. At 22 days after tumor implantation, obvious necrosis was observed in the center of the tumor.

CONCLUSIONThis method of preparing rabbit VX2 liver tumor model with spiral CT guidance is simple and convenient, and the tumors can be observed effectively with dynamic plain and contrast-enhanced MR scans.

Animals ; Disease Models, Animal ; Female ; Liver Neoplasms, Experimental ; diagnostic imaging ; pathology ; Magnetic Resonance Imaging ; methods ; Male ; Neoplasm Transplantation ; Rabbits ; Random Allocation ; Tomography, X-Ray Computed

OBJECTIVETo evaluate the effect of glutamine granules on protein metabolism in severe burns and trauma patients.

METHODS120 patients with severe burns, multiple trauma and post operation who met the requirements of the protocol joined this double-blind randomized controlled, multi-center clinical trail. Patients were randomly divided into two groups: placebo control group (P group, 60 patients) and glutamine granules treatment group (GLN group, 60 patients). There was isonitrogenous and isocaloric intake in both groups, GLN and P group patents had been given glutamine granules or placebo (glycine) at 0.5 g.kg(-1).d(-1) for 7 days, respectively. The level of plasma glutamine, protein and urine nitrogen exclude were determined, wound healing rate of burn area and hospital stay were recorded, and then observed the complication and side effect.

RESULTSAfter 7 days of taking glutamine granules orally, plasma GLN concentration was significant higher than that in P group (592.50 +/- 185.23 micro mol/L vs. 407.41 +/- 190.22 micro mol/L) (P < 0.01). Plasma prealbumin and transferrin in GLN group were significant higher than those in P group (P < 0.01), but the concentration of total protein and albumin were no marked changes compare with P group (P > 0.05). The capacity of urine nitrogen exclude in GLN group were significant lower than that in P group. Additional, the wound healing rate was faster and hospital stay days was shorter than P group (P < 0.05), and the occurrence of glutamine granules side effect was seldom.

CONCLUSIONTaking glutamine could promote protein synthesis, abate protein decompose, ameliorate wound healing rate and reduce hospital stay obviously.

Adult ; Burns ; drug therapy ; metabolism ; Double-Blind Method ; Female ; Glutamine ; blood ; therapeutic use ; Humans ; Length of Stay ; Male ; Middle Aged ; Nitrogen ; urine ; Proteins ; metabolism ; Treatment Outcome ; Wounds and Injuries ; drug therapy ; metabolism

OBJECTIVETo evaluate the effect of glutamine granules on immunofunction in severe burns and trauma patients.

METHODSOne hundred and twenty patients with severe burns, multiple trauma and post operation who met the requirements of the protocol joined this double-blind randomized controlled, multi-center clinical trail. Patients were randomly divided into two groups: placebo control group (P group, 60 patients) and glutamine granules treatment group (GLN group, 60 patients). There was isonitrogenous and isocaloric intake in both groups. GLN and P group patients had been given glutamine granules or placebo (glycine) at 0.5 g.kg(-1).d(-1) for 7 days, respectively. The level of plasma glutamine and some index of immunofunction were determined, and the complication and side effect were also observed.

RESULTSAfter 7 days of taking glutamine granules orally, plasma GLN concentration was significantly higher than that in P group [(593 +/- 185) micromol/L vs (407 +/- 190) micromol/L)] (P < 0.01). IL-2 level, CD(4)/CD(8) ratio, PMN swallow ratio in GLN group were significantly higher than those in P group (P < 0.05-0.01), but the concentration of IgG, IgM, C(3)/C(4) were not significantly different when compared with P group (P > 0.05). In addition, the occurrence of side effect in both groups was seldom.

CONCLUSIONTaking glutamine granules could increase plasma GLN concentration, enhance body immunofunction, and using glutamine granules is safe.

Administration, Oral ; Adolescent ; Adult ; Double-Blind Method ; Female ; Glutamine ; adverse effects ; blood ; therapeutic use ; Humans ; Male ; Middle Aged ; Wounds and Injuries ; blood ; drug therapy ; immunology

This study was aimed to investigate the expression and activity of membrane surface tissue factor (TF) of monocytes and platelets in peripheral blood cells from patients with cerebral infarction and their clinical significance. The TF expressions in monocytes and platelets from 25 patients with cerebral infarction were detected by flow cytometry, the TF activity was detected by chromogenic reaction method, and compared with 24 normal people used as control. The results showed that the TF expressions of monocytes and platelets in peripheral blood cells from patients with cerebral infarction were significantly higher than that in normal controls (p<0.01), and TF activity was also higher in patients than that in controls (p<0.01). In conclusion, the expression and activity of membrane surface in patients with cerebral infarction were enhanced, the hematocyte-derived tissue factor as a trigger in coagulation pathway is involved in pathological thrombosis in patients with cerebral infarction.
Aged ; Blood Cells ; metabolism ; Case-Control Studies ; Cerebral Infarction ; blood ; metabolism ; Erythrocyte Membrane ; metabolism ; Female ; Flow Cytometry ; Humans ; Male ; Middle Aged ; Monocytes ; metabolism ; Thromboplastin ; metabolism

BACKGROUNDThere are no data on more tolerable capecitabine doses in elderly patients in Chinese population. The aim of this study was to evaluate the activity and safety of capecitabine combined with weekly docetaxel for the treatment of anthracycline-resistant metastatic breast cancer (MBC) in older Chinese patients.

METHODSMBC patients aged > 65 years pretreated with 1 - 5 prior chemotherapy regimens, including an anthracycline, received oral capecitabine 825 mg/m(2) twice daily, days 1 - 14, plus docetaxel 30 mg/m(2) on days 1 and 8 every 21 days. All 41 enrolled patients received at least 1 dose of treatment and were evaluable for safety; 38 received at least 2 cycles (median 4, range 2 - 8) and were evaluable for efficacy.

RESULTSThe overall objective response rate was 47%, including complete responses in 8% of patients. Median time to progression was 8.9 months. Median overall survival was 17.6 months. The most common side effects were haematological and gastrointestinal toxicities and hand-foot syndrome. The only grade 3/4 adverse events were neutropenia (12%), alopecia (7%), grade 3 nausea and vomiting (2%) and grade 3 nail toxicity (2%).

CONCLUSIONSCapecitabine 825 mg/m(2) twice daily plus weekly docetaxel is active with an acceptable safety profile in Chinese women > 65 years with anthracycline-resistant MBC. Efficacy and tolerability compare favourably with previously reported trials evaluating higher capecitabine doses in combination with 3-weekly or weekly docetaxel.

Aged ; Anthracyclines ; therapeutic use ; Antimetabolites, Antineoplastic ; therapeutic use ; Antineoplastic Agents ; therapeutic use ; Breast Neoplasms ; drug therapy ; Capecitabine ; Deoxycytidine ; administration & dosage ; analogs & derivatives ; therapeutic use ; Drug Resistance, Neoplasm ; Female ; Fluorouracil ; administration & dosage ; analogs & derivatives ; therapeutic use ; Humans ; Taxoids ; administration & dosage ; therapeutic use

OBJECTIVETo observe the therapeutic effect and possible side effects of glutamine granules per os in patients with trauma, burns and major operations.

METHODSPatients inflicted with severe burns, trauma and major operations were enrolled in the study. One hundred and twenty patients were randomly divided into two groups, 60 in control group (C) and 60 in glutamine group (Gln). Randomized double blind and placebo control methods were employed in the study. All the patients in both groups were given diet with equal calories and equal nitrogen content. The patients in Gln group received glutamine granules in dose of 0.5 g.kg(-1).d(-1) orally or by gavage, while those in C group received same dose of placebo (glycine) for 7 days. The changes in the intestinal mucosal barrier function, the protein metabolism, the immune function, hepatic and renal functions, and the incidence of side effects of the medication in both groups of patients were observed and compared before and after the supplementation of glutamine or glycine.

RESULTSThe plasma contents of glutamine, proteins and interleukin 2 in both groups were all lower than normal values. But the plasma diamine oxidase (DAO) activity, endotoxin content, intestinal mucosal permeability (urine lactose/mannitol, L/M) and urine excretion of nitrogen increased obviously in both groups. The plasma glutamine concentration in Gln group increased by 38.04% after the administration of Gln for 7 days (P < 0.01). The plasma contents of pro-albumin, transferrin, and IL-2 were obviously higher than those in the C group (the increase rates were 21.19%, 51.11%, 57.54%, respectively, P < 0.01). The plasma DAO activity, L/M ratio, endotoxin content and urine nitrogen excretion in Gln group were evidently lower than those in C group (the decrease rates were 47.26%, 52.18, 22.22% and 27.78%, respectively, P < 0.05 or 0.01). There was no obvious difference in the plasma levels of total protein and albumin, the indices in blood and urine test, or the hepatic and renal functions between the two groups before and after the amino acid supplementation. Mild side effects such as nausea, diarrhea, constipation occurred in both groups, but all of them disappeared spontaneously afterwards (P > 0.05).

CONCLUSIONOral administration of glutamine could be helpful to increase plasma concentration of glutamine and to ameliorate obviously the intestinal mucosal injury, to promote systemic protein synthesis and to inhibit protein catabolism and to upgrade systemic immune function with little side effect in patients with severe injury.

Administration, Oral ; Adolescent ; Adult ; Burns ; therapy ; Double-Blind Method ; Female ; Glutamine ; administration & dosage ; adverse effects ; blood ; Humans ; Intestinal Mucosa ; drug effects ; pathology ; physiopathology ; Male ; Middle Aged ; Placebos ; Treatment Outcome ; Young Adult

OBJECTIVE: To explore the application value and clinical effect of three-dimensional printing combined with composite plate internal fixation in the treatment of old acetabular posterior wall fracture. METHODS: From May 2010 to October 2016, Mimics 19.0 software was used to plan preoperatively according to a 1:1 print pelvic 3D model. At the same time, 23 patients with old acetabular posterior wall fractures were treated with combined plate internal fixation, including 15 males and 8 females, aged 20 to 63 (43.0±5.1) years old, and the time from injury to operation was 23 to 101(47.0±10.5) days. According to Letournel-Judet classification, 11 cases were posterior wall fracture, 7 cases were transverse with posterior wall fracture, and 5 cases were posterior column with posterior wall fracture. All patients were treated with single Kocher-Langenbeck approach combined plate internal fixation, and the evaluation indexes were recorded during operation, after operation and during follow-up. RESULTS: The operation time of 23 patients was (113.5±11.5) min, bleeding was (550.0±104.7) ml and fluoroscopy was (12.7±0.8) s. Matta radiographic reduction criteria were used: excellent in 14 cases, good in 7 cases and poor in 2 cases; 23 patients were followed up for 10 to 24 (16.0±5.6) months. The hip function was evaluated according to the modified Merle d'Aubingne and Postal scoring system at the last follow-up: excellent in 11 cases, good in 8 cases, fair in 3 cases and poor in 1 case. There were 3 cases of traumatic arthritis, 1 case of femoral head necrosis, 2 cases of heterotopic ossification and 5 cases of sciatic nerve irritation. CONCLUSIONS 3D printing technique is an effective and fast method for the treatment of old acetabular posterior wall fractures. In addition, the printing model can provide three-dimensional morphological structure for the operator, combined with preoperative simulation, facilitate intraoperative reduction, and effectively improve the efficiency of surgery.
Acetabulum ; Adolescent ; Adult ; Aged ; Bone Plates ; Female ; Fracture Fixation, Internal ; Fractures, Bone ; Humans ; Male ; Printing, Three-Dimensional ; Treatment Outcome ; Young Adult