This paper reviews progresses made in China from 2011 in areas of "Synthetic Biology" supported by State Basic Research 973 Program. Till the end of 2014, 9 "synthetic biology" projects have been initiated with emphasis on "microbial manufactures" with the 973 Funding Program. Combined with the very recent launch of one project on "mammalian cell synthetic biology" and another on "plant synthetic biology", Chinese "synthetic biology" research reflects its focus on "manufactures" while not giving up efforts on "synthetic biology" of complex systems.
Animals ; China ; Plants ; Synthetic Biology

This paper reviews the research and commercialization progresses of biobased polymeric materials including polyhydroxyalkanoates (PHA), polylactides (PLA), poly (butylene succinate) (PBS) and its monomer succinate, and CO2 copolymer poly (propylene carbonate), especially these efforts made in China.
Bioengineering ; Butylene Glycols ; China ; Polyesters ; Polyhydroxyalkanoates ; Polymers ; Propane ; analogs & derivatives ; Succinic Acid

Objective To investigate the clinical effects of the traditional rehydration and sub-shock therapy for pre-hospital treatment of traumatic shock.Methods Two hundred and sixteen patients with traumatic shock,were divided into two groups by random digits table:group A (103 cases) and group B (113cases).Group A was treated by traditional rehydration method,group B was treated by sub-shock therapy.The mortality,incidence of serious complications,and laboratory parameters between two groups were compared.Results The total mortality in group A was significantly higher than that in group B [38.8％ (40/103) vs.25.7％ (29/113),P ＜ 0.01].There was no statistically significant difference in ＜ 1 h,＞ 2 h mortality between two groups (P＞ 0.05).The 1-2 h mortality in group A was significantly higher than that in group B [18.4％(19/103) vs.8.0％(9/113),P ＜ 0.05].The incidence of serious complications in group A was significantly higher than that in group B [41.7％ (43/103) vs.21.2％ (24/113),P ＜ 0.01].Treatment of 1 h various laboratory parameters in group B were significantly better than those in group A (P ＜ 0.01 or ＜0.05).The average amount of fluid in group A was significantly more than that in group B [(2352.6 ± 763.1)ml vs.(592.4 ±236.3) ml,P ＜0.01].There was no statistically significant difference in systolic blood pressure between two groups (P ＞ 0.05).Conclusions Sub-shock therapy in pre-hospital emergency treatment of traumatic shock has some advantages compared with traditional rehydration method,which is conductive to the maintenance of the patient' s vital signs,to reduce bleeding and improve patient treatment rate.

Objective: To observe the anti-hypertensive effect of pomegranate polyphenols in spontaneously hypertensive rats ( SHR) and explore the underlying mechanism. Methods:Totally 40 male SHR rats at the age of 12 weeks were randomly divided into five groups:SHR control group, pomegranate polyphenols groups respectively at the dose of 120 mg·kg-1 , 240 mg·kg-1 and 480 mg ·kg-1 , and captopril group at the dose of 15 mg·kg-1 . The age-matched Wistar-Kyoto ( WKY) rats were randomly divided into two groups:WKY control group and pomegranate polyphenols group at the dose of 480 mg·kg-1 . All the rats were given corresponding drug or water by intragastric administration for four weeks. The systolic blood pressure ( SBP) and diastolic blood pressure ( DBP) were measured weekly. After the 4-week administration, the rats were fasted 12 hours and anaesthetized with 25% urethane solution. The blood samples were collected from abdominal aorta. The serum concentrations of angiotensin II ( Ang II) and endothelin ( ET) were de-termined by euzymelinked immunosorbent assay. The concentration of nitric oxide ( NO) in serum was determined by nitrate reduction test. Results:Pomegranate polyphenols could significantly lower the SBP and DBP, decrease the serum concentrations of Ang II and ET, and increase the serum concentration of NO(P<0.05 or P<0.01). In addition, pomegranate polyphenols had no effects on blood pressure and vasoactive substances in WKY rats. Conclusion: Pomegranate polyphenols has anti-hypertensive effect in SHR rats. The mechanism may be related to regulating the expression of vasoactive substances, such as Ang II, ET and NO.

AIM: To compare the effects of Yuxingcao(Herba houttuyniae),Paojiang(Radix aconiti lateralis praeparata) and Fuzi(Rhizoma Zingiberis recens(blastfried)) on ventricular remodeling induced by high pressure in rats. METHODS: Ventricular remodeling model was induced by constriction of abdominal aorta in rats.After 1 week,the model rats were divided randomly into 5 groups,such as model control,captopril,Yuxingcao,Paojiang and Fuzi.In addition,a sham-operated group was designed.The rats were given per oral captopril,Yuxingcao,Paojiang and Fuzi respectively for consecutive 3 weeks.Rats in sham-operated group and model control group were treated with distilled water.The blood pressure was measured.The ratio of LVW/BW,HW/BW was calculated as an index indicating the grade of ventricular hypertrophy.The contents of AngⅡ,ET in heart tissue and blood level of aldosterone(ALD) were determined by radio-immunoassay.The myocardium collagen volume fraction(CVF),perivascular circumferential area(PVCA) and the content of type Ⅰ and Ⅲ collagen were determined by histological assay using the picric acid/sirius red stain.The expression of protein kinase C(PKC) was determined by immunohistochemical analysis. RESULTS: Yuxingcao could lower the blood pressure and the ratio of LVW/BW,HW/BW;reduce the level of AngⅡ,ET in myocardium and ALD in blood serum,decrease myocardium CVF,PVCA and the content of type Ⅰ,Ⅲ collagen,and inhibit the expression of PKC.Paojiang did not show obvious effects mentioned above,neither did Fuzi,except that it decreased the level of AngⅡ in myocardium. CONCLUSION: Yuxingcao,the herb with cool nature,can attenuate the ventricular remodeling,and inhibit the over-activity of neuroendocrine factor release.Paojiang and Fuzi,the herbs with hot nature,fail to show that.

Child, Preschool ; Cystathionine beta-Synthase ; genetics ; Folic Acid ; blood ; metabolism ; Genetic Predisposition to Disease ; Heart Defects, Congenital ; enzymology ; genetics ; Humans ; Infant ; Infant, Newborn ; Methylenetetrahydrofolate Dehydrogenase (NADP) ; genetics ; Methylenetetrahydrofolate Reductase (NADPH2) ; genetics ; Methyltransferases ; genetics ; Minor Histocompatibility Antigens ; Polymorphism, Genetic ; Risk Factors

Objective To improve the recognition in clinical features,diagnosis and treatment of POEMS syndrome.Method Twenty-one cases of POEMS syndrome were analyzed retrospectively.Results The major clinical features were shown as follows: 21 cases of polyneuropathy, organomegaly, edema and skin changes, 13 cases of monoclonal plasma proliferative disorder, 19 cases of endocrinopathy, 1 case of sclerotic bone lesions, 1 case of Castleman disease,5 cases of papilledema.Conclusions POEMS syndrome is a rare multi-system damage disease.Screening for POEMS syndrome with serum protein electrophoresis, immunofixation electrophoresis,electromyogram and radionuclide bone scanning are essential for all patients with unexplained peripheral neuropathy or multi-system damage.If the index of suspicion is high enough, bone marrow cytomorphologic examination or biopsy with immunohistochemical staining may be required,in order to make an early diagnosis and try to avoid misdiagnosis and mistherapy.

Objective To determine the quality of life of patients treated with one of three different types of surgery for breast cancer.Methods This was a cross-sectional study using a questionnaire survey completed by Chinese patients without active disease after at least 2 years of follow-up after breast cancer surgery.Results This study totally included 139 breast cancer patients:44 ( 31.6%) had undergone modified radical mastectomy with reconstruction, 41(29.5%)had a quadrantectomy with axillary lymph node dissection, and 54(38.9%)had a modified radical mastectomy without reconstruction.The EORTC QLQ-C30 and EORTC QLQ-BR23 question-naires were used;their reliability was>0.82.Global health status(94.30 ±12.04, P=0.028)and role functio-ning(85.16 ±17.23, P=0.138)were highest in the quadrantectomy group.Pain score was highest in the modi-fied radical mastectomy with reconstruction group(26.13 ±30.15, P =0.042).The breast symptom score (22.56 ±22.30, P=0.009)and body image perception(85.56 ±19.72, P=0.025)were highest in the conser-vative treatment group.The overall health of patients given modified radical mastectomy without reconstruction was lower(72.61 ±20.89, P=0.014) in women older than 50 years compared with younger women.Conclu-sions The quadrantectomy with axillary lymph node dissection procedure had better acceptance, but the overall health status did not differ between groups.Overall health status is lower in women older than 50 years receiving a modified radical mastectomy without reconstruction.

Objective To study the preparation technique for Jiegeng Zaogan capsules (capsules of total saponins from the roots of Platycodon grandiflorum A.DC).Methods The optimal preparation technique for Jiegeng Zaogan capsules was investigated by L9(34) orthogonal test with the Platycodin D content as the observation index.Results The optimized extraction procedure was as follows:extracting for 3 hours each time and 3 times in total,adding 10-fold water,alcohol sedimentation concentration at 65 %,and alcohol sedimentation solution staying for 48 hours.Conclusion The preparation process of Jigeng Zaogan capsules is reliable with stable quality,which offers a feasible method for the industrialization production of the capsules.