BACKGROUND:Polyvinyl alcohol is a biocompatible and biodegradable polymer. It is widely used in clinical areas because of its water-soluble, film forming, emulsification, adhesiveness, tasteless, and nontoxic.
OBJECTIVE:To review the applications of polyvinyl alcohol and its composite materials in bone, cartilage, skin, vessels and other tissue engineering scaffolds.
METHODS:A computer-based online search of CNKI database from January 2000 to December 2011, PubMed database and Elsevier (ScienceDirect) database from January 1980 to December 2012, was performed by the first author with key words of“poly(vinyl alcohol), composite material, tissue engineering scaffold”both in Chinese and English. Literatures concerning polyvinyl alcohol and its composite materials in bone, cartilage, skin, vessels and other tissue engineering scaffolds were included, and repetitive research was excluded.
RESULTS AND CONCLUSION:Although there are not enough strength, complications and other shortcomings in vivo, due to its good biocompatibility and biodegradable properties, polyvinyl alcohol and its composite
materials have made great progress in tissue engineering applications from the laboratory to the pre-clinical
research. But its long-term effects need further research. It wil be a main research aim of scaffold materials in the future to improve the interaction of cel s with the scaffold materials by surface modification, to prepare biomimetic materials by cel microenvironment simulation, to improve the hydrophilicity, the adhesion of cel s, and cel
differentiation and proliferation, to bionic the structure and function of the natural extracel ular matrix by building three-dimensional porous structure and control ing the release of cel growth factors, to meet the need of tissue regeneration by congruity or harmony of degradation and mechanical strength.

OBJECTIVEThis study aimed to evaluate the biological characteristics of a human specifically targeted antimi- crobial peptide C16LL-37 against Streptococcus mutans (S. mutans).

METHODSIn this study, an antimicrobial peptide LL-37, a peptide derived from CSP(C16) (S. mutans competence stimulating peptide), and recombinant peptide C16LL-37 were synthesized by Fmoc-chemistry-based strategy. The selectivity and antibacterial activity of C16LL-37 were identified by the colony counting method on microbial culture plates. After treatment of C16LL-37 at 32 µmol · L⁻¹, the morphological changes in S. mutans were observed by using scanning electron microscopy (SEM). In addition, enzyme-linked immunosorbent assay was used to evaluate the hemolytic activity and antibacterial activity of C16LL-37 under different conditions.

RESULTS1) The minimum inhibitory concentration of C16LL-37 was 16 µmol · L⁻¹, and the minimum bactericidal concentration was 64 μmol ·L⁻¹. 2) The survival rate of S. mutans was 3.46% after C16LL-37 treatment at 64 µmo-L⁻¹ for 30 min, whereas it was 0% at 64 µmol · L⁻¹ for 60 min. The survival rates of four other kinds of bacteria were more than 60% at any time (P < 0.05). 3) The morphological change in S. mutans was observed after C16LL-37 treatment at 32 µmol · L⁻¹ by using SEM. S. mutans presented an irregular shape, rough surface, and evident splitting. 4) The hemolysis rate of C16LL-37 (≤ 64 µmol · L⁻¹) was less than 0.33%. 5) This study showed no significant in- fluence on the antibacterial activity of C16LL-37 under different conditions, such as temperature, pH, salinity, and trypsin at low concentration (P > 0.05).

CONCLUSIONC16LL-37 exhibited obvious specificity for S. mutans, strong antibacterial activity, low toxicity, and high stability. Thus, C16LL-37 has good potential in caries research and clinical application.

Anti-Infective Agents ; pharmacology ; Antimicrobial Cationic Peptides ; pharmacology ; Bacterial Proteins ; Dental Caries ; Enzyme-Linked Immunosorbent Assay ; Humans ; Microbial Sensitivity Tests ; Microscopy, Electron, Scanning ; Peptides ; Streptococcus mutans ; drug effects

To express Pleurocidin in Escherichia coli and to enhance the secretory efficiency of the fusion protein, the gene encoding Pleurocidin was ligated with Cherry DNA sequence via blunt-end ligation. Then this fusion gene was cloned into pET22b (+) vector and the recombinant plasmid was transformed into E. coli BL21 (DE3). Lactose was used to induce expression of fusion protein. The recombinant plasmid pET22b (+) -CP was successfully constructed and high-level expression of fusion protein was induced with lactose. Statistics showed that addition of glycine after 16 h of induction significantly enhanced the secretory efficiency of the fusion protein. After hydrolysis of the fusion protein by diluted hydrochloric acid and some further purification steps, r-Pleurocidin was obtained with antibacterial activity against E. coli DH5α and Bacillus subtilis BS168. In conclusion, the fusion protein was expressed in E. coli and biologically active r-Pleurocidin was obtained after hydrochloric acid cleavage and purification.
Animals ; Cloning, Molecular ; Escherichia coli ; metabolism ; Fish Proteins ; biosynthesis ; Flounder ; Recombinant Fusion Proteins ; biosynthesis

ObjectiveTo explore the diagnostic value of serum YKL-40 for liver fibrosis stage, and to provide a reference for noninvasive diagnosis of liver fibrosis in patients with chronic liver disease. MethodsWe searched PubMed, EMBASE, the Cochrane Library, Web of Science, and CNKI for studies on the clinical value of YKL-40 in the diagnosis of liver fibrosis or cirrhosis. The quality of studies was evaluated using the QUADAS-2 tool to assess the risk of bias. Comprehensive quantitative evaluation of the included studies was performed using Stata 12.0. The source of heterogeneity was analyzed, and the forest plot and summary receiver operating curve (SROC) were generated. ResultsA total of nine studies involving 1592 patients were included in the meta-analysis; six studies were conducted on significant fibrosis (≥F2), and seven studies were conducted on progressive fibrosis (≥F3). In the diagnosis of significant fibrosis (≥F2), YKL-40 had pooled sensitivity, specificity, positive likelihood ratio, negative likelihood ratio, odds ratio, and area under the SROC (AUC) of 078 (95% confidence interval ［CI］: 0.69-0.85), 0.53 (95%CI: 0.33-0.72), 1.7 (95%CI: 1.0-2.7), 0.41 (95%CI: 0.21-0.76), 4 (95%CI: 1-13), and 0.76 (95%CI:0.72-0.80), respectively. In the diagnosis of progressive fibrosis (≥F3), YKL-40 had pooled sensitivity, specificity, positive likelihood ratio, negative likelihood ratio, odds ratio, and AUC of 0.83 (95%CI: 0.76-089), 0.72 (95%CI: 0.62-0.80), 3.0 (95%CI: 2.0-4.4), 0.23 (95%CI: 0.14-0.37), 13 (95%CI: 5-30), and 0.85 (95%CI: 082-0.88), respectively. ConclusionThe diagnostic value of serum YKL-40 for significant and progressive liver fibrosis is limited, so it may not be a new, effective serum marker for the staging of liver fibrosis.

Objective:To observe inhibitory effrects of DNA vaccine co-expressing CEA tandem repeat epitopes and FL on cancer cells in mice.Methods:The encoding sequences for CEA tandem repeats and FL were inserted into plasmid pcDNA3.0 using gene recombinant technique.BALB/c mice were immunized intramuscularly with the co-expressing DNA vaccine.The survival time and tumor size were measured and specific CTL cytotoxicity was detected by ~(125)I-UdR release method.Results:Compared with that of the control,the survival time was prolonged (P＜0.01)and the tumors were significantly inhibited in the mice immunized with the vaccine peDNA-triCEA_(625-667)-sFL(P＜0.01).The splenic cells from mice immunized with the vaccine pcDNA-triCEA_(625-667)-sFL induced strongly cytotoxicity against tumor cells H22-CEA ~+(P＜0.01).Conclusion:The recombinant DNA vaccine co-expressing pcDNA-triCEA_(625-667)-sFL can suppress the growth of tumor expressing CEA in mice and enhance CTL response against CEA antigen.

Objective To probe the relationship between the expression of TL1A and the level of IFN-γ secreted by T cells in the acute stage of Guillain-Barre syndrome (GBS). Methods ① Six-week female Bal b/c mice were immunized by purified recombinant human soluble TNF-like molecular 1A (rhsTL1A) protein. The polyclonal antibody against rhsTL1A was identified by immunofluorescence using human umbilical vein epithelial cells (HUVEC). ② To detect the biologic activity of rhsTL1A, the peripheral blood mononuclear cells (PBMC) from the healthy donors were separated by Ficoll gradient centrifugation and were seeded on 96-well plates with medium containing 2 μg/ml PHA (control group), 2 μg/ml PHA + 25 ng/ml rhsTL1 A, 2 μg/ml PHA + 100 ng/ml rhsTL1A and 2 μg/ml PHA + 400 ng/ml rhsTLlA respectively. T cell proliferation assay was carried out using ~3H-TdR. ③ IFN-γ productions in the sera of the children with GBS in the acute stage were detected by ELISA. ④ The ratio of CD_3~+ TL1A~+ T cells to CD_3~+ T cells in the peripheral blood of the children with GBS in acute stage was detected with flow, cytometry. ⑤PBMC from the children in acute GBS were separated and cultured in the environment adding 2 μg/ml PHA and 400 ng/ml rhsTL1A in vitro. Then, the IFN-γ in the supernatant was determined by ELISA kit after 72 hours. Results ① hTL1A A expressed by eukaryotic HUVECs was recognized by rhsTL1 A polyclonal antiserum. ② The result of T cell proliferation assay showed that SI of 25 ng/ml rhTL1A, 100 ng/ml rhTL1A A and 400 ng/ml rhTL1A group was increased compared with control group. The SI of 2 μg/ml PHA +400 ng/ml rhsTL1 A group was the highest (2. 65) among them. ③ IFN-γ productions in the sera of the children with GBS in the acute stage ((102. 25±22. 17) pg/ml) were increased significantly compared with healthy control ((28.75 ± 1.31) pg/ml, t = 3. 309, P < 0. 05). ④ The ratio of CD_3~+ TL1A~+ T cells to CD_3~+ T cells in the peripheral blood of the children with GBS in acute stage (18.22%± 1.83%) was enhanced significantly compared with healthy control (5. 17% ±0. 48%, t = 6. 884, P < 0. 01). ⑤ PBMC both in healthy control and the acute GBS secreted more IFN-γ markedly ((43.56± 4.41) pg/ml and (180.64 ± 38.39) pg/ml) after being incubated in 2 μg/ml PHA and 400 ng/ml rhsTL1A (t =4. 523 and 2. 600, P <0. 01 and 0. 05 respectively). Moreover, PBMC in acute GBS secreted more IFN-γ, than that of the healthy group markedly (t = 3. 545, P < 0. 05). Conclusions ① The mouse antiserum recognizing rhsTL1A is successfully obtained. ② In this study, 400 ng/ml rhsTL1A promotes the proliferation of T cells activated by 2 μg/ml PHA, indicating that rhsTL1A has biological activity. ③ The expression of hTL1A of activated T cells in the peripheral blood of the children with acute GBS is up-regulated. These TL1A proteins promote the secretion of IFN-γ through binding to their receptors DR_3.

Objective A multicenter, randomized, controlled and open-labled clinical trial was performed to compare the efficacy and safety of recombinant human insulin injection ( Yousilin R) and treated with Yousilin R versus Novolin R for 12 weeks respectively. Results Compared with baseline,the levels of glycosylated hemoglobin A1c ( HbA1c ) at the end of 12 weeks treatment decreased from 10. 77% to 7. 72% ( P ＜0. 05 ) in Yousilin R group and from 10. 33% to 7. 62% ( P ＜0. 05 ) in Novolin R group,2-hour postprandial plasma glucose ( 2hPG ) decreased from 15.49 mmol/L to 9. 72 mmol/L ( P ＜ 0. 05 ) in Yousilin R group and from 15.33 mmol/L to 10. 07 mmol/L( P ＜ 0. 05 ) in Novolin R group, and fasting plasma glucose (FPG) decreased from 10. 90 mmol/L to 7. 31 mmol/L( P ＜0. 05 ) in Yousilin R group and from 10. 22 mmol/L to 7.21 mmol/L (P ＜0. 05) in Novolin R group. The changes of HbA1c, 2hPG and FPG from baseline to endpoint in Yousilin R group was similar to those in Novolin R group ( P ＞ 0. 05 ).Furthermore, hypoglycemic events(26. 42% vs 30. 48% ), other adverse events( 13.21%vs 16. 19% ) ,and serious adverse events( 1.89%vs 1.90% )were comparable between Yousilin R and Novolin R groups(P ＞0. 05 ). Conclusions Yousilin R has similar efficacy, safety and compliance profiles to Novolin R group in the treatment of diabetic patients.

Objective To compare the complications and outcomes of urgent?start peritoneal dialysis (PD) and hemodialysis (HD) in end?stage renal disease (ESRD) patients, and explore the safety and effectiveness of PD which was as an urgent?start dialysis modality in ESRD patients. Methods All patients for urgent?start dialysis, who initiated dialysis without a long?term dialysis access or had the long?term dialysis access under 30 days in Renji Hospital from January 1st 2013 to December 31st 2014, were enrolled. According to the dialysis modalities, patients were divided into PD group and HD group. Participants were followed up until death, transferred to other centers, lost of follow up or January 1st 2016. Dialysis?related complications within 30 days of implantation, complications of reimplantation and the occurrence of bacteremia between two groups were compared, and their survival rates were tested by Kaplan?Meier curves. Results Among 178 patients in this study, there were 96 (53.9%) patients in PD group and 82 (46.1%) patients in HD group. Compared with those of HD group, patients of PD group presented more cardiovascular disease [21(21.9%) vs 8(9.8%), P=0.029], higher serum potassium [(4.5±0.8) mmol/L vs (4.3±0.8) mmol/L, P=0.038], but less heart failure (NYHA Ⅲ?Ⅳ) [26(30.2%) vs 40 (48.8%), P=0.014], lower brain natriuretic peptide (BNP) [328.5 (129.5, 776.8) ng/L vs 503.5(206.0, 1430.0) ng/L, P=0.008], higher hemoglobin [(81.5 ± 17.7) g/L vs (75.3 ± 22.5) g/L, P=0.039], higher serum albumin (33.5±5.7) g/L vs (31.3±6.7) g/L, P=0.022] and higher serum pre?albumin (304.5±78.0) mg/L vs (257.0 ± 86.1) mg/L, P<0.001]. PD group presented less dialysis?related complications [5 (5.2%) vs 20(24.4%), P<0.001], less dialysis?related complications requiring reimplantation [1(1.0%) vs 20(24.4%), P<0.001] and less bacteraemia [3(3.1%) vs 11(13.4%), P=0.011]. The 3?, 6?and 12?month patient survival rates of PD and HD group were 97.9% vs 98.4%, 97.9% vs 98.4%, and 92.1%vs 93.0% respectively, and no significant difference was found (Log ? rank=0.004, P=0.947). Conclusions Patients with urgent?start PD have less complications within 30 days of implantation and occurrence of bacteremia than patients with urgent?start HD, and the same survival rates. PD may be a feasible and safe urgent?start dialysis modality for ESRD patients.

Objective To assess the predictive effect of myocardial injury biomarkers (proBNP, CK-MB, and cTnI) on the severity of acute pancreatitis (AP). Methods The records of 246 patients diagnosed with acute pancreatitis who were treated at Ruijin Hospital Emergency Department from January 2015 to December 2016 were retrospectively analyzed. According to the revised 2012 Atlanta guidelines, these patients were divided into the mild acute pancreatitis (MAP, n=47), moderately severe acute pancreatitis (MSAP, n=151) and severe acute pancreatitis (SAP, n=48) groups. The highest plasma levels of troponin I (cTnI), creatine kinase (CK)-MB, N-terminal B-type brain natriuretic peptide (NT-proBNP), C-reactive protein (CRP), and procalcitonin (PCT) were recorded for comparison within 72 h after admission. The acute physiology and chronic health evaluation Ⅱ (APACHE Ⅱ ) score, sequential organ failure assessment (SOFA), bedside index for severity in acute pancreatitis (BISAP) and Balthazar computed tomography severity index (CTSI) were calculated at admission within 72 h. Whether there is an occurrence of organ dysfunction, and the organ types and persist time of organ dysfunction were recorded. The analysis of variance, SNK-q test and paired samples t test were used for the statistical analysis. Results The levels of proBNP, CK-MB, and cTnI were significantly higher in the SAP group than in the non-SAP group. The receiver operating characteristic (ROC) curve demonstrated cTnI had the maximum predictive power (AUC=0.872), while proBNP had the least predictive ability (AUC=0.763). The established model, which is to explore whether the myocardial injury markers had the predictive value, showed that the combination of myocardial injury indicators (CK-MB, cTnI) and traditional indicators had higher predictive value for SAP than traditional indicators alone (AUC=0.966 vs. AUC=0.945, P=0.04). Conclusions The elevated markers of myocardial injury had certain predictive value for severe acute pancreatitis.

Plaque pH detection technology can detect the risk of caries and assist in the prevention of caries, with a mature theory and a relatively simple operation. With the increasing demand for clinical caries risk detection technology and the rapid development of microelectrode techniques, there is an increasing variety of types of microelectrodes that can detect the pH of dental plaque, including glass microelectrodes, metal oxide microelectrodes and ion-sensitive field effect transistors. The glass microelectrode was the first microelectrode to be applied in this field, but its structure is weak. Among the various options, the iridium oxide microelectrode has become the most promising caries risk detection electrode in recent years because of its high strength and excellent response. Metal oxide microelectrodes can also effectively compensate for the insufficient strength of glass microelectrodes. With advances in electrode technology, miniaturized, sensitive ion-sensitive field effect transistors have attracted the attention of researchers. Scientists have also recently developed a way to detect the pH of dental plaque with an optical no-contact technique. Optical contactless detection technology will not damage the dental plaque structure, so it has great research and clinical prospects. Future research will further improve the strength and performance of these electrodes on the premise of ensuring miniaturization and achieving noncontact detection.