Objective To study the clinical efficacy of computer-assisted stereotactic brain transplantation of human retinal pigment epithelium (hRPE) cells into the patients with Parkinson disease (PD). Methods Under the guidance of computed X-ray tomography and magnetic resonance imaging image mergence, 4 × 106 hRPE cells were transplanted into the putamen and ventriculus laterlis of 17 cases of PD by stereotactic surgery. The transplantation sites were contralateral to the side of main symptoms and signs. The curative efficacy were observed at the 7th day, 1st month, and 3rd month after the transplantation. Results The contralateral symptoms were ameliorated continuously after the transplantation. Three months after the surgery, the total effective rate of cell transplantation was 88. 2 %, and 82. 4 % of the cases got significant improvement. The cases that got ipsilateral improvement soon after the surgery gave a total effective rate as high as 88. 2 % at the 3rd month during follow-up period, and 64. 7% among these cases improved significantly. Only a minority of cases had transient dizziness and hemiparesis, but the duration was short. Conclusion The therapy, computer-assisted stereotactic transplantation of hRPE ceils in the treatment of PD, is safe and efficient.

There is growing interest in biodiesel and this results in the accumulation of glycerol. The exploitation and application of glycerol has attracted more and more attention. In the current study, glycerol was biotransformed to produce 3-hydroxypropionaldehyde by genetic engineering bacteria. It is known that 3-hydroxypopionaldehyde has been widely used as an important intermediate for chemicals, effective antimicrobial agent, and fix agent for tissues. A pair of primers was designed on the basis of the sequence of both NH2-terminus and the amino acid sequence of glycerol dehydratase reported by NCBI, and a fragment about 1.6 kb was obtained by PCR amplification using the total genome DNA of Lactobacillus reuteri as template, then the fragment was cloned to the pMD18-T vector and sequenced. Two specific primers were designed according to the obtained sequence, and a fragment with length of 1674 bp was amplified using PCR with these two specific primers. Consequently, the resulting products were digested with EcoR I and Hind III and ligated using T4 DNA ligase to the pET28b vector digested with the same enzymes. The recombinant plasmid, named pET28b-dhaB, was transformed into E. coli BL21. The positive clones were induced with IPTG and the expression products were further analyzed by SDS-PAGE, indicating that protein with a molecule weight of around 65 kD was obtained. Furthermore, the glycerol dehydratase activity was evaluated and compared with the wild type strain as well.
Cloning, Molecular ; Escherichia coli ; genetics ; metabolism ; Glyceraldehyde ; analogs & derivatives ; chemistry ; metabolism ; Hydro-Lyases ; biosynthesis ; genetics ; Lactobacillus reuteri ; enzymology ; genetics ; Propane ; chemistry ; metabolism ; Recombinant Proteins ; biosynthesis ; genetics

Objective To evaluate the safety and efficiency of transcatheter anastomotic leakage closure after surgical procedures for non-infected ascending aortic pathology with different occlusion devices. Methods From Dec. 2013 to Sep. 2015, six cases received interventional therapy for anastomotic leakage after surgical procedures for non-infected ascending aortic pathology using occluders. Four cases were with proximal graft-vessel anastomotic leakage, including two pseudoaneurysms at the site of aortic roots and two ascending aorta to right atrium shunts. The other two cases were with artificial grafts to intraoperative stent anastomotic leakage leading to endoleak type Ib. The anastomotic leakage was totally occluded by single ADOⅡrespectively in four cases. Two detachable coils were implanted in one case with artificial graft to intraoperative stent anastomotic leakage, but mild residual shunt to false lumen was detected by DSA and follow-up CTA. The second interventional procedure was carried out one month later, and one ADO Ⅱ was used to close the residual leakage totally. One PDA occluder was implanted along arteriovenous guide-wire track via aortic root to right atrium fistula in one case. Results All the anastomotic leakages of the six cases were totally excluded by different occlude devices percutaneously. The technical success rate was 100%. Follow-up time was from 1 month to 4 years. The patients' clinical condition improved obviously. Follow-up CTA showed no recurrence of anastomotic leakage. Complete thrombosis and marked shrinkage of the pseudoaneurysm were achieved in two cases, and the partial thrombosis and shrinkage of the false lumen were achieved in 2 cases. Conclusion Trans-catheter closure is an alternative treatment for ascending aortic surgical anastomotic leakage, which may achieve satisfactory short-and mid-term results.

Objective To summraize the safety and efifcacy of modiifed transcatheter closure of atrial septal defect. Methods From Dec. 2012 to Dec. 2013, 100 cases performed modiifed transcatheter closure of atrial septal defect in our center (72 were famale and 28 were male) with average age (37±16) years. The diagnosis was conifrmed by transthoracic echocardiography. All the atrial septal defect closures were completed in the modiifed way by direct delivery of the closure devices without the need of guidence wire. Results One hundred and one defects were identiifed in 100 patients, with 1 patient had 2 defects. The mean diameter of the defect was (20.3±6.6) mm. 100 devices were implanted successfully. Complete closure was revealed in all the patients after the procedure. One patient developed atrial ifbrillation during the procedure. No other serious complication occurred till the last follow-up. Conclusions The modiifed transcatheter closure of atrial septal defect is an effective procedure with high successful rate and low rate of complications.

Nitriles are an important type of synthetic intermediates in the production of fine chemicals because of their easy preparations and versatile transformations. The traditional chemical conversion of nitriles to carboxylic acids and amides is feasible but it requires relatively harsh conditions of heat, acid or alkali. Nitrile converting enzymes (nitrilase, nitrile hydratase and amidase) which are used as biocatalyst for the production of fine chemicals have attracted substantial interest because of their ability to convert readily available nitriles into the corresponding higher value amides or acids under mild conditions with excellent chemo-, regio- and stereo-selectivities. Many nitrile converting enzymes have been explored and widely used for the production of fine chemicals. In this paper, various examples of biocatalytic synthesis of pharmaceuticals and their intermediates, agrochemicals and their intermediates, food and feed additives, and other fine chemicals are presented. In the near future, an increasing number of novel nitrile converting enzymes will be screened and their potential in the production of useful fine chemicals will be further exploited.
Amides ; metabolism ; Amidohydrolases ; metabolism ; Aminohydrolases ; metabolism ; Carboxylic Acids ; metabolism ; Chemical Industry ; methods ; Hydro-Lyases ; metabolism ; Nitriles ; chemistry

Objective To determine the trend of emergency department (ED)mortality of a tertiary general hospital from 2004 to 2014 in order to find the factors that may impact on ED mortality.Methods Mortality in ED was estimated according to the ratio of ED visiting patients to ED deaths.And the data of all ED deaths in 2004,2009 and 2014 were collected.Variance analysis and chi-square test were used for data analysis.Results During the past decade,ED visiting patients was increased significantly by 38.0% in 2014,compared with those in 2004,and the mortality was also increased accordingly from 0.7% in 2004, to 0.9% in 2009,to 1.2% in 2014 (P <0.01).Finally,a total of 1,091 deaths occurred in these three years were included for further evaluation.There were no significant changes in average age and gender distribution,and the average age was 61.9 and the male /female ratio was 1.36∶1 during past decade.The number of adults under 40 years old (18 -39)increased from 7.5% in 2004,to 10.6% in 2009,to 14.4% in 2014 (P <0.05).Both the facilities were upgraded and the number of staffs in ED increased markedly.The cardiovascular illness,cerebrovascular diseases,and sudden death were the leading causes of ED death during past decade.The incidences of trauma and tumor remained unchanged.Average time consumed from onset of illness to arrival to ED didn’t vary significantly during past decade.The study showed no changes in use of ambulance,but remarkable increases in number of non-compliant patients or their family from 18.3% in 2004,to 25.6% in 2009,to 38.3% in 2014 (P <0.01).The percentage of patients in the night time was higher,but there were no significant changes in number of emergency patients in the night time and during holidays in the past decade,but the mean ED stay time increased obviously from 22.4 h in 2004 to 53.3 h in 2014 (P <0.05 ).Conclusions During the past decade,although ED facilities and number of staffs have been improved apparently,ED mortality rate still keeps on escalating. The increase in ED mortality rate may be related to the severely ill patients presenting to ED,the obvious decrease in compliance of patients and the prolonged ED stay time.

Objective To simulate the interaction between the stent graft (SG) and the aortic wall with finite element (FE) analysis by considering the influence of residual stress field, so as to study the stent influence on stress distributions of the aortic wall. Methods The three-dimensional (3D) residual stress field was generated in an idealized bi-layered thick-wall aortic model via a stress-driven anisotropic growth model by reducing the transmural stress gradient. Upon virtually deploying the SG, the stress on the aortic wall was calculated. Results The 3D residual stress field, corresponding to an opening angle of 117.5°, was shown to reduce the transmural stress gradient in both the circumferential and axial directions. The maximum stress was found at the contact area between aortic wall and wave peak of the stent. At 20% oversize ratio of the stent, the maximum stresses on the aortic wall in circumferential and axial direction were 412 and 132 kPa, respectively, while the in-plane shear stresses σrθ and σrz were both 78 kPa. Under residual stress, the maximum radial, circumferential and axial stresses were decreased by 14.9%, 40.5% and 33.8%, respectively, while the maximum shear stresses σrθ ，σrz，σθz were reduced by 2.5%, 7.1% and 27%, respectively. With the increase of oversize ratio from 10% to 20%, the maximum radial, circumferential and axial stresses were increased by 316%, 129% and 41%, respectively, while the maximum shear stresses σrθ ，σrz，σθz were increased by 661%, 450% and 466%, respectively. Conclusions The residual stress can effectively reduce the transmural stress gradient. Both the residual stress and the oversize ratio of the stent play an important role in modulating the wall stress distribution and the maximum stress.

The redox biosynthesis system has important applications in green biomanufacturing of chiral compounds. Formate dehydrogenase (FDH) catalyzes the oxidation of formate into carbon dioxide, which is associated with the reduction of NAD(P)⁺ into NAD(P)H. Due to this property, FDH is used as a crucial enzyme in the redox biosynthesis system for cofactor regeneration. Nevertheless, the application of natural FDH in industrial production is hampered by low catalytic efficiency, poor stability, and inefficient coenzyme utilization. This review summarized the structural characteristics and catalytic mechanism of FDH, as well as the advances in protein engineering of FDHs toward improved enzyme activity, catalytic efficiency, stability and coenzyme preference. The applications of using FDH as a coenzyme regeneration system for green biomanufacturing of chiral compounds were summarized.
Catalysis ; Coenzymes/metabolism* ; Formate Dehydrogenases/metabolism* ; NAD/metabolism* ; Protein Engineering

OBJECTIVE: To compare the diagnostic value of high-k V X-ray chest photography and chest high-resolution computed tomography( HRCT) in the diagnosis of pulmonary thesaurosis induced by dust of iron and its compounds(hereinafter called the iron pulmonary thesaurosis). METHODS: A total of 80 workers exposed to iron oxide dust in a magnetic material factory were collected as the study subjects by convenience sampling method,and they were examined with high-k V X-ray chest photography and HRCT. Differences between the two methods in the diagnosis of iron pulmonary thesaurosis were compared. RESULTS: Of the 80 workers,only 5 of them(6. 2%) showed no abnormal changes in chest HRCT,others showed varying degrees of diffuse distribution of air-cavity nodules and ground-glass lesions. High-k V X-ray chest photography and chest HRCT diagnosis of iron pulmonary thesaurosis accounted for 8. 8%( 7/80) and 37. 5%(30/80) with extreme mild degree,and 21. 3%(17/80) and 26. 3%(21/80) with mild degree respectively. The diagnostic rates for iron pulmonary thesaurosis were 30. 0%( 24/80) and 63. 8%( 51/80),respectively. There was consistency between the two methods for the diagnosis of iron pneumoconiosis( Kappa = 0. 411,P < 0. 01). The chest HRCT has a higher diagnostic classification and diagnosis rate compared with the high-k V X-ray chest photography( P <0. 01). CONCLUSION:s The chest HRCT has a higher diagnostic grade and higher diagnostic rate for lung siderosis compared with the high-k V X-ray chest photography,which is helpful for the early diagnosis of the disease.

Adenosine triphosphate (ATP) regeneration systems are essential for efficient biocatalytic phosphoryl transfer reactions. Polyphosphate kinase (PPK) is a versatile enzyme that can transfer phosphate groups among adenosine monophosphate (AMP), adenosine diphosphate (ADP), ATP, and polyphosphate (Poly P). Utilization of PPK is an attractive solution to address the problem of ATP regeneration due to its ability to use a variety of inexpensive and stable Poly P salts as phosphate group donors. This review comprehensively summarizes the structural characteristics and catalytic mechanisms of different types of PPKs, as well as the variations in enzyme activity, catalytic efficiency, stability, and coenzyme preference observed in PPKs from different sources. Moreover, recent advances in PPK-mediated ATP regeneration systems and protein engineering of wild-type PPK are summarized.
Adenosine Triphosphate/metabolism* ; Adenosine Monophosphate ; Polyphosphates/metabolism* ; Catalysis ; Regeneration