Flavonoids is one of the biggest families of the plant-derived secondary metabolites with structural diversity. Until now, over 10 000 kinds of flavonoids with distinct structures have been purified and identified from plants, and some of them possess a range of important pharmacological effects, such as anticancer, anti-inflammatory and so on. So far, a number of genes and enzymes responsible for the biosynthesis of flavonoids have been reported, especially, a great of progress has been achieved in the synthetic biology of flavonoids in the recent years. Herein, based upon a brief introduction on the biosynthesis of flavonoids, this review summarizes the research advances in synthetic biology of flavonoids in the past two decades (2001-2021), highlighting the cell factories construction of the representative flavonoids. And, a brief discussion and prospects of the relevant metabolic bottlenecks and optimizing strategies are proposed.

Objective To explore the significance of modified pediatric early warning score (MPEWS) in emergency early warning triage and classification. Method Selecting ill children who came to emergency department from February of 2017 to January of 2018 as objects of study, and triage nurses of emergency department gave MPEWS to the sick children under the demand of the filed data collection. Furthermore, according to the five levels of disease severity classification, doctors gave the disease assessment and classification to the sick children, finding the relevance between the MPEWS and the severity of the disease.Result Consequently, there is a relevance between the MPEWS scores and the severity of the disease indeed (rs=-0.630, P ＜ 0.001). The data show that the higher of the scores, the lower disease level, and the higher severity of the disease. ROC areas under the curve of the subjects is 0.996, and the confidence interval is 0.993-0.999 (P ＜0.05). That indicates that MPEWS exists statistical significance of emergency children judgement. The optimal number is 4.5, the sensitivity is 96％, and the specificity is 99.9％.Conclusions MPEWS is valuable in emergency early warning triage, children emergency severity assessment and identifying critical ill children in time.

OBJECTIVETo investigate the upstaging and accumulation of gentamicin by mouse hair cells in vitro.

METHODSCochlear explants were prepared from the microdissected neonatal mouse cochlea. Cochlear explants were cultured with gentamicin-Texas-red conjunction (GTTR) for different time. Laser confocal microscopy was used to observe the distribution of GTTR in the cochlear sensory cells after labeling with phalloidin-alexa-488.

RESULTSSoon after culture, there was diffuse red staining all tissue cells in the explants. At later time the hair cells were more staining than other cells in the explants. There was no obviously accumulation of GTTR in the supporting cells. The peak level of fluorescent density was reached at 24 hours culture. The GTTR was seen in the infracuticular zone of the hair cells. There was still accumulation of GTTR in the hair cells of the explants after 7 days culturing.

CONCLUSIONSGTTR and cochlea explants were useful methods to investigate the pharmacokinetics and mechanisms of gentamicin accumulation over time.

Animals ; Cochlea ; drug effects ; metabolism ; Gentamicins ; pharmacokinetics ; Hair Cells, Auditory ; drug effects ; metabolism ; Mice ; Mice, Inbred Strains ; Organ Culture Techniques

OBJECTIVETo investigate uptake and accumulation of gentamicin by cells in the guinea pig inner ear after intratympanic injection using a fluorescent probe--gentamicin-Texas-red conjunction (GTTR).

METHODSAdult guinea pigs (n = 80) were administered a single dose of GTrR to the middle ear cavity through the intact membrane and survived for 12 h, 24 h, 48 h, 3 d, 4 d, 7 d, 14 d and 28 d. The distribution of GTTR in the cochlear and vestibular cells was observed after staining with phalloidin-alexa-488. Texas Red and DMSO were injected into the tympanum as control.

RESULTSDiffuse staining of gentamicin in the labyrinth was observed initially after local drug administration. At later time point the outer hair cells and sensory cells of vestibular organ were staining more densely than the support cells in the inner ear. The peak level of fluorescent density was reached 3 days after local injection. The GTTR was observed in the infracuticular zone.

CONCLUSIONSGTTR was a potential fluorescent probe to investigate the pharmacokinetics and mechanisms of gentamicin accumulation in local application.

Animals ; Anti-Bacterial Agents ; administration & dosage ; pharmacokinetics ; toxicity ; Ear, Inner ; metabolism ; Fluorescent Dyes ; Gentamicins ; administration & dosage ; pharmacokinetics ; toxicity ; Guinea Pigs ; Hair Cells, Auditory ; metabolism

OBJECTIVESTo analyze the clinical and pathological informations of metastatic prostate cancer patients to find the predictive factors of the survival.

METHODSTo filter 364 cases of metastatic prostate cancer in the 940 cases of prostate cancer that were treated in Cancer Hospital Fudan University in Shanghai from March 1998 to June 2009, the cases had hormonal therapy and full clinical and pathological records. All the 364 cases were followed up and the clinical and pathological informations were analyzed, to find the predictive factors that related to the prognosis. Statistic software SPSS 15.0 was used for analysis. Cumulative survival was analyzed by the method of Kaplan-Meier. Cox regression was used for univariate and multivariate analysis. Log-rank method was used for the significance test.

RESULTSThe last follow-up date was 30th June 2009 and the median follow-up time was 24 months. At the final follow-up, 240 cases were alive, 109 cases were dead and 15 cases were lost to follow up. The median survival time of metastatic prostate cancer was 64 months, and the one-year, two-year, three-year, four-year, five-year survival rate was 92%, 78%, 66%, 60%, 54%. The univariate analysis indicated that Gleason score (P = 0.033), clinical stage (P < 0.001), the effectiveness of hormonal therapy (P < 0.001), the prostate specific antigen (PSA) nadir during hormonal therapy (P < 0.001) and the time from the start of hormonal therapy to the PSA nadir (P = 0.002) were predictive factors for the survival time of metastatic prostate cancer. The multivariate analysis indicated that the PSA nadir during hormonal therapy (P < 0.001) and the time from the start of hormonal therapy to the PSA nadir (P < 0.001) were independent factors that predict the survival time of metastatic prostate cancer.

CONCLUSIONThe PSA nadir during hormonal therapy and the time from the start of hormonal therapy to the PSA nadir are independent factors that predict the survival time of metastatic prostate cancer.

Adult ; Aged ; Aged, 80 and over ; Follow-Up Studies ; Humans ; Kaplan-Meier Estimate ; Male ; Middle Aged ; Prognosis ; Proportional Hazards Models ; Prostatic Neoplasms ; therapy ; Retrospective Studies

Objective To determine whether the combination of traditional risk factors and quantitative coronary angiography (QCA) assessment could provide accurate prognostic information on a population-based study including 1137 adults with subclinical artherosclerosis and with coronary risk factors. Methods Participants underwent coronary angiography examination before the minimal stenotic diameters, segment diameters, percent stenosis, plaque areas. Other parameters were analyzed by the computer-assisted Coronary Angiography Analysis System. The Framingham Risk Score for each participant was assessed. During the 1 year follow-up period, all kinds of endpoint cardiovascular events were screened. Endpoint events were defined as death from coronary heart disease, nonfatal myocardial infarction (MI) or unstable angina pectoris. Results During the 1 year of follow-up period, a total of 124 participants developed an endpoint event, which was significantly associated with the Framingham Risk Score, calcium of plaques and the plaque areas (all Ps＜0.05).The QCA score incorporated with the QCA parameters was related to the endpoint events. The Framingham Risk Score was combined with QCA score through logistic regression for prediction of end-point events. Data from the ROC analysis showed the accuracy of this prediction algorithm was superior to the accuracy when variables themselves were used. The event-free survival rate was inferior to the control group in participates under high risk, when being screened with this prediction algorithm (P＜0.05). Conclusion The risk of cardiovascular attack in subclinical artherosclerosis individual seemed to be associated with the Framingham Risk Score, calcium of plaques and the plaque areas. When the traditional risk factors (the Framingham Risk Score) were combined with QCA, the new method could provide more prognostic information on those adults with subclinical artherosclerosis.