Cyclic peptide drugs have gradually become an emerging research direction due to their some favorable properties such as high-efficiency binding affinity, high selectivity, lower toxicity, and stable metabolism. In recent years, the number of cyclic peptide drugs under clinical research has continued to increase. Unlike the previous cyclic peptide drugs, which were mostly derived from natural products and their derivatives, these cyclic peptide drugs are designed by genetically encoded display technologies which are based on rational design and in vitro evolution (such as BT1718, PTG-300, POL6326, etc). Among them, phage display technology has some advantages such as mature research system, low cost, and simpler operation that make it well recognized and praised by the majority of researchers in this field. Here, we reviewed the recent progress of applying phage display technology to explore diverse cyclic peptide libraries, which, we believe, will contribute more valuable candidate cyclic peptide drugs in clinical research.

Diabetes Mellitus, Type 2 ; complications ; Diagnosis, Differential ; Follow-Up Studies ; Humans ; Magnetic Resonance Imaging ; Male ; Middle Aged ; Myelinolysis, Central Pontine ; complications ; diagnosis ; Prognosis

Articular cartilage defects are commonly found in clinics. It is always a great challenge for the repair of cartilage defects due to the limited self-regeneration after injury. Tissue engineering,a newly emerging biotechnique to regenerate cartilage with chondrogenic potential cells and biodegradable scaffolds in vivo and in vitro,provides a promising method to solve the challenge in cartilage defects repair. To regenerate cartilage with favourable structure and function,it is essential to gain a deep insight into the biochemical structure,biomechanical property and their relationship of articular cartilage. This article gives an introduction to the biochemical structure,biomechanical property and their relationship of both native and tissue-engineered cartilage.

OBJECTIVETo compare the difference of Euphorbia Pekinensis Radix before and after being processed with vinegar in the toxicity on rat small intestinal crypt epithelial cells IEC-6, and make a preliminary study on the mechanism of detoxication of Euphorbia Pekinensis Radix processed with vinegar.

METHODWith rat small intestinal crypt epithelial cells IEC-6 as the study object, the MTT method was adopted to detect the effect of Euphorbia Pekinensis Radix before and after being processed with vinegar on IEC-6 cell activity. The morphology of cells were observed by the inverted microscope. The down-regulated mitochondrial apoptosis pathway of enterocytes caused by the vinegar processing was analyzed by using the high content screening.

RESULTCompared with the negative control group, the proliferation inhibition experiment showed that Euphorbia Pekinensis Radix showed a relatively high intestinal cell toxicity (P < 0.01). The results of HCS analysis showed that Euphorbia Pekinensis Radix could significantly reduce the cell nucleus Hoechst fluorescence intensity and mitochondria membrane (P < 0.05, P < 0.01), and increase Annexin V-FITC and PI fluorescence intensity and membrane permeability (P < 0.01, P < 0.01, P < 0.01). After being processed with vinegar, compared with Euphorbia Pekinensis Radix groups with different doses, Euphorbia Pekinensis Radix processed with vinegar could significantly decrease the cell proliferation inhibition effect on enterocytes, increase the cell nuclear Hoechst fluorescence intensity and mitochondria membrane (P < 0.05, P < 0.05), and decrease Annexin V-FITC and PI fluorescence intensity and membrane permeability (P < 0.01, P < 0.01, P < 0.05), and showed a certain dose-effect relationship.

CONCLUSIONThe vinegar processing can further reduce the toxicity of Euphorbia Pekinensis Radix on enterocytes. Its possible mechanism can decrease the effect of Euphorbia Pekinensis Radix on the permeability of IEC-6 cell membrane, so as to provide a basis for further explanation of the detoxication mechanism of Euphorbia Pekinensis Radix processed with vinegar.

Acetic Acid ; chemistry ; Animals ; Apoptosis ; drug effects ; Cell Line ; Cell Proliferation ; drug effects ; Cell Survival ; drug effects ; Chemistry, Pharmaceutical ; methods ; Drugs, Chinese Herbal ; chemistry ; toxicity ; Epithelial Cells ; cytology ; drug effects ; Euphorbia ; chemistry ; Intestine, Small ; cytology ; Rats

AIM: To determine proteins molecular weights in seed of Cortex Magnolia and identify its varieties by gel ecectrophorsis. METHODS: SDS-PAGE technique. RESULTS: There are distinct distinguish in SDS-PAGE. The molecular weights of the major proteins of the samples are analyzed by it. CONCLUSION: Cortex Magnolia can be discerned by gel electrophorsis and the molecular weights of them.

Adenocarcinoma ; genetics ; pathology ; Adult ; Aged ; Base Sequence ; Cell Line, Tumor ; DNA Mutational Analysis ; Exons ; Female ; Genes, erbB-1 ; Humans ; Lung Neoplasms ; genetics ; pathology ; Male ; Middle Aged ; Mutation, Missense ; Oligonucleotide Probes ; Polymerase Chain Reaction ; methods ; Real-Time Polymerase Chain Reaction ; methods ; Receptor, Epidermal Growth Factor ; genetics ; Sensitivity and Specificity

OBJECTIVE: To establish a multiplex genotyping system of mtDNA SNP. METHODS: A multiplex analysis system of 16-plex mtDNA SNP loci was established with allele specific PCR and capillary electrophoresis genotyping technology. Fifty samples from unrelated Chinese Han individuals were typed with the multiplex system. The multiplex assay was validated by comparing with the direct sequencing method. RESULTS: The genotypes of all 50 samples were correctly determined by the multiplex system. The optimal genotypic graphs were obtained with an input DNA of 0.5-10 pg, and the typing results were completely consistent with those by direct sequencing method. CONCLUSION The established multiplex system by allele specific PCR has high sensitivity, operational simplicity and high accuracy. It provides an effective and high output method for mtDNA SNP typing.
Alleles ; DNA ; DNA, Mitochondrial ; Genotype ; Genotyping Techniques ; Humans ; Polymerase Chain Reaction/methods* ; Polymorphism, Single Nucleotide ; Sequence Analysis, DNA

OBJECTIVETo investigate the effects of preconditioning and postconditioning with Shenfu Injection (SFI) on cognitive function in patients after valve replacement under extra-corporeal circulation.

METHODSThirty-two patients prepared to receive valve replacement, aged 25-54 years, with heart function of II-III level, were randomly assigned to four groups, eight in each group. Patients in group E1 received SFI 1 mL/kg after intubation and before blocking the aorta; patients in group E2 received SFI 1 mL/kg after opening the aorta; patients in group E3 received SFI 0.5 mL/kg twice, at before blocking and after opening the aorta, respectively; and patients in group C received 1 mL/kg normal saline after intubation for control. All the medication was infused via pump. Venous blood samples were taken from the internal jugular venous bulb cannula for detecting plasma S100beta protein by ELISA at 6 different time points, i.e. after trachea intubation (T1), 10 min after cardiopulmonary bypass (CPB, T2), hypothermia stabilizing stage (T3), re-warming to 33 degrees C (T4), ending CPB (T5) and 1 h after ending CPB (T6). And patients' cognitive function was assessed for 4 times with mini-mental state examination (MMSE) scale, at the day before operation, and 1, 2, 7 days after operation.

RESULTSThe elevation of S100beta plasma protein was lesser in the three E groups than that in group C (P < 0.05), and the lowest level was shown at T6 in Group E3 (P < 0.05). The highest incidence of cognitive dysfunction occurred in Group C one week after operation (P < 0.05).

CONCLUSIONSFI may reduce the plasma level of S100B protein, maintain stable the structure and function of blood-brain barrier, it is favorable to the post-operational recovery of neurological function of patients, showing good brain protective effect. The optimal effect could be obtained by pump infusion of 0.5 mL/kg of SFI before aortic blocking and after aortic opening.

Adult ; Blood-Brain Barrier ; drug effects ; Brain ; blood supply ; Cardiopulmonary Bypass ; Cognition Disorders ; prevention & control ; Drugs, Chinese Herbal ; therapeutic use ; Female ; Heart Valve Prosthesis Implantation ; Humans ; Ischemic Preconditioning ; Male ; Middle Aged ; Nerve Growth Factors ; blood ; Phytotherapy ; Postoperative Complications ; prevention & control ; S100 Calcium Binding Protein beta Subunit ; S100 Proteins ; blood

Objective To investigate the effects of intense pulse light(IPL)on the content of colla- gens and mRNA expression of procollagen in BALB/c mouse skin.Methods The BALB/c mice dorsal skin was irradiated by IPL.Skin specimens were taken at different time points after irradiation.Histopatho- logical changes were observed by hematoxylin-eosin-staining,quantitative assessment of collagenⅠand collagenⅢwas performed with immunohistochemical staining,and mRNA expression levels of procollagen were de- tected by RT-PCR.Results After the irradiation,no obvious change was observed for the staining intensity of collegen at 1 week;however,the thickening of dermis began at 2 week,and continued until 8 week.The staining of collagenⅠandⅢwas also stronger in IPL-irradiated regions than in sham-irradiated areas at 2 week(P