BACKGROUND: Many data demonstrate that the components of soybean can lower blood lipid,suppress the growth of cancer cells and exert weak estrogenic activities. However,little is known about the effect of isolated soybean protein on the lifespan of the organism.OBJECTIVE: To observe the effect of isolated soybean protein on the lifespan of drosophila melanogasters and investigate the mechanism of effective anti-aging and anti-oxidation action.DESIGN: A controlled trial based on drosophila melanogasters.SETTING: Department of nutrition and food hygiene in a university.MATERIALS: The experiment was conducted in the Department of Nutrition and Food Hygiene,Public Health College of Xinjiang Medical University from March to June 2002. A total of 400 drosophila melanogasters of American wild type with half for each gender were provided by the Department of Nutrition and Food Hygiene, Public Health College of Xinjiang Medical University.METHODS: The 400 drosophila melanogasters were divided into control group(normal culture) and three-dosage experiment groups(normal culture contained isolated soybean protein 0.2%,1.0% and 5.0%,respectively).From the second day on, the number of living and dead drosophila melanogasters was observed and counted until all died. Meanwhile, mean lifespan,half death time and maximal lifespan were calculated.MAIN OUTCOME MEASURFS: Mean lifespan, half death time and maximal lifespan of the drosophila melanogasters.RESULTS: Compared with that of control group, the lifespan of male and female drosophila melanogasters in experiment groups was prolonged by isolated soybean protein and responded in a dose-dependent manner,especially in high-dosage group. The mean lifespan, half death time and maximal lifespan of both female and male drosophila melanogasters were prolonged by 24.5% and20.7%,27.1% and22.0%,and 13.9% and 10.6%,respectively.CONCLUSION: Isolated soybean protein may have anti-aging and lifespan-prolonging effects on drosophila melanogasters.

Objective To study the relationship between the choice of operation and the efficacy on hepa- tolithiasis.Methods From Januray of 1995 to December of 2006,89 patients with hepatolithiasis underwent surgical treatment were retrospectively analyzed.Of them 33 cases underwent hepaticoplasty,hepatolobectomy in 7 cases, cholangiojejunostomy in 22 cases,choledocholithotomy with T-tube drainage in 27 cases.Results Out of the 89 cas- es,follow-up was completed in 81 cases for 6 months to 12 years.The postoperative stone residual rate of the group which underwent hepaticoplasty was 15.15 %(5/33)and cholannitis recurrence rate was 12.50 %(4/32),hepa- tolobecromy was 14.29%(1/7)and 16.67%(1/6),cholangiojejunostomy was 18.18%(4/22)and 30%(6/20), choledocholithotomy with T-tube drainage was 33.33 %(9/27)and 29.17 %(7/24).Conclusion Hepaticoplasty and hepatolobecromy were superior to cholangiojejunostomy and choledocholithotomy with T-tube drainage for treat- ment of hepatolithiasis.

OBJECTIVESTo compare PSAD, PSAD-TZ, PSA, FPSA/TPSA detection used in diagnosis of prostatic hyperplasia(BPH) and prostatic cancer(PCa).

METHODSFourty-three cases of BPH and twenty cases of PCa with PSA < 20 micrograms/L were chosen, then compared PSA, PSAD, FPSA/TPSA, PSAD-TZ between BPH and PCa.

RESULTSThe mean PSA in BPH and PCa is (10.47 +/- 6.25) microgram/L and (13.92 +/- 3.20) microgram/L respectively with no statistic difference (P > 0.05). The mean PSAD in BPH and PCa is (0.15 +/- 0.12) microgram/L and (0.24 +/- 0.13) microgram/L respectively with statistic difference (P < 0.05). The mean FPSA/TPSA in BPH and PCa is (0.58 +/- 0.42) microgram/L and (0.26 +/- 0.17) microgram/L respectively with statistic difference (P < 0.05). The mean PSA-TZ in BPH and PCa is (0.26 +/- 0.22) and (0.51 +/- 0.28) respectively with obviously statistic difference (P < 0.01).

CONCLUSIONSThe results suggest PSAD, FPSA/TPSA, especially PSAD-TZ could be used to distinguish BPH and PCa.

Aged ; Aged, 80 and over ; Diagnosis, Differential ; Humans ; Male ; Middle Aged ; Predictive Value of Tests ; Prostate ; pathology ; Prostate-Specific Antigen ; blood ; Prostatic Hyperplasia ; diagnosis ; Prostatic Neoplasms ; diagnosis

Crystallization has been widely applied in pharmaceutical formulations as an effective approach to improve the stability and efficacy of small agents. However protein crystals are suffered from limitation in the drug delivery system due to their complex crystallization behaviors. With development of crystallization technologies and their industrial application, protein crystals are receiving more and more attentions as a novel delivery system for biomacromolecules. Crystals with thermodynamic stable structure can improve the physical and chemical stability of protein drugs and present a sustained release behavior. On the basis of pertinent literatures, this review introduces the recent research situation and development process of protein crystals as drug delivery system. Moreover, the crystallization process of proteins, as well as the preparation and potential application are discussed systematically.
Crystallization ; Drug Delivery Systems ; Pharmaceutical Preparations ; administration & dosage ; Proteins ; chemistry

Objective To detect the mutations of ATP2C1 gene in patients with Hailey-Hailey dis- ease (HHD).Methods PCR and direct sequencing were performed in 17 patients and 120 healthy controls to screen the mutations in the exons of ATP2C1 gene.Results Eight mutations were identified in nine probands, including three deletion mutations (nt1464-1487 del/nt1462-1485del,1523delAT,2375delTTGT),three splice site mutations (360—2A→G,1415—2A→T,2243+2T→C) and two missence mutations (C920T and G1942T).None of the above mutations was found in the controls.Conclusion Eight specific novel mutations were identified in nine probands of HHD,which could be causative factors of the disease.

OBJECTIVETo investigate the role of sulfated tyrosine in regulating the activity of tyrosylprotein sulfotransferases (TPST) 1 and TPST2.

METHODSConstructs of TPST 1 and TPST2 were amplified by polymerase chain reaction (PCR), then fused into immunoglobulin G1 Fc region. All the variants in which sulfated tyrosines were mutated to phenylalanine were made by the PCR-based Quick Change method and confirmed by sequencing the entire reading frame. Small hairpin RNA (shRNA) constructs-targeting nucleotides 259-275 of TPST1 and nucleotides 73-94 of TPST2 were generated and subcloned into pBluescript. Human embryonic kidney (HEK) 293T cells were transfected with these plasmids. One day later, cells were split: one part was labeled with 35S-cysteine and methionine or 35S-Na2SO3 overnight, the second part was used for 125I labeled binding experiment, and the third part was retained for binding and flow cytometry.

RESULTSTyrosines at position 326 of TPST1 and position 325 of TPST2 were sulfated posttranslationally. Tyrosine sulfation of TPSTs was effectively inhibited by sulfation inhibitors, including specific shRNAs and non-specific NaCIO3. shRNAs reduced the sulfation of C3a receptor and C5a receptor, and partially blocked the binding of these two receptors to their respective ligands.

CONCLUSIONSThe activities of TPSTs were regulated by tyrosine sulfation. Inhibition of sulfotyrosine decreases the binding ability of C3a receptor and C5a receptor to their respective ligands.

Cell Line ; Complement C3a ; metabolism ; Complement C5a ; metabolism ; Humans ; Protein Binding ; Protein Processing, Post-Translational ; Receptor, Anaphylatoxin C5a ; metabolism ; Receptors, Complement ; metabolism ; Sulfotransferases ; genetics ; metabolism ; Transfection ; Tyrosine ; analogs & derivatives ; metabolism

OBJECTIVETo study the chemical constituents of the root of Paeonia sinjiangensis.

METHODThe constituents were isolated by silica column chromatography, and their structures were identified on the basis of spectral analysis and their physical-chemical constants.

RESULTFive compounds, paeoniflorin( I ), albiflorin (II), lactiflorin(III), daucosterol(IV), sucrose (V), were obtained.

CONCLUSIONAll of the compounds were obtained from this plant for the first time.

Benzoates ; chemistry ; isolation & purification ; Bridged-Ring Compounds ; chemistry ; isolation & purification ; Glucosides ; chemistry ; isolation & purification ; Glycosides ; chemistry ; isolation & purification ; Molecular Conformation ; Molecular Structure ; Monoterpenes ; chemistry ; isolation & purification ; Paeonia ; chemistry ; Plant Roots ; chemistry ; Plants, Medicinal ; chemistry

OBJECTIVETo study the possible induction effect of exposure to 50 Hz magnetic field (MF) on clustering of cell membrane surface receptors for epidermal growth factor (EGF) and tumor necrosis factor (TNF), the starting site of signals of biological effects, and its possible intervention effect.

METHODSLung fibroblasts of Chinese hamster (CHL) were exposed to EGF, TNF, 0.4 mT 50 Hz MF, 0.4 mT noise MF, and 0.4 mT 50 Hz MF combined with 0.4 mT noise MF. Respectively, for different durations, following the treatment, EGF and TNF receptors on the cell membrane were marked by corresponding antibodies with immunohistochemical method, then observed under a confocal microscope.

RESULTSClustering of cell membrane receptors could be induced 5 min after treatment with EGF and TNF, as well as with 50 Hz MF at 0.4 mT, which reached the peak in 15 min. While noise MF with the same intensity did not induce clustering of cell membrane receptors. Superposition of noise MF with the same intensity could inhibit clustering of cell membrane receptors induced by 50 Hz MF.

CONCLUSIONClustering of EGF and TNF receptors on the cell membrane could be induced by 50 Hz MF, suggesting that membrane receptors would be one of the sites where MF signals coupled, and noise MF with the same intensity could inhibit these effects.

Animals ; Cell Line ; Cricetinae ; Electromagnetic Fields ; adverse effects ; Epidermal Growth Factor ; pharmacology ; Fibroblasts ; drug effects ; metabolism ; radiation effects ; Noise ; adverse effects ; Receptor, Epidermal Growth Factor ; metabolism ; Receptors, Cell Surface ; metabolism ; Receptors, Tumor Necrosis Factor ; metabolism ; Tumor Necrosis Factor-alpha ; pharmacology

It is a challenging and important project to prolong the in vivo half life of protein and peptide drugs by physicochemical methods without new molecular entities generation. Protein crystallization provides a new strategy for improving the stability and in vivo delivery of these drugs. We show here that recombinant human interferon-alpha (rhIFN) can form spherical crystals. The physical and chemical features of the crystals were characterized, and drug dissolution was determined in vitro. The pharmacokinetics of crystallized interferon after sc injection in rabbit at 1.5 x 10(7) U x kg(-1) was compared to that of soluble form. The crystals were characterized as mono-dispersed spheres, with yield of > 80%, mean diameter size of about 16 microm and crystallinity of 23.2%. The in vitro dissolution behavior of crystallized rhIFN was featured as low initial burst release (21% within the first 2 h) and prolonged cumulative dissolution time up to 72 h without biological potency lost. After sc administration of soluble and crystallized interferon in rabbits, the peak time (T(max)) and half life (t1/2) were prolonged from (1.80 +/- 0.45) h and (1.35 +/- 0.35) h to (13.20 +/- 2.68) h and (10.68 +/- 1.97) h, respectively. The corresponding peak concentration decreased from (1 411.10 +/- 575.28) U x mL(-1) to (721.37 +/- 206.55) U x mL(-1). PK/PD analysis indicated that (96.87 +/- 20.30) % of relative bioavailability was obtained. The research results of this work will provide important academic value and application prospect for improving clinical therapeutic effect and development of biomacromolecules delivery system for protein and peptide drugs.
Animals ; Antiviral Agents ; administration & dosage ; chemistry ; pharmacokinetics ; Biological Availability ; Crystallization ; Delayed-Action Preparations ; Drug Delivery Systems ; Half-Life ; Humans ; Injections, Subcutaneous ; Interferon-alpha ; administration & dosage ; chemistry ; pharmacokinetics ; Male ; Rabbits ; Recombinant Proteins ; administration & dosage ; chemistry ; pharmacokinetics ; Solubility ; Surface Properties

OBJECTIVETo investigate the relationship between the biological features and the treatment efficacy and prognosis in acute myeloid leukemia subtype M2 (AML-M2) patients with chromosome 8 and 21 translocation.

METHODSBy using Cox regression model and Kaplan-Meier analyses, prognostic factors in 54 cases of de novo adult AML with t(8;21) in our institute from 1990 to 2003 were retrospectively analyzed.

RESULTThe complete remission (CR) rates were 81.9% for all M2 patients, 82.4% for patients with normal karyotype, 88.5% for patients with t(8;21) [P > 0.05 for normal karyotype vs t(8;21)], 100.0% for 28 patients with t(8;21) alone and 75.0% for 24 patients with additional chromosome abnormalities (P < 0.01). The actuarial 3 year overall survival(OS) was 26% for M2 patients with normal karyotype, 25% for patients with t(8;21) [P > 0.05 for normal karyotype vs t(8;21)], in whole t(8;21) group, 46.4% for patients with t(8;21) alone and 0% for patients with additional chromosome abnormalities (P < 0.01). Multivariate analysis of prognostic factors showed that chromosome abnormalities besides t(8;21) was the only factor affecting CR, disease-free survival (DFS) and OS. DFS of allogeneic hematopoietic stem cell transplantation (HSCT) and intermediate-dose cytarabine/high dose cytarabine (IDAC) groups were better than the group received routine dose cytarabine as postremission therapy (P < 0.01).

CONCLUSIONAML with t(8;21) is not a single defined AML subset, and patients with additional chromosome abnormalities have a worse prognosis. HSCT and IDAC could improve the outcome. HSCT is the best choice for patients with high risks, especially with additional chromosome abnormalities.

Adolescent ; Adult ; Aged ; Aged, 80 and over ; Antineoplastic Combined Chemotherapy Protocols ; therapeutic use ; Chromosomes, Human, Pair 21 ; genetics ; Chromosomes, Human, Pair 8 ; genetics ; Female ; Hematopoietic Stem Cell Transplantation ; Humans ; Leukemia, Myeloid, Acute ; drug therapy ; genetics ; surgery ; therapy ; Male ; Middle Aged ; Prognosis ; Retrospective Studies ; Translocation, Genetic