With the continuous development in microfluidic fabrication technology, microfluidic analysis has evolved from a concept to one of research frontiers in last twenty years. The research of enzymes and enzyme inhibitors based on microfluidic devices has also made great progress. Microfluidic technology improved greatly the analytical performance of the research of enzymes and enzyme inhibitors by reducing the consumption of reagents, decreasing the analysis time, and developing automation. This review focuses on the development and classification of enzymes and enzyme inhibitors research based on microfluidic devices.
Enzyme Inhibitors ; metabolism ; Enzymes ; metabolism ; Microfluidic Analytical Techniques ; methods ; Microfluidics ; methods

OBJECTIVETo investigate the frequency of JAK2 V617F mutation in 145 myeloproliferative disorders (MPDs) patients, analyze the correlation between JAK2 V617F mutation and clinical features.

METHODSThe JAK2 V617F mutation was detected by direct DNA sequencing of PCR product and allele-specific PCR respectively. The expression of JAK2, phospho-JAK2 and phospho-STAT5 proteins was determined by Western blot. The clinical data of MPDs patients with or without JAK2 V617F mutation was collected and analyzed for evaluating the clinical significance of JAK2 V617F mutation.

RESULTS1) The frequency of JAK2 V617F mutation for PV, IMF, ET was 92%, 58%, 50% respectively. Compared with conventional DNA sequencing (PV 84%, IMF 44%, ET 39%, respectively), allele-specific PCR exhibited a higher sensitivity in JAK2 V617F mutation detection. 2) The expression levels of phospho-JAK2 and phospho-STAT5 in peripheral blood mononuclear cells (PBMNCs) were upregulated significantly in JAK2 V617F-positive patients than in JAK2 V617F negative patients. 3) Compared with the patients with no JAK2 V617F mutation, the JAK2 V 617F-positive patients' features were as follows: older age of onset, higher mean leukocyte counts, lower platelet counts and smaller spleen volume. Frequency of thrombosis events in PT, ET, IMF was 17%, 32%, 16% respectively for JAK2 V617F positive group, and 0% (PV), 16% (ET), 5% (IMF) for JAK2 V617F negative group.

CONCLUSIONSMPDs patients display higher frequency of JAK2 V617F mutation. JAK2 V617F mutation positive patients predispose to a thrombosis tendency.

Female ; Humans ; Janus Kinase 2 ; genetics ; metabolism ; Male ; Mutation ; Myeloproliferative Disorders ; genetics ; metabolism ; Phosphorylation ; STAT5 Transcription Factor ; metabolism ; Sequence Analysis, DNA

Objective To investigate the different pathogeneses of asymptomatic lacunar infaction and symptomatic nonlacunar infaction by investigating their risk factors.Methods A total of 1989 people more than 50 years old,performed physical examination were chosen with the results showing 48 patients with asymptomatic lacunar infaction (group A) and 51 patients with symptomatic nonlacunar infaction (group B).Another 1862 controls without cerebrovascular disease were also chosen.Single factor analysis and logistic regression analysis were used to analyze the risk factors.Each risk factor and amount of risk factors for the two diseases was compared between group A and group B.Results Age,hypertension and smoking were the independent predictors of asymptomatic lacunar infaction (P＜0.05).Age,sex,diabetes mellitus,drinking,family history of stroke and stenosis of intracrianial artery were the independent predictors of the symptomatic nonlacunar infaction (P＜0.05).Both rates of diabetes mellitus and stenosis of intracrianial artery in group B were higher than those in group A (diabetes mellitus:x2=17.603,P=0.008; stenosis of intracrianial artery:x2=19.319,P=0.005).The amount of risk factors in patients from group B was significantly more than that in patients from group A (Z=2598,P=0.009).Conclusion The risk factors and vascular mechanism in patients with symptomatic nonlacunar infaction and asymptomatic lacunar infaction are different.Diabetes mellitus and stenosis of intracrianial artery are more often noted in patients with symptomatic nonlacunar infarction.

Biochemistry is one of the basic disciplines of life sciences‚ and plays an important role in the undergraduate teaching of biology. However‚ the biochemistry course system is huge‚ and the knowledge is numerous. How to improve students' interest in learning‚ improve teaching effect‚ and promote course construction are important questions faced by many biochemistry teachers. Here the authors put forward the " three-dimensional teaching concept based on FACT" ‚ and take the biochemistry course construction of the School of Life Sciences‚ Sun Yat-sen University‚ as an example to analyze the connotation and practice of this teaching concept. " Three-dimension" is inspired by the " seemingly identical but actually different" concept of biological chiral molecules‚ which not only reflects the need for universities to carry out course construction based on their own actual situation and seek truth from facts with distinct characteristics‚ but also emphasizes the construction of a multi-dimensional course construction system. The authors will introduce the concept of " three-dimension" in “form” ‚ “angle” ‚ “content” and “team” in an all-round way. Moreover‚ the authors also conduct in-depth analysis from aspects such as teaching methods‚ second classroom‚ knowledge point logic‚ ideological and political education for courses‚ and teaching team construction‚ which has certain reference significance for peer teachers to carry out biochemistry course construction.

OBJECTIVETo evaluate the effectiveness and safety of sirolimus-eluting stents (SESs) for treatment of in-stent restenosis (ISR).

METHODSAll 27 patients with ISR and clinical evidence of ischemia had been treated with SESs. Among them, 23 patients had diffuse and complex lesions, and 5 of them received 2 SESs. Clinical and angiographic follow-up were performed for all patients and the results were analyzed.

RESULTSAll stents were implanted successfully. There were no remained stenosis and major in-hospital complications. Average follow-up time was 8.9 +/- 2.1 (5-14) months, with a clinical follow-up rate of 96.3% and angiographic follow-up rate of 92.6%. During the follow-up, there was none of death. One patient had recurrent angina with an angiographic evidence of the proximal edge restenosis of the stent. Mild neointimal hyperplasia in the proximal edge was found in 2 patients, but the stenosis was less than 25%. No late lumen loss was found in other 24 patients. The late lumen loss of the in-stent averaged 0.09 +/- 0.02 mm, and of the distal edge vessel averaged 0.10 +/- 0.03 mm, and of the proximal edge vessel averaged 0.20 +/- 0.06 mm. The rate of target vessel revascularization was 3.8%.

CONCLUSIONThe SES implantation is safe and feasible for the treatment of in-stent restenosis, which could effectively prevent neointimal hyperplasia and recurrent restenosis of the lesion.

Adult ; Aged ; Coronary Angiography ; Coronary Restenosis ; diagnostic imaging ; therapy ; Female ; Follow-Up Studies ; Humans ; Male ; Middle Aged ; Sirolimus ; administration & dosage ; Stents

OBJECTIVETo investigate the effect of solanine on the growth of human prostate cancer cell xenograft in nude mice.

METHODSHuman prostate cancer Du145 cells were injected into the subcutaneous layers on the back of nude mice. After a week, the mice bearing subcutaneous tumor graft were randomly divided into solanine treatment group and saline control group for treatment for 3 weeks. The tumor grafts were then harvested to evaluate the inhibition rate. The mRNA and protein expressions of cell cycle-related genes in the tumors were detected by qRT-PCR and Western blotting, respectively, and tumor cell apoptosis was detected using TUNEL method.

RESULTSThe tumor growth rate in solanine-treated group was significantly slower than that in the control group (P<0.01). The mRNA and protein expressions of C-myc, cyclin D1, cyclin E1, CDK2, CDK4 and CDK6 were significantly inhibited by solanine. Solanine significantly up-regulated p21 mRNA and protein expression in the tumors and induced a higher apoptosis rate of the tumor cells than saline (P<0.01).

CONCLUSIONThe tumor-inhibition effect of solanine is probably mediated by regulating the expressions of genes related with G1/S cell cycle arrest and cell apoptosis.

Animals ; Apoptosis ; Cyclin-Dependent Kinases ; metabolism ; Cyclins ; metabolism ; G1 Phase Cell Cycle Checkpoints ; Humans ; Male ; Mice ; Mice, Nude ; Neoplasm Transplantation ; pathology ; Prostatic Neoplasms ; drug therapy ; pathology ; S Phase ; Solanine ; pharmacology

Aged ; Coronary Angiography ; Coronary Restenosis ; diagnostic imaging ; etiology ; surgery ; Female ; Follow-Up Studies ; Humans ; Male ; Middle Aged ; Sirolimus ; administration & dosage ; Stents

OBJECTIVETo evaluate the clinical values of ultrasound-guided percutaneous composite thermal ablation technique in the treatment of medium and large hepatocellular carcinoma (HCC).

METHODSBy the composite technique of multiple-needle insertion and multi-point energy application, ultrasound-guided percutaneous radiofrequency ablation (RFA) or microwave ablation (MWA) were employed to treat 68 patients of HCC with tumor nodule > or = 3.1 cm in diameter. There was a total number of 73 tumor nodules, with a mean diameter of (4.5 +/- 1.7) cm (3.1-13.0 cm). Sixty-three patients had single tumor nodule, and the remaining 5 had 2 nodules. With a follow-up time of 1.9 - 67.6 months [(16.0 +/- 14.8) months], the local and long-term efficacy was analyzed.

RESULTSHepatic subcapsular hematoma were found in 1 patient. And skin burning in 1 patient 1. Complete ablation rate was 78.1% (57/73), local tumor progression was presented in 24.6% tumor nodules (14/57) and distant recurrence developed in 56.7% patients (38/67). The 1-, 3-, 5-years survival rate was 62.3%, 29.6% and 21.6%, respectively, with a median survival time of 18.6 months, (95% confidence interval: 10.9 months, 26.3 months). There were no remarkable differences in complete ablation rate, local tumor progression, distant recurrence rate and survival rate between RFA and MWA.

CONCLUSIONSBy the composite ablation technique, ultrasound-guided percutaneous thermal ablation was effective in treating medium and large unresectable HCC. And the advantage is minimal invasiveness. RFA and MWA had no marked differences in terms of therapeutic efficacy.

Adult ; Aged ; Carcinoma, Hepatocellular ; diagnostic imaging ; mortality ; surgery ; Catheter Ablation ; methods ; Female ; Follow-Up Studies ; Humans ; Liver Neoplasms ; diagnostic imaging ; mortality ; surgery ; Male ; Middle Aged ; Survival Rate ; Treatment Outcome ; Ultrasonography, Interventional

BACKGROUNDThere is no detailed report about the angiographic leakage of polypoidal choroidal vasculopathy (PCV) lesions on indocyanine green (ICG) angiography. This study aimed to investigate the angiographic leakage of polypoidal lesions in PCV on ICG angiography.

METHODSOne hundred and forty-four eyes of 137 patients diagnosed as PCV were prospectively observed. Fundus examination, fluorescein angiography, and ICG angiography were performed. Leakage of polypoidal lesions and clinical features were recorded according to the angiograms.

RESULTSIn all 144 eyes, 110 eyes showed angiographic leakage (leakage group) on ICG angiography and three subtypes of leakage group were noted, which were polypoidal dilations leakage (47 eyes, 42.7%), branching vascular networks leakage (14 eyes, 12.7%) and leakage of both (49 eyes, 44.5%). The other 34 eyes showed regression of polypoidal lesions (regression group). In leakage group, the rates of pigment epithelial detachment (PED), best corrected visual acuity (BCVA) < 0.1 and old subretinal hemorrhages were 56.4% (62 eyes), 19.1% (21 eyes), and 4.6% (5 eyes) respectively, compared with 8.8% (3 eyes), 50% (17 eyes) and 38.2% (13 eyes) of regression group (P < 0.001). The history of regression group was significantly longer (P < 0.001).

CONCLUSIONSAngiographic leakage and regression can be observed in PCV lesions. Leakage of both polypoidal dilations and branching vascular networks is the most common subtype in leakage group. PCV in leakage group is more likely to be related to PED, better BCVA and shorter history, while PCV regression group tends to relevant to old subretinal hemorrhage, worse BCVA and longer history. This may reflect that the former is active or in the early course while the later is resting or in the late phase of PCV.

Aged ; Aged, 80 and over ; Choroid ; blood supply ; Choroid Diseases ; diagnosis ; Female ; Fluorescein Angiography ; methods ; Humans ; Indocyanine Green ; Male ; Middle Aged ; Peripheral Vascular Diseases ; diagnosis

OBJECTIVETo evaluate the clinical performance of an innovative contrast-enhanced ultrasound (CEUS) technique in characterization of focal liver lesions (FLL).

METHODSCEUS was performed in 505 patients with FLLs. A sulfur hexafluoride-filled microbubble ultrasound contrast agent and a continuous real-time imaging technique of contrast pulse sequencing were used. The observation items included initial nodule enhancement time, enhancement level and pattern, and dynamic evolution of enhancement along with the CEUS phases.

RESULTSThere were similar findings for both malignant and benign FLLs in initial enhancement time and enhancement level on CEUS. The dynamic evolution of enhancement along with enhancement phase was the most significant parameter for characterization of FLLs. Most malignant lesions showed enhancement at arterial phase and hypo-enhancing at late phase, whereas the benign lesions presented enhancement at arterial phase and persistent hyper- or iso-enhancing until late phase. Using these characteristics as a diagnostic criteria, the sensitivity, specificity, positive predicative value, negative predicative value and accuracy of CEUS in identifying malignant FLLs were 95.7% (313/327), 86.0% (153/178), 92.6% (313/338), 91.6% (153/167) and 92.3% (466/505), respectively.

CONCLUSIONSCharacterization of FLLs by using the innovative CEUS technique is recommendable due to its safety, facility and high accuracy.

Adult ; Aged ; Aged, 80 and over ; Diagnosis, Differential ; Female ; Humans ; Liver Diseases ; diagnostic imaging ; Male ; Middle Aged ; Sulfur Hexafluoride ; Ultrasonography ; methods