Microbial secondary metabolites are one of the major sources of anti-bacterial, anti-fungal, antitumor, anti-virus and immunosuppressive agents for clinical use. Present challenges in microbial pharmaceutical development are the discovery of novel secondary metabolites with significant biological activities, improving the fermentation titers of industrial microbial strains, and production of natural product drugs by re-establishing their biosynthetic pathways in suitable microbial hosts. Synthetic biology, which is developed from systematic biology and metabolic engineering, provides a significant driving force for microbial pharmaceutical development. The review describes the major applications of synthetic biology in novel microbial secondary metabolite discovery, improved production of known secondary metabolites and the production of some natural drugs in genetically modified or reconstructed model microorganisms.

Hyperuricemia mice model was established with uricase inhibitor (potassium oxonate) and uric acids in serum were observed. Polydatin (5, 10, 20 mg · kg(-1)) and benzbromarone (16.7 mg · kg(-1)) were given ig for 7 d in mice. Kidney tissues were used to detect gene contents ofurate anion transporter 1 (URAT1), organic anion transporter 1 (OAT1) and organic anion transporter 3 (OAT3) by real-time-PCR. The results showed that polydatin and benzbromarone can significantly reduce uric acid in blood of hyperuricemia mice (P < 0.05), compared with the model group. URAT1, OAT1 and OAT3 contents of the kidney in hyperuricemia mice changed significantly (P < 0.05), compared with the blank group. Polydatin can significantly inhibit the changing trends in these genes induced by potassium oxonate in a dose-dependent manner, the difference was significant (P < 0.05), compared with the model group. Those indicated that polysatin could reduce the level of the serum uric acid through promoting uric acid excretion.
Animals ; Disease Models, Animal ; Glucosides ; pharmacology ; Hyperuricemia ; drug therapy ; Kidney ; drug effects ; metabolism ; Mice ; Stilbenes ; pharmacology ; Uric Acid ; blood

Animals ; Animals, Newborn ; Disease Models, Animal ; Enterocolitis, Necrotizing ; chemically induced ; Female ; Male ; Platelet Activating Factor ; toxicity ; Rats ; Rats, Sprague-Dawley ; Sulfalene ; toxicity ; Tumor Necrosis Factor-alpha ; toxicity

Objective To investigate the role of Twist and vascular endothelial growth factor (VEGF)in the development of epithelial ovarian cancer and their relationship with clinical pathological features.Methods The expressions of Twist and VEGF were detected by immunohistochemical staining (SP)method in 80 cases of epithelial ovarian cancer and 10 paired cases of normal ovarian tissue.Results In the 80 cases of ovarian cancer tissues,the positive expression rate of Twist and VEGF in epithelial ovarian cancer was 85% and 86.25%,respectively,which were remarkably higher than those in normal ovarian tissues (P <0.01).The expressions of Twist and VEGF were closely associated with clinical stages,pathological grades and lymph node metastasis,but not correlated with age or pathological patterns (P >0.05).There was a significant correlation between the expressions of Twist and VEGF in epithelial ovarian cancer (r =0.646,P <0.01).Conclusion The high expressions of Twist and VEGF may play a potential role in the occurrence,development and invasion process of epithelial ovarian cancer.

Background and purpose:Cancer microenvironment has become a hot topic of cancer research. It is important in the initiation of colorectal cancer. This study aimed to discuss the correlation between the characteristics of tissue culturein vitro and different cell types in cancer microenvironment.Methods:Samples were collected at different distances from the colorectal cancer lesions, which were named as positions 1, 2 and 3 from distal to proximal. Tissues were cut into 1-2 mm3 forin vitro culturing. HE staining was used to observe the structure of crypts. Immunohistochemistry was used to detect the expressions of Cyclin D1 (CD1), CD133, cytokeratin18 (CK18), vimentin and α-smooth muscle actin (α-SMA).Results:Position 3 grew faster than position 2 and position 1. As getting closer to the colorectal cancer lesions, expressions of CD1, CD133, vimentin and α-SMA were increased while expression of CK18 was decreased.Conclusion:The tissue structure and the expression of different cell types in cancer microenvironment changed more seriously as get-ting closer to the colorectal cancer lesions. This indicated that the change of cancer microenvironment may contribute to the initiation of colorectal cancer.

Objective To study the risk factors for children with acute central nervous system(CNS)viral in-fection,so that pediatrician may identify children with poor prognosis at early stages of the disease,and provide them with a theoretical basis for clinical treatment. Methods The clinical data of a cohort patients of acute CNS viral infec-tion who were hospitalized at the First Affiliated Hospital of Fujian Medical University between January 2010 and June 2013 were retrospectively collected and analyzed. According to Glasgow outcome scale on discharge,children were di-vided into good prognosis group and poor prognosis group. Clinical data and outcomes were analyzed by using univariate analysis and binary Logistic regression multivariate analysis. Results Three hundred and one cases were enrolled,278 (92. 36% )patients were assigned to the good prognosis group,and 23(7. 64% )patients were assigned to the poor prognosis group. By univariate analysis,the patients in the poor prognosis group had longer duration of sickness before admission,longer time of fever,lower white blood cell count in cerebrospinal fluid,a relatively lower calcium level,con-scious disturbance at the early stage,multiple seizures,convulsive status epilepticus,meningeal irritation sign,muscle weakness,severe changes in electroencephalogram(EEG),and abnormal neuroimaging findings(computed tomography or magnetic resonance imaging,or both)had significant differences between the good prognosis group and the poor short - term outcome groups(all P < 0. 05). By binary Logistic regression multivariate analysis,factors indicating a poor prognosis during the early stage were conscious disturbance at the early stage(0R = 4. 885,95% CI:1. 523 - 15. 670, P = 0. 008),multiple seizures(0R = 6. 352,95% CI:1. 905 - 21. 178,P = 0. 003),severe changes in EEG( 0R =4. 269,95% CI:1. 708 - 10. 666,P = 0. 002),and abnormal neuroimaging findings( 0R = 9. 740,95% CI:2. 360 -40. 192,P = 0. 002). Conclusions Conscious disturbance at the early stage,multiple seizures,severe changes in EEG and abnormal neuroimaging findings are risk factors for acute viral infection of CNS in children.

Objective To evaluate the techniques and application of 64-slice helical CT colonography in colonic lesions. Methods Thirty-eight patients (including 12 colonic carcinomas,10 polypi, 9 colon multiple scrobiculus, 2 multiple diverticula, 2 negative, 1 congenital bowel malrotaion,1 ulcerative colitis and tunica mucosa glandular organ hyperplasy,1 colocolic anastomosis of terminal ileum and sigmoid colon) underwent volume scanning using 64-slice helical CT after cleaning colon. Six types of reconstruction including CT virtual colonoscopy(CTVC), volume rendering(VR), multiple planar reconstruction(MPR), 360?sectional view, RaySum,and navigation were gained.CTVC appearances were compared with that of conventional colonoscopy(CC).Results In 12 colonic carcinomas and 10 polypi,the lesions’ morphology,number,size, were satisfactorily shown by CTVC. The lesions’ location,range,and 1 intestinal canal obviously stenosis were also exactly shown by RaySum.The relationship between tumor and environment, 3 liver or retroperitoneal lymph node metastasis were satisfactorily shown by MPR and 2D transection image. On 360?sectional view,the distance between tumor and anus was exactly measured and the result was in conformity to that of CC. Of the CTVC appearances,1 sigmoid carcinoma and 1 transverse colon polyp was in unconformity to that of CC;1 ulcerative colitis and descending colon carcinoma was diagnosed as ulcerative colitis and tunica mucosa glandular organ hyperplasy by pathology.Conclusion 64-slice helical CT is a valuable imaging technique for detecting colon diseases. CTVC can obtain more clinical information than CC combining MPR,RaySum and VR.

Objective To explore the clinical character istics of bile reflux gastritis. Methods We observed 1328 patients with bile reflux gastritis(excluding gastritis of the remnant stomach),and selected 425 superficial gastritis as control group.All the patients took helicobacter pylori(Hp) rapid urease examination. 664 cases in observed group and all in patients of control group were examined for bile disease by UB. Results In 1328 patients,there were 797 male and 531 female,and the ratio of male and female was 1.5/1.The detecting rate of bile reflux gastritis was decreased along with aging. Among all the patients,there were 651 simple superficial gastritis(49%),86 gastric ulcer(6.5%),412 duodenal ulcer (31%),122 combined ulcer(9.2%) and 57 other disease(4.7%).In observed group,1030 HP(77.56%) were regative; 298 Hp(22.44%) were positive,and in control group,282 Hp(66.35%) were regative,147 Hp(33.65%) were positive.The amount of gallbladder disease resection was 221(33.3%),which was more than that of control group(16.9%). Conclusion The detecting rate of bile reflux gastritis was decreased along with aging.Bile reflux gastritis is more often combined with ulcer disease or gallbladder disease. The Hp infection rate of bile reflux gastritis is significant lower than that of non-bile reflux gastritis.

AIM To study the anti-inflammatory effects and mechanisms of pristimerin. METHODS Several inflammatory models were established, such as ear edema induced by croton oil, hind paw swelling by carrageenan, elevation of capillary permeability by acetic acid in mice and a-cute peritonitis induced by carrageenan in rats. Protein content was measured by Coomassie brilliant blue method, nitric oxide (NO) content by Griess reaction assay, N-acetyl-?-D-glucosamini-dase (NAG) activity by colorimetry, superoxide dismutase (SOD) activity by hydroxylamine method, catalase (CAT) activity by ultraviolet spectro-photometry, and malondialdehyde (MDA) content by fluorescence method in peritoneal exudate in rats. RESULTS Pristimerin ip 0. 156 - 0. 625 mg ? kg-1 or im 1-4 mg - kg-1 inhibited ear edema, hind paw swelling, and elevation of capillary permeability in mice. In the rat peritonitis induced by carrageenan, pristimerin im 1 - 2 mg ?kg-1 reduced neutrophil counts, lessened protein and NO content, inhibited the production of MDA and decreased NAG activity, while augmented the SOD and CAT activity in exudate. CONCLUSION Pristimerin has a significant anti-inflammatory effect which may be related to the inhibition of NO production, scavenging oxygen free radicals, anti-lipoperoxidation and stabilizing lysosome membrane.

Objectives:To study the enzymatic changes and protective effects of ciliary neurotrophic factor (CNTF) on neurons in spinal cord injury (SCI).Methods:SD rats were subjected to incomplete SCI with modified Allen methods.Activities of acetylcholinesterase (AChE) and acid phosphatase (ACP) in spinal cord were quantitatively measured preoperatively,and 3,7,14 days after SCI.Results:AChE activity decreased gradually after injury.ACP activity increased 3 days after injury,and reached peak on the 7th day,then recovered gradually.The rats treated with CNTF showed relatively smooth change of the 2 kinds of enzymes.Conclusions:CNTF plays a role in protecting the spinal cord neurons against injury.