Bacterial N-Acyl-L-homoserine lactones (AHLs)-mediated quorum sensing is involved in the regulation of diverse biological functions. As the bacterial pathogen population density increases, AHLs concentration secreted by pathogen reaches a threshold and then interacts with their intercellular receptor and triggers expression of virulence genes. It is a promising approach to biologically control bacterial disease in plants and animals by manipulating bacterial AHL-quorum sensing with AHLs-degrading enzyme and AHL analogue.

Ralstonia metallidurans CH34 was isolated from the deposit of a znic factory .The degradation of phenol by R .metallidurans CH34 was investigated. The results showed that R . metallidurans CH34 possesses high ability to degrade phenol with the biodegradation rate constant of 0.33 . The optimal pH , temperature and volume of medium for phenol degradation are pH 7.0 , 30℃ , and 20%(v/v), respectively . In addition , this strain retains its ability to degrade phenol in the presence of high concentration of heavy metal ion .The sodium citrate , sodium succinate can enhance the degradation of phenol.

In order to evaluate the characteristics of the spray drying of total flavonoids of Epimedium extracts assisted with soybean polysaccharide, a certain percentage of soybean polysaccharide or polyvidone were added to the total flavonoids of Epimedium extract to conduct the spray drying. The effect of soybean polysaccharides against the wall sticking effect of the spray drying was detected, as well as the powder property of total flavonoids of Epimedium spray drying powder and the dissolution in vitro behavior of the effective component. Compared with the total flavonoids of Epimedium spray drying powder, soybean polysaccharide revealed a significant anti-wall sticking effect. The spray drying power which had no notable change in the grain size made a increase in the fluidity, improvement in the moisture absorption and remarkable rise in the dissolution in vitro behavior. It was worth further studying the application of soybean polysaccharide in spray drying power of traditional Chinese medicine.
Epimedium ; chemistry ; Flavonoids ; analysis ; Particle Size ; Polysaccharides ; chemistry ; Powders ; Soybeans ; chemistry

Membrane proteins are the main undertakers of biofilm function, and also the most important target group for innovative drug discovery and research. About 60% of drugs targets are membrane proteins. Due to the obvious aggregation and denaturation tendency of membrane proteins in aqueous solution, it is difficult to simulate the membrane like environment to maintain the correct conformation of membrane proteins in vitro, which results in the slower-growing research on the structure and function of membrane proteins and related ligand drugs than that of water-soluble proteins. Membrane protein stabilization technology is the premise of establishing high specificity, high sensitivity and high throughput drug screening methods for membrane protein ligands, which is of great significance. In this paper, some techniques for stable separation and purification of membrane proteins are reviewed, including detergents, artificial membranes, polymers, lentiviral particles and so on, as well as their specific applications in drug screening.

The formulation for sustained release tablet of Epinedium component was selected and the evaluation equation of in vitro release was established. The liquidity of component was improved with the help of colloidal silica aided by spray drying, which would be the main drug in the sustained release tablets. Dissolution was selected as an evaluation index to investigate skeletal material type, fillers, impact porogen, lubricants and other materials on the quality of sustained release tablet. The sustained release tablets were prepared by dry compression. Formulation of sustained release preparations was main drug 35%, HPMC K(4M) 20% and HPMC K(15M) 10% as skeleton material, MCC 31% as filler, PEG6000 2% as porogen and magnesium stearate 2% as lubricant. The sustained release tablets released up to 80% in 8 h. The zero order equation, primary equation and Higuchi equation could simulate the release characteristics of sustained release tablets in vitro, the correlation coefficients r were larger than 0.96. The primary equation was most similar in vitro release characteristics and its correlation coefficient r was 0.9950. The preparation method is simple and the results of formulation selection are reliable. It can be used to guide the production of Epimedium component sustained release preparations.
Chemistry, Pharmaceutical ; methods ; Delayed-Action Preparations ; chemistry ; Drugs, Chinese Herbal ; chemistry ; Epimedium ; chemistry ; Kinetics ; Tablets ; chemistry

To evaluate the properties of solidifying volatile oil with graphene oxide, clove oil and zedoary turmeric oil were solidified by graphene oxide. The amount of graphene oxide was optimized with the eugenol yield and curcumol yield as criteria. Curing powder was characterized by differential scanning calorimetry (DSC) and scanning electron microscopy (SEM). The effects of graphene oxide on dissolution in vitro and thermal stability of active components were studied. The optimum solidification ratio of graphene oxide to volatile oil was 1:1. Dissolution rate of active components had rare influence while their thermal stability improved after volatile oil was solidified. Solidifying herbal volatile oil with graphene oxide deserves further study.
Calorimetry, Differential Scanning ; Clove Oil ; chemistry ; Curcuma ; chemistry ; Eugenol ; Graphite ; chemistry ; Microscopy, Electron, Scanning ; Oils, Volatile ; chemistry ; Oxides ; chemistry ; Plant Extracts ; chemistry ; Powders ; Sesquiterpenes

Objective To investigate the role of ?7nAChR in the pathogenesis of Alzheimer's disease(AD)through exploring the relationship between ?7nAChR and A?_(1-42) in AD brains.Methods The accumulation of ?7nAChR and the possible relationship between ?7nAChR and A?_(1-42) were observed in 3 clinically and pathologically confirmed AD brains by immunohistochemistry. 3 normal brains were set as controls.Results Respective staining of anti-?7nAChR and anti-A?_(1-42) showed that the abnormal accumulation of ?7nAChR existed in AD brains. The main location was at hippocampus and temporal cortex which was just in accordance with senile plaque consisted mainly of A?_(1-42). The major part of ?7nAChR was located extra-cellular and within senile plaque from the view of morphology. No accumulation of ?7nAChR existed in normal brains. Co-staining of anti-?7nAChR and anti-A?_(1-42) further showed that ?7nAChR and A?_(1-42) could accumulate together in senile plaque of AD brain. The average rate of positive co-staining in hippocampus, temporal lobe and frontal lobe is 57.8%, 51.0% and 21.8% respectively. The accumulation of ?7nAChR in hippocampus and temporal lobe seems much than that in the frontal lobe. Conclusion ?7nAChR may combine with A?_(1-42) in AD brains. It is suggested that the combination should destroy the ?7nAChR receptor, block the receptor or mediate the injury of cholinergic neurons with the result of recognition and memory impairment and that ?7nAChR might play an important role in the pathogenesis of Alzheimer's disease.

Objective To investigate the effect of intermittent high glucose on proliferation, apoptosis, and cell cycle progression of INS-1 cells, and the possible intracellular pathways activated by intermittent high glucose. Methods Cell viability was evaluated by cell counting kit, the cell cycle was determined by flow cytometry,Annexin-V/PI double-labeled cell apoptosis detection kit was used to monitor cell apoptosis. Cell cycle related protein Skp2 and p27 expressions were detected by Western blot. Results ( 1 ) Both intermittent and constant high glucose significantly inhibited the growth of INS-1 cells, and the former effect was more significant. ( 2 ) Intermittent and constant high glucose levels significantly increased apoptosis in INS-1 cells, and the former effect was more significant. (3) Intermittent and constant high glucose levels significantly inhibited the cell process, the G0/G1 cell cycle arrest also was induced by intermittent high glucose, resulting in lowered proportion of the G2/M phase and S phase of INS-1 cells. (4) Intermittent and constant high glucose significantly decreased the level of protein Skp2 and increased the level of cell cycle related protein p27. Conclusion Intermittent high glucose levels affect INS-1 cell growth and proliferation, as well as induce cell apoptosis, probably by decreasing the level of protein Skp2 and increasing the level of p27 in the cells, resulting in arrest of progression through the G1 phase to the S phase of INS1 cells, and thus impairment of cell proliferation.

AIM: To report a two- year's results of iontophoresis-assisted transepithelial corneal cross-linking (I-CXL) for progressive keratoconus.
METHODS: Thirty - four eyes in 24 patients with progressive keratoconus ( mean age 21. 0 ± 5. 6 years;range: 14-32 years) were treated. After 1g/ L riboflavin-distilled water solution was administered by iontophoresis-assited (current 1mA) transepithelial method for 5min in total, standard surface UVA irradiation ( 370nm, 3mW/cm2 ) was performed at a 1 - cm distance for 30min. The best corrected visual acuity ( BCVA ) measured as LogMAR number, corneal refractive astigmatism, K1, K2, Kmean, Kmax, intraocular pressure, endothelial cell density, the thickness at corneal apex and the thinnest point were measured preoperatively and 2a postoperatively.
RESULTS:At 2a after the procedure, BCVA (LogMAR) improved from 0. 32 ± 0. 25 to 0. 25 ± 0. 19 ( t = 2. 849, P =0. 015). K1 decreased from 47. 12±4. 33 to 46. 06±4. 77 (t =2. 652, P= 0. 015). K2 decreased from 51. 36±5. 59 to 50. 40±6. 16 (t= 2. 121, P= 0. 047). Kmean decreased from 49. 12±4. 76 to 48. 10±5. 25(t = 2. 663, P = 0. 015). Kmax decreased from 57. 57±8. 30 to 55. 91±8. 14 (t = 2. 398, P = 0. 026). The corneal apex thickness decreased from 476. 90±38. 71μ m to 454. 43 ± 40. 86μ m ( t = 2. 853, P = 0. 010 ). The thinnest thickness decreased from 464. 38 ± 39. 92μ m to 433. 86 ±50. 78μ m ( t = 3. 485, P = 0. 002 ). Corneal refractive astigmatism, intraocular pressure and endothelial cell density did not show significant changes.
CONCLUSION: I - CXL for progressive keratoconus is safe and effective which can prevent deterioration of progressive keratoconus within 2a, but further long-term studies are necessary still.

Objective To provide a basis for humanity education in the university by a survey of clinical graduates' recognition of humanity education and humanity curriculum. Method An anony-mous questionnaire was adopted and 514 questionnaires were distributed to the 2014 clinical gradu-ates in Peking University Health Science Center about their understanding of humanity education and humanity curriculum. The investigation data was double entried in Epidata 3.1, apply SPSS 19.0 to make the descriptive analysis, chi-square test. Results 69.3% (167/241) students believed humanity education enhanced their professionalism and competency;52.7%(127/241) students believed humanity education enhanced their doctor-patient communication; 36.4% (174/478) students believed their hu-manity knowledge came from their instructors' personal example and teaching;31.1%(149/479) students said the best way of humanity education was through social practice;59.7%(286/479) students consid-ered the combination of classroom lecturing and discussion as the best way to humanity education. As to the major weaknesses in humanities education, 46.9%(113/241) students chose insufficient curriculum, 23.2%(56/241) chose lack of practical value and 23.7%(57/241) chose monotonous teaching methods;Conclusion The best approach to humanities teaching is to combine class lecture with class discus-sion. Besides, hidden curriculum also contributes to humanity education. The enhancement of clinical graduates education relies heavily on humanity education and its emphasis should be laid on the training of humanity teachers, the study of humanity curriculum and learning from other universities.