OBJECTIVEExpress and purify four single-stranded DNA-binding (SSB) proteins, and evaluate the binding of SSB proteins on HCV RNA.

METHODSThe expression plasmids of four SSB proteins were conducted, termed TTH, SSOB, KOD and BL21, respectively. The BL21 (DE3) was transformed by the expression plasmid of TTH, Transetta (DE3) were transformed by the expression plasmid of SSOB, KOD and BL21, then protein expression was induced with IPTG, the expression products were analysised by SDS-PAGE. To evaluate the binding of SSB on HCV RNA, RNA-SSB protein complexes were applied to a 1.2% TAE agarose gel.

RESULTSSuitable competent cells were transformed with the expression plasmids, induced by IPTG. SSB proteins were purified by affinity chromatography, to visualize their purity all SSB proteins were applied to SDS-PAGE analysis. All four proteins showed single clear bands. We have successfully obtained the SSB protein expression plasmid, expressed and purified SSB protein. TAE agarose gel electrophoresis was used to confirm SSB protein-RNA binding activity. The each of SSB-RNA complex migrated more slowly than the sole RNA, which suggested SSB protein could specifically bind to RNA.

CONCLUSIONSWe have expressed and purified four SSB proteins, and for the first time found that SSB protein can bind HCV RNA. Our results may provide a basis for future studies of the novel functions of SSB proteins on RNA.

DNA, Single-Stranded ; genetics ; metabolism ; DNA-Binding Proteins ; chemistry ; isolation & purification ; metabolism ; Hepacivirus ; Hepatitis C ; metabolism ; virology ; Humans ; Molecular Weight ; Protein Binding ; RNA, Viral ; genetics ; metabolism

Lu Dangshen, a traditional authentic medicinal material of Codonopsis Radix is mainly produced in Shangdang (Changzhi) area of Shanxi Province. Baitiao Dangshen is mainly produced in Gansu Province. Codonopsis Radix contains many kinds of components such as phenylpropanoids, polyalkynes, alkaloids, terpenes, fatty acids, flavonoids, and so on. At present, the effect of producing areas on its chemical compositions has not been systematically studied. This study analyzed the differences of metabolites among Codonopsis pilosula from different producing areas by UPLC-HRMS. PCA, OPLS-DA coupled with Thermo mzcloud online and local databases were used to compare the overall differences of metabolites among Codonopsis pilosula from different producing areas, and the chemical constituents were identified to further screen and find out the different metabolites and analyze the metabolic pathways by information retrieval in HMDB, PubChem, Chemspider and KEGG databases. The results showed that 72 differential metabolites were identified in this study. There were 15 kinds of up-regulated and 57 kinds of down-regulated metabolites of Lu Dangshen compared with Baitiao Dangshen. The top 30 metabolic pathways were analyzed by KEGG enrichment, and the most important metabolic pathways were phenylpropanoid biosynthesis, which was demonstrated that phenylpropanoid biosynthesis pathway and related intermediate metabolites could be used as the characteristics of distinguishing Lu Dangshen from different habitats of Codonopsis pilosula. The present study provided a basis for analyzing the influence of producing areas on the chemical components of Codonopsis pilosula and reasonably evaluating the quality of Codonopsis Radix, and also provided a new idea for expounding the authenticity of Lu Dangshen.

Air Pollutants, Occupational ; analysis ; Coke ; Fatty Liver ; epidemiology ; Humans ; Logistic Models ; Male ; Occupational Exposure ; adverse effects ; Risk Factors

Objective To discuss the clinical value of ultrasonic elastography for thyroid nodules,and compared with pathology.Methods 77 patients with 105 thyroid lesions were analyzed.Tissue stiffness on elastography was scored from one(greatest elastics train)to five (no strain).Results On elastography:scores 1 and 2 were found in 75％ benign lesions.Scores 3 to 5 were found in 97.4％ malignant lesions.There were statistically difference in the scores of elastography between the benign and malignant lesions (P ＜0.01).Conclusions The ultrasonic elastography had positive significance in differentiating benign and malignant thyroid nodules.If the score of elastography is more than or equal to 3,the thyroid nodule is highprobablely malignant.

As well as playing vital roles in main cellular processes, such as abnormal proliferation, differentiation, survival, apoptosis, and a lot of tyrosine kinases (TK) are involved in oncogenesis. TK or components of their signal pathways have been found abnormal in many hematological malignancies. Therefore, tyrosine kinase inhibitors (TKI) have been provided a great deal of enthusiasm for development of therapy in myeloproliferative neoplasms (MPN). Representativity, the treatment of chronic myelogenous leukemia (CML) was revolutionary for the design of imatinib mesylate (IM), which is a BCR/ABL TKI. Subsequently, because of need for the resistance or intolerance, novel agents are being explored and imatinib has now been extended to eosinophilia-associated myeloid neoplasms with PDGFRA, PDGFRB or FGFR1 gene mutations. Recently, JAK2 inhibitor drugs are currently being tested in clinical trials. Here, the current review mainly focuses on the role of TK in classic MPN including CML, polycythemia vera (PV), primary myelofibrosis (PMF), essential thrombocythemia (ET), and advances of targeting these abnormalities with small molecule inhibitors.
Drug Delivery Systems ; Humans ; Myeloproliferative Disorders ; drug therapy ; Protein-Tyrosine Kinases ; antagonists & inhibitors ; metabolism

Objectives To investigate the clinical features of pneumonia in children with elevated alanine aminotransferase(ALT). Methods Clinical and laboratory data of 3 979 children with pneumonia admitted to the hospital were collected and retrospectively analysed, and ALT was detected in all cases. Results In 3 979 children with pneumo-nia, elevated ALT (13.78%) was found in 548 cases, most of which had mildly elevated ALT and were infants less than 6 months. The average age in elevated ALT group was less than that in normal ALT group (P=0.000). Apart from the symp-toms of pneumonia, most of them had non-specific clinical symptoms, 169 cases (30.84%) with anorexia or feeding dif-ficulties. 22 cases (4.01%) with poor spirit or weak, 10 cases (1.82%) with crying or abdominal pain;6 cases (1.09%) with dark urine; 4 cases (0.73%) with skin and/or sclera jaundice, 2 cases (0.36%) with bleeding tendency. Children in mildly elevated ALT group recovered faster than in moderate-to-severe elevated ALT group. Conclusions Mildly elevated ALT was most common in pneumonia with elevated ALT which was more likely to occur in younger age group. Clinical mani-festations were often non-specific with good outcomes.

Objective To investigate the stigma in the public about the patients with depression and diabetes.Methods The stigma situation of the publics (workers,peasants,students,intellectuals and others,collect 300 respectively) were assessed for the patients with depression and diabetes with the Struening Belittle Scale.1500 questionnaires were distributed and 1421 effectual questionnaires were retrieved.Results ① A comprehensive compare of public stigma between depression and diabetes showed that about 89.0％ of the public with stigma and 11.0％ of the public without stigma for the patients with depression,about 32.0％ of the public with stigma and 68.0％ of the public without stigma for the patients with diabetes.There were significant differences in frequency of public stigma for two diseases (x2 =744.906,P ＜ 0.01).②There were significant differences in the total scores((52.8 ± 12.4) vs(32.4 ± 13.6),t =5.328,P ＜ 0.01) and subscale scores of the Stmening Belittle Scale (Patient Belittle Scale:(26.5 ± 8.6) vs (12.4 ± 5.6),t =3.276,P ＜ 0.01 ; Family Belittle Scale:(22.8 ±6.4) vs(9.4 ± 5.2),t =2.988,P＜ 0.01) of the public for the patients with depression and diabetes.Conclusion There is serious stigma in the public for patients with depression.It is more serious and extensive than that for patients with diabetes.

Aim To establish hyperlipidemic model and study the molecular mechanism of triglyceride (TG)disorder in hamsters.Methods The male ham-sters were randomly divided to control group fed with standard diet and model group fed with high-fat diet, both of the groups had been fed with diet for 4 weeks. The levels of serum TG,TC,LDL-C,FFA were detec-ted at the end of 2nd and 4th week.The hepatic TG, TC,LPL activity were detected by enzymatic method at the end of 4th week.The molecular mechanism was tested by real-time PCR.Meanwhile the effect of posi-tive drug fenofibrate on the model of hyperlipidemia in hamsters was investigated.Results Compared with the control,the serum levels of TG,TC,LDL-C,FFA in the model group increased 2.57,1.93,2.49,1.25 times at the end of2nd week,and 3.93,1.90,2.27, 2.29 times at the end of 4th week,respectively.The positive drug significantly decreased the concentrations of serum TG and FFA. The mechanism research showed that the hepatic AMPK,PPARα,CPT-1 mRNA decreased in hamsters fed with high-fat diet,and the SREBP-1 c,ACC,SCD-1 ,AGPAT2,DGAT2 mRNA ex-pressions increased.The hepatic ApoB mRNA expres-sion was up-regulated while the MTTP and LPL mRNA expressions were down-regulated slightly.LPL activity significantly decreased in model hamsters compared with the control.The alternations of these enzymes and receptors were the critical factors for TG disorder. Conclusion The hamsters fed with high-fat diet for 4 weeks can form a good hyperlipemic model with HTG feature.AMPK,SREBP-1 c,ACC,SCD-1 ,DGAT2,AG-PAT2,PPARα,CPT-1 and LPL are not only the main mechanisms of TG disorder,but also the biomarkers of hypotriglyceridemic drugs.

Aim To establish the hyperlipidemic model and ex-plore the mechanism of hypercholesterolemia in hamster. Meth-ods Hamsters were randomly divided into the control and model groups. The hamsters in the control group were fed with the standard chow and the model group were fed with the high fat di-et. Serum lipids and CYP7A1 activity were detected by enzymat-ic method. The molecular mechanism of cholesterol metabolism was investigated by real-time PCR. Results In comparison with the control group, the concentrations of serum TC, LDL-C, TG and hepatic TC, TG were significantly increased in the model
group. The mechanism research showed that in hamsters fed with the high fat diet, the CYP7A1 activity and the mRNA expres-sions of hepatic LDL-R, SREBP-2, CYP7A1, LXRαwere down-regulated, the expression of hepatic FXR was up-regulated. Conclusion The hyperlipidemic model could be developed in hamsters fed with the high fat diet for 4 weeks. LDL-R, SREBP-2, CYP7A1, FXR and LXRαare the biomarkers of hypercholes-terolemia, and also the targets of hypolipidemic drugs.

AlM: To describe the expression of hypoxia-inducible factor-1α ( HlF-1α) and erythropoietin ( EPO ) in rats' corneal and evaluate its potential effect on corneal neovascularization ( CNV) growth.
METHODS:The young SD rats (3mo) was chosen and randomly divided into 2 groups, which were experimental group and normal control group. CNV model was established by alkali burn, and the length and area of CNV was observed everyday after operation by slit lamp. After that, the expression of HlF-1α and EPO was measured by SABC and RT-PCR methods at 1, 3, 5, 7, and 14d after alkali burn. The data was analyzed by SPSS 20. 0.
RESULTS:The area of CNV was increasing at 1, 3, 5, 7, and 14d after alkali burn, and the peak point appear at 7d. The growth speed was decreased after 14d. SABC method told us that no HlF-1αand very tiny amount EPO was detected at normal rats' corneal. The expression of the two factors increased at 1d after alkali burn in corneal epithelium and endoderm. The results of RT - PCR showed that a few amounts of HlF-1α and EPO mRNA were detected at normal group. The expression of the two factors was increased at 3d after alkali burn, and the peak value was found at 7d, however, it was decreased at 14d. Statistical difference was found at different time (P<0. 05).
CONCLUSlON: HlF- 1α and EPO is closely related to CNV.