Atherosclerotic cardiovascular diseases(ASCVD)are the major causes of morbidity and mortality worldwide. Previous randomized controlled trials confirm that statin therapy can effectively reduce the level of low density lipoprotein cholesterol(LDL-C),all-cause and cardiovascular disease mortality in patients with and without ASCVD.However,there is no widespread use of lipid-lowering therapy to achieve the benefit in high risk patients with ASCVD and patients without ASCVD. Therefore, it is necessary to further elaborate the clinical benefits of statins and their combined use for lipid regulating therapy and increasing the beneficiaries.

OBJECTIVETo achieve secretory and extracellular production of recombinant dengue virus serotypes I-IV envelope glycoprotein domain III (DENV-1-4 EDIII) in Pichia pastoris.

METHODSEDIII genes of DENVI-IV were amplified and cloned into vector pPIC9K, respectively. These recombinant plasmids were then linearized and transferred into Pichia pastoris strain GS115. Clones highly produced in 4.0 mg/ml G418 were amplified and induced by methanol to achieve the secreted recombinant proteins. Ni-NTA agarose beads were used for purification, while SDS-PAGE and Western blotting were used for identification.

RESULTSThe recombinant plasmids pPIC9K-DENV-1-4 EDIII were constructed and successfully transferred into Pichia pastoris strain GS115. The recombinant EDIII proteins were expressed in a secretory way with the molecular weight about 12 × 10(3) and specifically identified by anti-His monoclonal antibody and anti-DENVI-IV mice sera.

CONCLUSIONDENVI-IV EDIII proteins are successfully achieved from Pichia pastoris expression system and could be used for development of dengue vaccines, diagnostic reagents and study of biological function of the E protein.

Dengue Virus ; genetics ; Genetic Vectors ; Pichia ; metabolism ; Recombinant Proteins ; genetics ; Viral Envelope Proteins ; secretion

OBJECTIVETo study the changes of vascular endothelial cell function and platelet activation in rabbit spinal cord following ischemia-reperfusion (I/R) injury and their roles in the spinal cord injury.

METHODSRabbit spinal cord I/R injury models were established using Zivin method, and the changes in plasma NO and GMP140 levels were dynamically monitored after the injury.

RESULTSPlasma NO level increased significantly in the I/R group at the end of the ischemia, and reached the peak level at 2 h of reperfusion as compared to that in sham-operated group (P<0.01). Plasma NO level decreased at 6 h of reperfusion, but still significantly higher than the level in the sham-operated group (P<0.05). Plasma GMP140 underwent no significant changes in the sham-operated group, but significantly increased in the I/R group at the end of the ischemia, followed by gradual declination to the normal level at 2 h of reperfusion.

CONCLUSIONSpinal cord I/R injury causes overexpressions of NO and GMP140, suggesting the involvement of endothelial cell injury and platelet overactivation in the pathological process and repair of spinal cord I/R injury.

Animals ; Endothelial Cells ; metabolism ; Nitric Oxide ; blood ; P-Selectin ; blood ; Platelet Activation ; Rabbits ; Reperfusion Injury ; blood ; pathology ; physiopathology ; Spinal Cord ; pathology ; physiopathology

OBJECTIVETo characterize the specific monoclonal antibodies to Aspergillus conidia.

METHODSFlow cytometry was used to examine the reactivity of the specific monoclonal antibodies to Aspergillus conidia.

RESULTSBoth the monoclonal antibodies MA3 and Con2 showed specific reactivity to Aspergillus conidia suspensions. MA3 was capable of binding to the conidia of A.fumigatus, A.flavus, A.niger and A.terreus, while Con2 was reactive only to the conidia of A.fumigatus.

CONCLUSIONTwo specific monoclonal antibodies (MA3 and Con2) to Aspergillus conidia have been obtained.

Antibodies, Fungal ; immunology ; isolation & purification ; Antibodies, Monoclonal ; immunology ; isolation & purification ; Antibody Specificity ; Aspergillus ; immunology ; Flow Cytometry ; Spores, Fungal ; immunology

Objective:To compare magnetic resonance imaging (MRI)-based and computed tomography (CT)-based target volume delineation and dose coverage in partial breast irradiation (PBI) for patients with breast cancer, aiming to explore the application value of MRI localization in PBI after breast-conserving surgery.Methods:Twenty-nine patients with early breast cancer underwent simulating CT and MRI scans in a supine position. The cavity visualization score (CVS) of tumor bed (TB) was evaluated. The TB, clinical target volume (CTV), planning target volume (PTV) were delineated on CT and MRI images, and then statistically compared. Conformity indices (CI) between CT- and MRI-defined target volumes were calculated. PBI treatment plan of 40 Gy in 10 fractions was designed based on PTV-CT, and the dose coverage for PTV-MRI was evaluated.Results:The CVS on CT and MRI images was 2.97±1.40 vs. 3.10±1.40( P=0.408). The volumes of TB, CTV, PTV on MRI were significantly larger than those on CT, (24.48±16.60) cm 3vs. (38.00±19.77) cm 3, (126.76±56.81) cm 3vs. (168.42±70.54) cm 3, (216.63±81.99) cm 3vs. (279.24±101.55) cm 3, respectively, whereas the increasing percentage of CTV and PTV were significantly smaller than those of TB. The CI between CT-based and MRI-based TB, CTV, PTV were 0.43±0.13, 0.66±0.11, 0.70±0.09( P<0.001), respectively. The median percentage of PTV-MRI receiving 40 Gy dose was 81.9%(62.3% to 92.4%), significantly lower than 95.6%(95.0%~97.5%) of PTV-CT. Conclusions:The CVS between CT and MRI is not significantly different, but the MRI-based TB, CTV, PTV are significantly larger than CT-based values. The PTV-MRI is of underdose if PBI treatment plan is designed for PTV-CT. As a supplement of CT scan, MRI can enhance the accuracy of TB delineation after breast-onserving surgery.

Objective: To assess the safety and feasibility for treating the patients with severe external carotid artery (ECA) stenosis and ipsilateral internalcarotid artery (ICA)occlusion by external carotid artery steting (ECAS). Methods: A total of 17 consecutive patients with severe ECA stenosis and ipsilateral ICA occlusion treated in our hospital by ECAS from 2008-01 to 2013-06 were retrospectively studied. Post-operative improvements of cerebral ischemia and neurocognitive function [Mini-mental state examination (MMSE) and Montreal cognitive assessment (MOCA)] were evaluated, complications at peri-operative and 12 months follow-up period were recorded. Results: The patients' mean age was (65.4±8.0) years including 13(76.5％) male. The success rate of ECAS was 100％;2 patients had hemodynamic depression at peri-operative period and were completely recovered by 2 days treatment.1 patient suffered from contralateral minor stroke at 12 months follow-up time, the other 16 patients were without cerebral ischemia symptoms. No complication occurred at peri-operative and 12 months follow-up period. Compared with pre-operative condition, MMSE score [(25.1±1.4) vs (23.3±1.8), P<0.01] and MOCA score [(23.9±1.2) vs (22.2±1.6), P<0.01] were increased at 3 months after ECAS; both scores were continuously increasing during 12 months follow-up period. Conclusion: ECAS may improve cerebral ischemia and cognitive function in patients with severe ECA stenosis and ipsilateral ICA occlusion.

GeXIVA[1,2] is a new type of conotoxin recently discovered in the transcriptome of Conus generalis and it is expected to be used clinically as a new type of analgesic. This study established and verified a sandwich enzyme-linked immunosorbent assay method for the marine drug GeXIVA[1,2] in the plasma of rats and Beagle dogs. The mouse monoclonal antibody 4B2 and biotin-labeled rabbit polyclonal antibody 2# were developed. The checkerboard method was used to optimize the antibody pairing concentration, minimum dilution ratio, incubation temperature, and incubation time to establish an antibody sandwich ELISA detection method. Verify the established testing methods. The established ELISA method has a quantitative range of 1.25-80 ng·mL^-1 in rat and Beagle plasma. The precision, accuracy, selectivity, specificity, stability, dilution linearity, and hook effect all meet the requirements for biological sample analysis. All the procedures for the animal experiments were approved by the Animal Ethics Committee of the Institute (Permit Number: IACUC-DWZX-2020-698). This method can support the preclinical pharmacokinetic study of the marine drug GeXIVA.

Objective:To analyze the odorous components and their contents in raw products, wine-processed products, vinegar-processed products and wheat bran-processed products of Periplaneta americana. Method:Headspace solid-phase microextraction (HS-SPME) was used to extract the volatile components from different processed products, the chemical compositions were analyzed by gas chromatography-mass spectrometry (GC-MS), and the relative contents of each component was calculated by peak area normalization method. Result:A total of 41, 32, 40 and 47 components were respectively identified from raw, wine-processed, vinegar-processed and wheat bran-processed products of P. americana, involving a total of 13 common components. Conclusion:The odorous components in the raw products are mainly derived from aldehydes, alcohols, amines, hydrocarbons and other volatile substances. Odorous components can be reduced effectively and flavoring substances can be increased by wine, vinegar and wheat bran processing. This study provides a scientific basis for the further study of correcting odor of P. americana, it also provides a reference for analysis and correction of odor of animal medicines.

OBJECTIVE: This study assesses the impact of iodine-rich processed foods and dining places on the iodine nutritional status of children. METHODS: School-aged children (SAC) in seven provinces in China were selected by school-based multi-stage sampling. Urinary iodine, salt iodine, and thyroid volume (TVOL) were determined. Questionnaires were used to investigate dining places and iodine-rich processed foods. The water iodine was from the 2017 national survey. Multi-factor regression analysis was used to find correlations between variables. RESULTS: Children ate 78.7% of their meals at home, 15.1% at school canteens, and 6.1% at other places. The percentage of daily iodine intake from water, iodized salt, iodine-rich processed foods, and cooked food were 1.0%, 79.2%, 1.5%, and 18.4%, respectively. The salt iodine was correlated with the urinary iodine and TVOL, respectively (r = 0.999 and -0.997, P < 0.05). The iodine intake in processed foods was weakly correlated with the TVOL (r = 0.080, P < 0.01). Non-iodized salt used in processed foods or diets when eating out had less effect on children's iodine nutrition status. CONCLUSION Iodized salt remains the primary source of daily iodine intake of SAC, and processed food has less effect on iodine nutrition. Therefore, for children, iodized salt should be a compulsory supplement in their routine diet.
Humans ; Child ; Nutritional Status ; Cross-Sectional Studies ; Iodine ; Sodium Chloride, Dietary/analysis* ; China ; Water

Cross-Sectional Studies ; Dietary Supplements ; Female ; Humans ; Iodides ; Iodine ; Nutritional Status ; Pregnancy ; Pregnancy Complications ; Pregnant Women ; Thyroid Gland ; Thyrotropin