Disability Evaluation ; Femur/diagnostic imaging* ; Humans ; Lower Extremity

Effects of different drying methods including sun drying, steamed, boiled, constant temperature drying (at 40, 50, 60 °C) on appearance, hardness, rehydration ratio, dry rate, moisture, total ash, extractive and polysaccharides contents were studied to provide the basis of standard processing method for Tulipa edulis bulbus. The results showed that the treatments of sun drying and 40 °C drying showed higher rehydration ratios, but lower dry rate, higher hardness, worse color, longer time and obvious distortion and shrinkage in comparison with other drying methods. The treatments of 60 °C constant temperature drying resulted in shorter drying time, lower water and higher polysaccharides content. Drying time is shorter and appearance quality is better in the treatment of steaming and boiling compared with other treatments, but the content of extractive and polysaccharides decreased significantly. The treatments of 50 °C constant temperature drying led to similar appearance quality of bulb to commercial bulb, and it resulted in lowest hardness and highest dry rate as well as higher rehydration ratio, extractive and polysaccharides content, moderate moisture and total ash contents among these treatments. Based on the results obtained, 50 °C constant temperature drying is the better way for the processing of T. edulis bulbus.
Color ; Desiccation ; methods ; Plant Stems ; chemistry ; Polysaccharides ; analysis ; Quality Control ; Tulipa ; chemistry ; Water ; analysis

Objective To analyze the imaging characteristics of hepatic involvement in Langerhans cell histiocytosis(LCH) in children on MRCP, MRI and CT. Methods Twenty-nine children from three children hospitals in China, who were diagnosed as hepatic involvement by disseminated LCH during Aug 2008 and Jan 2015 were included in this study. Their MRCP (n=16), MRI (n=22), contrast?enhanced CT (n=15) data were retrospectively analyzed. The stenoses and dilatation of the intrahepatic bile ducts, the common hepatic bile duct and its first order branches and the common bile duct were evaluated on the MRCP image. The size and shape of the liver, the imaging characteristics of the periportal lesions in the Glisson sheath and hepatic parenchymal lesions were also evaluated on the cross?sectional images. Results MRCP indicated alternative stenoses/dilatation of the bile duct tree (n=16), stenoses of the common hepatic duct and its first?order branches (n=15), partialindistinctness of the common bile duct (n=2) and multiple cystic lesions along the biliary tree (n=5). On the cross?sectional images, the periportal lesions in the Glisson sheath were observed in 28 children. On MRI, the periportal lesions were shown in all the 22 children with MRI, presented as hypo-signal intensity on T1WI, hyper?signal intensity on T2WI (n=11) or mixed?signal intensity on T1WI and T2WI (n=11); On CT, the periportal lesions were found in 14 of the 15 children with CT, presenting as low density (n=13) and mixed density (n=1). Multiple nodular or cyst?like parenchymal lesions were observed in 21 patients including 18 patients on MRI and 5 patients on enhanced CT. Sixteen patients presented as hypo?intensity on T1WI, hyper?intensity on T2WI and low density on plain CT, and 5 patients with iso? or hypo?intensity on T1WI, hypo?intensity on T2WI,and milder enhancement relative to the adjacent parenchyma on contrast?enhanced CT. Conclusions The imaging characteristics of hepatic involvement by LCH include alternative stenoses and dilatation of the intrahepatic ducts, stenoses of the common hepatic bile duct and its first?order branches on MRCP, the periportal lesions in the Glisson sheath and hepatic parenchymal nodular or cyst?like lesions on cross?sectional images.

To explore the relationship between blood level of big endothelin and contrast-induced acute kidney injury (CI-AKI) in patients with emergent percutaneous coronary intervention (PCI). Methods: A total of 1061 consecutive patients received emergent PCI in our hospital from 2013-01 to 2015-06 were enrolled. According to blood levels of big endothelin, the patients were divided into 2 groups: Normal big endothelin group, n=236 and Elevated big endothelin group, n=825. The baseline condition, procedural features, occurrence rate of CI-AKI and composite endpoint events at 6 and 12 months post-operation were studied which including nonfatal myocardial infarction, revascularization, stroke and all-cause death. The risk factors for CI-AKI occurrence were identified by Logistic analysis. Results: The overall occurrence rate of CI-AKI was 22.7% (241/1061). Compared with Normal big endothelin group, Elevated big endothelin group had the higher incidence of CI-AKI, increased composite endpoint events at 6 and 12 months post-operation with P=0.041, P=0.040 and P=0.021, respectively. With adjusted covariates, elevated blood level of big endothelin, no matter as a continuous variable or categorical variable had the enhanced risk of CI-AKI incidence in patients after emergent PCI. Conclusion: Elevated blood level of big endothelin may significantly increase the risk of CI-AKI in patients with emergent PCI.

AlM: To study clinical reference value of retinal microvascular changes in patients with cerebral microbleeds ( CMBs) and discuss its clinical significance.
METHODS:From January 2012 to December 2013, 125 hospitalized patients were collected, including 81 cases were male, 44 cases were female, mean age 76. 3 ± 11. 2 years old. For all patients, functions of liver and kidney, blood - lipoids, blood sugar and blood biochemical examination were tested, and fundus photography and cerebral MR was done. According to the fundus camera eyes, retinal arteriolar equivalent ( RAE) , retinal venular equivalent ( RVE) , retinal vein diameter ratio ( AVR) and arteriovenous crossing sign ( AVN ) were identified, CMBs were classified with cerebral MRl. All the data were processed by SPSS statistical software.
RESULTS: The central retinal arteriolar equivalent (CRAE), central retinal venular equivalent (CRVE) and AVR values in the eyes were found no statistical difference (P<0. 05). Of CMBs classification, the grade 0 in 75 cases, 1 in 27 cases, 2 in 9 cases and 3 in 14 cases were included. The RVE, AVR and AVN and the different grades of CMBs had statistically significant correlation ( P<0. 01). The higher CMBs classification, the more obvious retinal microvascular changes were found. ln respectively to eliminate risk factors such as age, sex, blood glucose and blood pressure, AVR and AVN were still influencing factors for CMBs classification.
COCLUSlON: The results show that retinal microvascular changes, especially small retinal vein arteriovenous cross width, and arteriovenous crossing phenomenon, in which CMBs will happen more likely. After sex, age, hypertension and hyperglycemia in patients with traditional cardiovascular risk factors being ruled out, the retinal microvascular changes are still relatively factors of CMB's occurrence.

Lactobacillus casei was selected as an antigen delivery vehicle for the development of oral vaccine to express recombinant LTB and porcine parvovirus (PPV) VP2 protein. The fusion protein gene encoding PPV VP2 protein and LTB, was cloned into the surface expression vector pPG, and then the recombinant expression vector pPG-VP2-LTB was electrotransformed into Lactobacillus casei 393, generating recombinant strain pPG-VP2-LTB/L. casei 393. After induced by 2% Lactose in MRS broth, an about 78 kD protein was detected in the recombinant Lactobacillus casei by SDS-PAGE. The result of Western blot indicated that the protein possessed the antigenic specificity same as the native virus protein. The result of the whole bacteria cell ELISA indicated that the LTB protein was expressed at the same time. The results of indirect immunofluorescence test and immuno-gold electron microscopy showed that the interest protein was expressed on the surface of L. casei 393. The results provide potential for the development of lactic acid bacteria oral vaccine of PPV, which used LTB as mucosal adjuvant.

KRAS is one of the most frequently mutated human oncogenes. In spite of mounting efforts on the development of direct or indirect inhibition targeting KRAS, little has been achieved because of insurmountable difficulties, titling KRAS "undruggable". Recently, subtype-specific inhibitors have shown great hope. Some KRAS^G12C inhibitors have entered clinical trials, including adagrasib and sotorasib, and have shown preliminary clinical effectiveness. Experiences from the inhibitors targeting the downstream factors of RAS pathways show that the anticancer activity of these drugs will be limited due to the development of drug resistance. Preclinical studies of KRAS^G12C inhibitors have revealed that the application of these agents might be hampered by the drug resistance issue. The current review aims to describe the current status of KRAS^G12C inhibitors, and discuss the mechanisms underlying KRAS^G12C inhibitor resistance, so as to provide the clues for the combat of drug resistance.

E.coli single-stranded DNA-binding protein (SSB) plays an important role in replication, recombination and repair of DNA and is thus crucial for the survival of the bacteria.We described a high expression and efficient purification scheme and kinetic assay of interaction with its substrate, single-stranded DNA (ssDNA). A ssb gene (537 bp) for encoding SSB was obtained by PCR amplification from E.coli K-12 genome. The expression vector of the fusion protein SSB was constructed by attaching ssb gene to pQE30. SSB fusion protein was expressed in M15 E.coli strain induced by IPTG. SDS-PAGE analysis revealed that the expected protein with a molecular weight 20.6kDa was soluble and amounted to about 30% of the total bacterial protein. SSB protein was purified by immobilized metal (Ni2+) chelation affinity chromatography and the purity was about 90%. The resulting SSB protein was a correctly folded tetramer analyzed by gel filtration. It could bind ssDNA with equilibrium dissociation constant (KD) of 4.79×10-7 mol/L as determined by surface plasmon resonance.

The permeability of cell membrane was enhanced by exogenous SA in the culture of Taxus cuspidata. Nuclei condense and fragments were observed in some cells by using fluorescent microscope, and the degraded chromosomal DNA was observed by using agarose gel electrophoresis. The changes in soluble proteins of the suspension cultures of Taxus cuspidata induced by salicylic acids were analyzed by using two-dimensional polyacrylamide gel electrophoresis. Comparing with the control, seven new protein spots were found and six protein spots were not found in the cultures grown with SA at 48h. The results obtained showed that SA could induce the expression of some special proteins that might be related with the action of SA in the suspension cultures of Taxus cuspidata.
Cell Culture Techniques ; methods ; DNA, Plant ; genetics ; Electrophoresis, Agar Gel ; Electrophoresis, Gel, Two-Dimensional ; methods ; Gene Expression Regulation, Plant ; drug effects ; Plant Proteins ; genetics ; metabolism ; Salicylates ; pharmacology ; Taxus ; genetics ; metabolism

OBJECTIVETo systematically assess the clinical efficacy of high-frequency oscillatory ventilation (HFOV) and conventional mechanical ventilation (CMV) for treating pediatric acute respiratory distress syndrome (ARDS).

METHODSData from randomized controlled trials comparing HFOV and CMV in the treatment of pediatric ARDS published before July 2016 were collected from the Cochrane Library, PubMed, Medline, CNKI, and Wanfang Data. Literature screening, data extraction, and quality assessment were performed by two independent reviewers according to the inclusion and exclusion criteria. The selected studies were then subjected to a Meta analysis using the RevMan 5.3 software.

RESULTSA total of 6 studies involving 246 patients were included. The results of the Meta analysis showed that there were no significant differences between the HFOV and CMV groups in the in-hospital or 30-day mortality rate, incidence of barotrauma, mean ventilation time, and oxygenation index (P>0.05). However, compared with CMV, HFOV increased the PaO/FiOratio by 17%, 24%, and 31% at 24, 48, and 72 hours after treatment respectively, and improved oxygenation in patients.

CONCLUSIONSAlthough the mortality rate is not reduced by HFOV in children with ARDS, this treatment can result in significant improvement in oxygenation compared with CMV. Further large-sample, multicenter, randomized clinical trials will be required to draw a definitive conclusion.