Actinic keratosis (AK) is a precursor to cutaneous squamous cell carcinoma (SCC),and molecular mechanisms of transformation from AK to SCC have been a research hotspot.This review focuses on four aspects of the molecular mechanisms,including chromosomal variation,gene mutations,signaling pathways and other factors,summarizes advances in selective mutations in chromosomes 3p,9p,9q,13q,17p and 17q,heterozygous deletion mutations in chromosome 18q,mutations of p53,p16 and Ras genes,abnormality of the transforming growth factor β1 signaling pathway and Fas/FasL signaling pathway,and aberrant expression of matrix metalloproteinases in the transformation from AK to SCC,which will provide a reference for further researches.

Fibroblast growth factor -21 (FGF-21) is a recently discovered metabolic regulation factor, regulating glucose and lipid metabolism and increasing insulin sensitivity. FGF-21 is expected to be a potential anti-diabetic drug. Expression of FGF-21 as inclusion bodies has advantages for high yield and purity, but the bioactivity of the protein is almost totally lost after denature and renature. That is why FGF-21 is currently expressed in soluble form. As a result, the yield is considerably low. In this study, we used SUMO vector to express SUMO-human FGF-21 (SUMO-hFGF-21) in form of inclusion body. We optimized the culture conditions to increase the yield of the bioactive human fibroblast growth factor-21. We applied the hollow fiber membrane filtration column to enrich the bacteria, wash, denature and renature inclusion bodies. After affinity and gel filtration chromatography, we examined the hypoglycemic activity of FGF-21 by the glucose uptake assay in HepG2 cells. We also detected the blood glucose concentration of type 2 diabetic db/db model mice after short or long-term treatment. The results show that the yield of ihFGF-21 was 4 times higher than that of shFGF-21. The yield was 20 mg/L for ihFGF-21 vs. 6 mg/L for shFGF-21. The purity of ihFGF-21 was above 95%, while shFGF-21 was 90%. Compared with the traditional method of extracting inclusion bodies, the production cycle was about three times shortened by application of hollow fiber membrane filtration column technology, but the bioactivity did not significantly differ. This method provides an efficient and cost-effective strategy to the pilot and industrial production of hFGF-21.
Animals ; Bacteria ; metabolism ; Diabetes Mellitus, Experimental ; drug therapy ; Disease Models, Animal ; Fibroblast Growth Factors ; biosynthesis ; Genetic Vectors ; Glucose ; metabolism ; Hep G2 Cells ; Humans ; Hypoglycemic Agents ; isolation & purification ; Inclusion Bodies ; metabolism ; Mice ; Recombinant Fusion Proteins ; biosynthesis ; Small Ubiquitin-Related Modifier Proteins ; biosynthesis

Objective To explore the effect of nursing of Traditional Chinese Medicine on cognitive function among aged people with mild cognitive impairment in elderly care institution. Methods A total of 66 cases with mild cognitive impairment elderly that previously were screened out from two pension institutions in Taiyuan city as the research objects. According to the endowment institutions where the objects of study dwelled was divided into control group (34 cases) and intervention group (32 cases). The intervention group accepted nursing of Traditional Chinese Medicine plan for four months. The control group received the disease related knowledge health education. The cognitive function of the two groups were assessed using the Montreal Cognitive Scale (MoCA) before and after the intervention. Results Before the intervention, two groups had no statistical significance in each dimension score and total score of MoCA. After the intervention, four dimensions scores including ability of visual spatial and execute , attention , delayed recall , directional force and the total score of the intervention group respectively were (2.67±1.09) points, (4.07±1.08) points, (1.97±0.81) points, (4.83±0.99) points, (18.80±1.74) points while the control group were (2.15 ± 0.71) points, (3.30 ± 0.63) points, (1.39 ± 0.97) points, (4.24 ± 1.41) points, (15.06 ± 2.98) points, and the difference was statistically significant (t=1.91-6.06, P < 0.05 or 0.01) ;Before intervention the language score, delayed recall score and the total score of the intervention group were (1.43±0.77) points, (1.57±1.10) points, (17.27±1.99) points, respectively while after the intervention were (1.80 ± 0.66) points, (1.97 ± 0.81) points, (18.80 ± 1.74) points, there was statistically significant difference (t =-2.16,-2.11,- 4.34, P < 0.05 or 0.01). Conclusions Nursing of Traditional Chinese Medicine can delay the process of cognitive decline of mild cognitive impairment in the elderly, and have a certain effect on prevention and treatment of patients with mild cognitive impairment.

[ ABSTRACT] AIM:To determine the role of transcription factor Bach1 in the functions of human microvascular en-dothelial cells ( HMVECs ) .METHODS: Bach1 siRNA was transfected into HMVECs to knock down the expression of Bach1.In vitro endothelial cell tube formation assay in Matrigel culture was used as a surrogate assay for angiogenic poten-tial.Migration of HMVECs was determined by using Transwell chambers.Cell proliferation was measured by CCK-8 assay. Real-time PCR, Western blotting, and ELISA were employed to determine mRNA expression and protein level.Reporter as-say was performed to determine vascular endothelial growth factor ( VEGF) transcriptional activity.RESULTS:Knockdown of Bach1 expression in HMVECs led to an increase in the tube formation and increased endothelial cell migration ability, whereas it has little effect on cell proliferation.Bach1 silencing increased the mRNA and protein expression of heme oxygen-ase-1 (HO-1), and enhanced VEGF transcriptional activation, and mRNA and protein expression.CONCLUSION:Bach1 silencing increases HO-1 and VEGF expression, thus promoting the cell migration and tube formation of HMVECs, indicating that Bach1 is a repressor for angiogenesis.

OBJECTIVETo investigate the changes of encephalic contents of somatostatin (SS) and arginine vasopressin (AVP) in rats with vascular dementia.

METHODSTwenty-four male Sprague-Dawley rats were randomly divided into three groups: vascular dementia group (VDMG), sham operation group (SOG) and control group (CG). The vascular dementia model was established by permanent bilateral vertebral artery occlusion through electric coagulation and shut-off the bilateral carotid arteries. The remember behavior of animals was tested and the contents of SS and AVP in various encephalic region (frontal cortex, temporal lobe, hippocampus, cerebral ganglion and corpora striatum) were determined with radioimmunoassay.

RESULTDuring the 15-day-long remembering test, the frequency of making mistakes in the VDMG was higher remarkably than that in SOG and CG (P<0.05); and the relative contents of SS were decreased in frontal area cortex, temporal lobe, hippocampus, cerebral ganglion and corpora striatum (P<0.01), while decrease of AVP contents was only detected in temporal lobe and corpora striatum (P<0.05).

CONCLUSIONThe disturbance of learning and memory function might be associated with SS and AVP after multiple cerebral infarction in the animals.

Animals ; Arginine Vasopressin ; metabolism ; Brain ; metabolism ; Dementia, Vascular ; metabolism ; physiopathology ; Male ; Memory ; physiology ; Neuropeptides ; metabolism ; Random Allocation ; Rats ; Rats, Sprague-Dawley ; Somatostatin ; metabolism

Objective: To explore the relationship between lipoprotein-associated phospholipase A2 (Lp-PLA2) level, antithrombinⅢ (AT-Ⅲ ) activity and global registry of acute coronary events (GRACE) score in patients with non-ST segment elevation acute coronary syndrome (NSTE-ACS); to analyze the predictive value of Lp-PLA2, AT- Ⅲ on risk stratification and nearby risk assessment in NSTE-ACS patients. Methods: Our research included in 2 groups: NSTE-ACS group, n=260 patients with confirmed diagnosis and regular treatment; Control group, n=50 in-hospital patients with coronary angiography excluded coronary artery disease (CAD).plasma level of Lp-PLA2 and AT-Ⅲ activity were examined in the next morning of admission. GRACE score was calculated in NSTE-ACS patients and based on GRACE score, NSTE-ACS group was further divided into 3 subgroups as Low risk subgroup, GRACE score≤108, n=121, Middle risk subgroup, GRACE score (109-140), n=73 and High risk subgroup, GRACE score>140, n=66. The relationships between Lp-PLA2 level, AT-Ⅲ activity and GRACE score were evaluated and the occurrence of major adverse cardiovascular events (MACE) was recorded within 3 months of discharge. Results: ① Compared with Control group, NSTE-ACS group had increased Lp-PLA2 level, P<0.05 and decreased AT-Ⅲ activity, P<0.01. ② In NSTE-ACS group, Lp-PLA2 levels were elevating from Low risk subgroup to Middle risk subgroup and to High risk subgroup accordingly, all P<0.01; compared with Low risk and Middle risk subgroups, High risk subgroup showed decreased AT-Ⅲ activity, P<0.01 and P<0.05; while AT-Ⅲ activity was similar between Low risk and Middle risk subgroups, P>0.05. ③Partial correlation analysis presented that GRACE score was positively related to Lp-PLA2 (r=0.641, P=0.000) and negatively related AT-III (r=-0.179, P=0.006). ④ The area under ROC curve for MACE occurrence in GRACE score was 0.811, in Lp-PLA2 was 0.862 and in AT- Ⅲ was 0.631, all P<0.01; multivariate Logistic regression analysis indicated that Lp-PLA2, GRACE score and HDL-C were the independent predictors for nearby MACE occurrence in NSTE-ACS patients. Conclusion: Blood Lp-PLA2 level and AT-Ⅲ activity were important for risk stratification in NSTE-ACS patients;AT- Ⅲ had less value than Lp-PLA2 and GRACE score for nearby risk assessment.

Objective To analyze the current status of nursing clinics in China in the past decades in order to provide reference for the development of nursing clinics and advanced nursing practice in the future. Methods Analyzing articles published from 2007 to 2016 from China National Knowledge Infrastructure,Chinese VIP periodical service platform,Wanfang databases by using the bibliometrics and content analysis. Results A total of 184 articles were found by using the key words of"nursing clinic"or"nurse clinic".The increasing trend was obvious after 2013.83.2%(153/184)of the articles describes the nursing clinics were conducted in the hospital.78.3%(144/184)of nursing clinics provided education, guidance and counseling for the clients.87.5%(161/184)of the articles clearly describes the competence of the nurses in the nursing clinics.The majority of the articles reported using non-experimental design. The top subject of nursing clinics research was chronic diseases (54.5%, 85/184), in which diabetes accounts for 70.6%(70/85). Conclusions An increasing trend of development of nursing clinics in China.The urgent need for the development of nursing clinic in primary medical institutions.More kinds of service should be provided for the clients, not only health education, guidance and counseling. To expand the research field of nursing clinics is needed.

Objective To analyze the nursing decision-making literatures to reveal the status of application and existing problems of nursing.Methods All nursing decision-making related literatures were searched in the China National Knowledge Infrastructure (CNKI), Wanfang Med Online and VIP Database for Chinese Technical Periodicals (VIP) from 2001 to 2016. The bibliometric analysis method was used to analyze the distribution of year, authors' unit, institute, research content and foundation in the Microsoft Excel. Results A total of 158 articles were included in analysis, with 9.88 per year on average, 36.08% of which were published in the core periodical. Authors were mainly from clinical first-line units. Most of the literatures used quantitative research methods and were belong to applied research.Conclusions The overall number of literature is increasing. However, it is necessary to strengthen the foundation, improve the application level of evidence-based method, develop the qualitative research, increase the combination of decision and information. The application and development of nursing decision-making can be more scientific and comprehensive.

The accelerating growth of the public microbial genomic data imposes substantial bur-den on the research community that uses such resources. Building databases for non-redundant ref-erence sequences from massive microbial genomic data based on clustering analysis is essential. However, existing clustering algorithms perform poorly on long genomic sequences. In this article, we present Gclust, a parallel program for clustering complete or draft genomic sequences, where clustering is accelerated with a novel parallelization strategy and a fast sequence comparison algo-rithm using sparse suffix arrays (SSAs). Moreover, genome identity measures between two sequences are calculated based on their maximal exact matches (MEMs). In this paper, we demon-strate the high speed and clustering quality of Gclust by examining four genome sequence datasets. Gclust is freely available for non-commercial use at https://github.com/niu-lab/gclust. We also introduce a web server for clustering user-uploaded genomes at http://niulab.scgrid.cn/gclust.

Previous studies proposed that the synergistic effect of fibroblast growth factor-21 (FGF-21) and insulin may be due to the improvement of insulin sensitivity by FGF-21. However, there is no experimental evidence to support this. This study was designed to elucidate the mechanism of synergistic effect of FGF-21 and insulin in the regulation of glucose metabolism. The synergistic effect of FGF-21 and insulin on regulating glucose metabolism was demonstrated by investigating the glucose absorption rate by insulin resistance HepG2 cell model and the blood glucose chances in type 2 diabetic db/db mice after treatments with different concentrations of FGF-21 or/and insulin; The synergistic metabolism was revealed through detecting GLUT1 and GLUT4 transcription levels in the liver by real-time PCR method. The experimental results showed that FGF-21 and insulin have a synergistic effect on the regulation of glucose metabolism. The results of real-time PCR showed that the effective dose of FGF-21 could up-regulate the transcription level of GLUT1 in a dose-dependent manner, but had no effect on the transcription level of GLUT4. Insulin (4 u) alone could up-regulate the transcription level of GLUT4, yet had no effect on that of GLUT1. Ineffective dose 0.1 mg kg(-1) FGF-21 alone could not change the transcription level of GLUT1 or GLUT4. However, when the ineffective dose 0.1 mg x kg(-1) FGF-21 was used in combination with insulin (4 u) significantly increased the transcription levels of both GLUT1 and GLUT4, the transcription level of GLUT1 was similar to that treated with 5 time concentration of FGF-21 alone; the transcription level of GLUT4 is higher than that treated with insulin (4 u) alone. In summary, in the presence of FGF-21, insulin increases the sensitivity of FGF-21 through enhancing GLUT1 transcription. Vice versa, FGF-21 increases the sensitivity of insulin by stimulating GLUT4 transcription in the presence of insulin. FGF-21 and insulin exert a synergistic effect on glucose metabolism through mutual sensitization.