The levels of serum lipids, lipoproteins and apoproteins were determined in 36 age over 90 year long-living people, 43 patients with old myocardial infarction (OMI) and 56 normal subjects of the age 40 to 64 years old. The resutts showed that: the ratioes of HDL-c/TC, HDL-c/LDL-c and ApoA_1/ApoB_(100) of the long-living people were higher than that of the patients with OMI; the levels of TC, TG, LDL-c, VLDL-c, ApoB_(100) and ApoA_1 in longevity group were lower than that of OMI group; no significant difference of HDL-c level was found between longevity and OMI group. Compared with normal group, the serum concentration of ApoA_1/ApoB_(100) ratio, TG and VLDL-c in the long-living group were obviously higher, and the serum concentration of ApoB_(100), ApoA_1 and HDL-c significantly lower. No significant differences were found in the levels of TC, LDL-c, and in the ratioes of HDL-c/TC and HDL-c/LDL-c between longevity and normal group. Stepwise regression analysis showed that the serum ApoB_(100) concentration and ApoA_1/ApoB_(100) ratio was the most important factor of longevity. It was suggested that the internal balance of serum lipids and lipoprotein metabolism in long-living people was good co-ordination, and the lower ApoB_(100) level and higher ApoA_1/ApoB_(100) ratio were probably parameters of longevity.

ve To investigate the changes in perioperative levels of circulating procalcitonin (PCT), TNF-?, IL-6, IL-8 and IL-10 in patients undergoing valve replacement with cardiopulmonary bypass (CPB) .Methods Sixteen patients (7 male, 9 female) aged (38.5?5.1) years and weighing (42.9?10.2) kg, undergoing valve replacement under CPB were chosen in this study as CPB group and seven male patients aged (32.6?5.1) years and weighing (58.3?4.4) kg undergoing pericardectomy were enrolled in this study as non-CPB group. Patients with infection or immunodeficiency and those who had received corticosteroid and drugs which may affect immune function were excluded. Premedication consisted of intramuscular midazolam 0.1 mg/kg and morphine 0.1 mg/kg. Anesthesia was induced with midazolam 0.15mg/kg, fentanyl 8?g/kg and vecuronium 0.1mg/kg and maintained with 0.8%-1.2% isoflurane inhalation and intermittent iv boluses of fentanyl and vecuronium. Blood samples were taken from CVP line before induction of anesthesia, 5 min after tracheal intubation, before CPB, immediately after discontinuation of CPB, and on 1st, 3rd, 5th, 7th postoperative day for determination of plasma PCT, TNF-?, IL-6, IL-8, and IL-10 levels. Results In CPB group plasma TNF-?, IL-6, IL-8 and IL-10 levels increased significantly immediately after CPB and returned to the baseline levels on the 3rd postoperative day, while plasma PCT concentration increased significantly after operation and reached its peak level of (10.62?3. 51) ng/ml on the 1st postoperative day. In non-CPB group there was a similar trend of changes in PCT , IL-6, IL-8 and IL-10 but to a much lesser extent.Conclusions CPB leads to a pro- and anti-inflammatory response, as well as procalcitonin release. PCT may play an important role in the systemic inflammation induced by CPB.

Objective To examine the expression of a- and ?-defensin genes in human peripheral leukocytes. Methods Fifty-one healthy blood donors were studied. Peripheral leukocytes were stimulated by lipopolysaccharide ( LPS) 100 ng?ml-1 ex vivo. The level of defensin mRNA expression in the leukocytes were assessed after being incubated with LPS for 0 (baseline), 1, 3, 6, 12, 24 h by semi-quantitative RT-PCR. Southern blot analysis and sequencing were used to confirm the identity of defensin gene transcripts. Results Expression of ?-defensin 1-3 mRNA was detected in all donors studied, but no ?-defensin mRNA expression was detected in peripheral leukocytes before LPS-stimulation. Expression of ?-defensin-1 gene was detected in the leukocytes after being incuaated with LPS for 3 h in 45 of 51 donors (88.2% ) and ?-defensin-2 mRNA expression was positive in 20 donors (39.2 % ), but no ?-defensin-3 mRNA expression was detected. The levels of ?-defensin-1 and-2 mRNA peaked at 6 h and started decreasing at 12 h. In contrast there was no significant change in ?-defensin 1-3 mRNA in peripheral leukocytes after LPS-stimulation. Conclusion In human peripheral leukocytes ?-defensin-1 and-2 genes are induced transiently by LPS-stimulation;whereas ?-defensin 1-3 genes are constitutive. The induced expression of ?-defensin-1 and-2 genes show inter-individual variability.

During the production of ε-poly-L-lysine (ε-PL) in fed-batch fermentation, the decline of ε-PL synthesis often occurs at middle or late phase of the fermentation. To solve the problem, we adopted two strategies, namely pH shift and feeding yeast extract, to improve the productivity of ε-PL. ε-PL productivity in fermentation by pH shift and feeding yeast extract achieved 4.62 g/(L x d) and 5.16 g/(L x d), which were increased by 27.3% and 42.2% compared with the control ε-PL fed-batch fermentation, respectively. Meanwhile, ε-PL production enhanced 36.95 g/L and 41.32 g/L in 192 h with these two strategies, increased by 27.4% and 42.48% compared to the control, respectively. ε-PL production could be improved at middle or late phase of fed-batch fermentation by pH shift or feeding yeast extract.
Batch Cell Culture Techniques ; Fermentation ; Industrial Microbiology ; Nitrogen ; chemistry ; Polylysine ; biosynthesis

Objective To investigate the correlation between gene polymorphism within human β defensin 1 (DEFB1) and fungal susceptibility to severe sepsis through case-control association study.Methods A total of211 patients with severe sepsis in ICU were enrolled in the present case control study. Sepsis in this study was diagnosed according to the definition of American College of Chest Physicians/Society of Critical Care Medicine Consensus Conference in 1992 and 2002. Based on the development of fungal infection during ICU stay, all 211 patients were divided into fungal infection group (Group Ⅰ) and control group (Group C). Alleles and genotypes of-1816A/G, -390A/T, -52A/G, -44C/G and-20A/G within DEFB1 gene were assayed in all 211 patients by means of DNA direct sequencing, Allele-specific PCR amplifications or high-throughput site-specific TaqMan assay. Genetic analysis was employed to calculate the distribution frequency of haplotypes. The correlation between the genomic variations (allele,genotype and haplotype) and fungal infection was analyzed by Chi-square test or Fisher's exact test.Odds ratio (OR) was employed to reflect the correlation degree of genetic factor with fungal susceptibility to severe sepsis. Results Group Ⅰ enrolled 80 patients, of whom 43 pstients were male, at age of (60.81 ± 18.30) years. Group C enrolled 131 patients, of whom 80 patients were male, at mean age of (60.42 ± 17.03) years. No significant difference was found between two groups in aspect of gender and age (P＞0.05). The genetic locus of -1816A/G, -390A/T, -52A/G, -44C/G and -20A/G of both groups were in agreement with Hardy Weinberg equilibrium. No significant difference was found between two groups in the distribution of allelic frequencies and genotype frequencies (P ＞0.05). No significant difference was found in the distribution frequency of four common haplotypes of the above five genetic locus such as AAACG, ATGCA, GTGGG and ATACG (all P ＞ 0.05). Conclusions Genetic locus of -1816A/G, -390A/T, -52A/G, -44C/G and-20A/G within DEFB1 gene have no correction with fungal infections in severe sepsis, suggesting that DEFB1 gene polymorphism may not serve as a key genetic marker for the predisposition to fungal infection in severe sepsis.

Objective To examine the kinetics of plasma S100A12 and soluble receptor for advanced glycation end products (sRAGE) in infants and young children undergoing cardiopulmonary bypass ( CPB),and to investigate whether they could protective the occurrence of noninfectious pulmonary complication (NPC) after cardiac surgery.Methods This was a case-control study.The subjects included all children aged ＜3 years old who underwent cardiac surgery with CPB during the period from June 1st to July 31st 2011.The patient who showed pulmonary inflammation or had abnormal liver or renal function before surgery was excluded.The remain patients were divided into 2 groups according to whether they had developed NPC postoperatively.Twenty patients were grouped into NPC because they developed the complications of pleural effusion,chylothorax,partial lung collapse,pulmonary hypertensive crisis,airway disorders,pneumothorax,pneumomediastinum,or phrenic nerve palsy.Forty patients were categorized into the no-NPC group.Plasma concentrations of S100A12 and sRAGE were measured using ELISA at baseline,before CPB,immediately after CPB,1 h,12 h and 24 h after operation.Differences concentrations between two groups were analyzed with t test.A stepwise logistic regression analysis was used to indentify the independent risk factor for NPC.A P value ＜0.05 was considered statistically significant.Results Plasma levels of S100A12 and sRAGE dramatically increased immediately after CPB ( P ＜ 0.01 ).The levels of sRAGE dropped to lower than baseline level (P ＜0.05),while S100A12 was still at high level 24h after operation (P ＜0.01 ).Levels of S100A12 and sRAGE immediately after CPB in NPC group were significantly higher than the no-NPC group (P ＜ 0.05).Twenty-four hours after operation,levels of S100A12 were still higher in NPC group than no-NPC (P ＜ 0.01 ),while levels of sRAGE were similar in the two groups ( P ＞ 0.05 ).In the stepwise logistic regression analysis,plasma S100A12 level immediately after CPB remained as a independently predictor for postoperative NPC (OR =1.042,95％ CI:1.010 ～ 1.076,P =0.011 ).Levels of S100A12 immediately after CPB were positively associated with mechanical ventilation time ( r =0.47,P ＜ 0.01 ),duration of surgical Intensive Care Unit ( r =0.407,P =0.002) and hospital stay ( r =0.421,P =0.01 ).Conclusions Plasma levels of S100A12 and sRAGE were significantly increased immediately after CPB and the elevated plasma S100A12 immediately after CPB served as an early reliable biomarker of the occurrence and the prognosis of NPC after CPB in infants and young children.

OBJECTIVE:To study absorption characteristics of naringin in situ single-pass intestinal perfusion model of rats. METHODS:UPLC method was established for the content determination of naringin and naringenin in intestinal perfusion samples of rats. The in situ single-pass intestinal perfusion model of rats was adopted to investigate intestinal(duodenum,jejunum,ileum and colon)absorption and metabolic characteristics [apparent permeability coefficient(Peff),absorptivity,metabolic rate] of naringin(10 μ mol/L). RESULTS:The linear range of naringin and naringenin were 1.25-40,1.25-40 μ mol/L(R2=0.999 4, 0.996 6). The detection limit were 0.5,0.4 μ mol/L,and limit of quantitation were all 1.25 μ mol/L. Precision of inter-day and intra-day,recovery and stability in HBSS solution,perfusion fluid of small intestine and colon were all in line with the standard. Peffof naringin in duodenum,jejunum,ileum and colon of rats were(0.28 ± 0.19),(0.71 ± 0.17),(0.30 ± 0.02),(0.59 ± 0.19) (n=6),without statistical significance(P>0.05).Absorptivities were(2.90±2.14)%,(6.38±3.61)%,(3.69±0.56)%,(6.64± 2.12)%(n=6). Naringin could be metabolized to naringenin in 4 intestinal segments of rats,with metabolic rate of(2.98 ± 1.51)%,(2.53 ± 1.31)%,(2.24 ± 1.33)%,(0.70 ± 0.20)%(n=6). The lowest absorptivity and the highest metabolic rate of naringin were occurred in the duodenum,there were statistical significance compared with colon(P<0.05). CONCLUSIONS:Naringin shows poor permeability and poor absorption in the intestinal tract of rats.There was no specific absorption site in the rat' s intestines for naringenin;naringin could be metabolized to naringenin in small intestine and colon,but metabolic rate of naringin in small intestine is higher than in colon.

Objective To evaluate the clinical characteristics and pathological features of Meckel's diverticulum(MD) in children.Methods 244 MD cases admitted between January 2010 and December 2014 were retropectively analyzed.Results In fifty patients,MD was an incidental finding at laparotomy or laparoscopy for unrelated entities.Among the remaining 194 symptomatic patients,there were 76 patients presenting GI bleeding,forty eight patients were identified with perforated Meckel's diverticulum,thirty six patients suffered from intestinal obstruction.34 patients had MD caused severe complications such as volvulus and intestinal necrosis,diverticular perforation and peritonitis.61 out of 76 GI bleeding patients underwent a 99mTc scan,and positive tracer was found in 42 patients.Among the 19 negative 99mTc scan patients,8 received capsule endoscopy and only 3 patients were suspected of diverticulum.242 patients underwent one stage resection of the diverticulum.Histology revealed ectopic gastric mucosa or ectopic pancreatic tissue in 128 patients.One patient died of volvulus and intestinal necrosis postoperatively,and two suffered from adhesive intestinal obstruction during one to five year's follow up.Conclusions It is necessary to maintain a high suspicion of MD in the pediatric age group with symptoms of abdominal pain,gastrointestinal hemorrhage or intestinal obstruction.Ectopic mucosa assumes the ultimate responsibility for major complications of MD.

OBJECTIVETo investigate whether three biallelic polymorphisms at positions -592, -819 and -1082 in the promoter region of the IL-10 gene are associated with increased incidence of severe sepsis.

METHODSThe IL-10 -592, -819 and -1082 polymorphisms were typed using polymerase chain reaction followed by digestion with the restriction enzymes RsaI, MaeIII and MnlI, respectively.

RESULTSPatients with severe sepsis were more likely to have IL-10 -1082 allele 1, compared with controls (P < 0.05). Genotype distribution of the IL-10 -1082 polymorphism significantly differed between patients and controls (P < 0.05). However, the allele frequencies and genotype distribution of the IL-10 -1082 polymorphism did not differ between surviving and dead patients (P > 0.05). No significant differences in the genotype distribution and allele frequencies of the IL-10 -592 and IL-10 -819 polymorphisms were observed between patients with severe sepsis and healthy controls, nor between surviving and dead patients (P > 0.05).

CONCLUSIONSThe polymorphism at position -1082 in the promoter region of the IL-10 gene may be associated with susceptibility to severe sepsis. In contrast, the other two highly linked IL-10 polymorphisms are not associated with incidence or the outcome of severe sepsis.

Alleles ; Disease Susceptibility ; Genetic Predisposition to Disease ; Humans ; Interleukin-10 ; genetics ; Polymorphism, Genetic ; Promoter Regions, Genetic ; Sepsis ; genetics

Twelve novel 2-cyano-3,12-dioxooleana-1,9(11)-dien-28-oic acid(CDDO) derivatives were designed and synthesized(9a-91) by introducing different heterocyclic rings to 17-COOH of CDDO through various linkers.Their structures were determined by ESI-MS,IR and 1 H NMR.The antiproliferative activity of the synthetic derivatives against human cancer cells HCT-116,A549 and HepG2 was evaluated by MTT assay.Several compounds showed potent inhibitory activities against test cell lines.Among them,compound 9c showed more potent antiproliferative activity than the CDDO-imidazolide (CDDO-Im).Moreover,rat plasma stability assay showed that compound 9c was more stable than CDDO-Im.