The antioxidant activity of lycopene is highest among the current carotenoids.Recently the researches on lycopene are focused on ingredient of functional foods in the world.The fermentation production of lycopene by Streptomyces rimosus was reported first time in China.The determination methods,such as spectrophotometric method and HPLC were constructed.Using a stain Fc of Streptomyces rimosus as a original strain,a high-yield lycopene producing mutant strain Fc' was selected after UV mutation.The lycopene yield of the strain is 2.5 times higher than the original strain Fc.The optimal fermentation conditions were determined by flask experiments,and the lycopene yield of strain Fc' reached 230mg/L in flask under the optimal fermentation condition,meanwhile the Streptomyces rimosus strain could produce purer lycopene without adding any blocking agents in its fermentation process.This results lay a good foundation for lycopene commercial production by fermentation using Streptomyces rimosus.

Objective To analyze the clinical outcomes of patients treated with in vitro fertilization and embryo transfer (IVF-ET) and influence factors of pregnancy rate. Methods We retrospectively analyzed the clinical data of 12 491 cycles, including 6832 fresh IVF/intracytoplast single sperm injection (ICSI) cycles and 5659 frozen embryo transfer (FET) cycles from 2005 to 2007. Results The clinical pregnancy rate per cycle was 32. 99% (2254/6832)in fresh embryo transfer program, and the live birth rate was 25.75% (1394/5413); the early pregnant loss rate was 9. 36% (211/2254), and the prenatal defect rate was 1.45% (25/1722). Through analysis of these patients' basic data, we found that the patients' age, causes for infertility, egg retrieval and cycle number affected the pregnancy rate. Using logistic regression method, we found that patients′ age was the most important factor affecting pregnancy outcome. In FET cycles, the clinical pregnancy rate was 38.08% (2155/5659), significantly higher than fresh embryo transfer cycles. Conclusions IVF-ET treatment is a safe and effective method for infertility couples. However, the female age and poor ovarian response are the main factors affecting pregnancy rate. Thawed embryo transfer can increase the accumulated pregnancy rate effectively.

Inosine 5′-monophosphate dehydrogenase (IMPDH) is a key enzyme catalyzing the rate-limiting step of de novo nucleotide synthesis in vivo. In recent years, it has become a therapeutic target for anti-virus, anti-bacterial, anti-cancer, anti-parasitic and other diseases. IMPDH inhibitors have been shown to inhibit viral prolife-ration in host cells by depleting guanosine 5′-monophosphate (GMP), the raw material required for viral replication in host cells, with broad-spectrum antiviral properties. In order to find novel anti-coronavirus drugs, this study screened 22 potential IMPDH inhibitors from 70 000 natural small molecule libraries based on IMPDH protein structure using molecular docking and ROC calculation for virtual screening. With ribavirin as the positive control drug, Huh7 cell and H460 cell models were used to verify the anti-coronavirus HCoV-229E and HCoV-OC43 activities of 22 selected target compounds. Among them, compounds 11, 12, 15 and 16 showed inhibitory activity against coronavirus HCoV-229E. The compounds 4, 12, 13 and 15 showed inhibitory activities against coronavirus HCoV-OC43. 12 and 15 showed significant inhibitory activity against both two coronaviruses, and their efficacy was similar to ribavirin at the same dose, which can be further studied as a lead compound for IMPDH inhibitors.

AIMTo determine whether serotonin, a major neurotransmitter in brain, can modulate the production of secretory beta-amyloid protein precursor (sAPP) by activation of serotonin 5-HT2C receptor.

METHODSThe hippocampal slices of rats were incubated with various concentrations of serotonin, M-110, or L-107. sAPP released into the incubation medium were assayed by Western blot analysis assay with monoclonal antibody 22C11 for 2 h.

RESULTSVarious concentrations of serotonin (1.0 x 10(-2) - 1.0 x 10(3) micromol x L(-1)), M-110, a serotonin 5-HT2C agonist (1.5 x 10(-6) - 1.5 x 10(3) micromol x L(-1)), showed positive effect on the production of sAPP while L-107, a serotonin 5-HT2C antagonist (1.0 x 10(-9) - 1.0 x 10(3) micromol x L(-1)), showed negative effect on the production of sAPP over controls.

CONCLUSIONSerotonin modulates production of secretory amyloid beta-protein precursor through serotonin 5-HT2C receptor in incubated rat hippocampal slices.

Amyloid beta-Protein Precursor ; secretion ; Animals ; Hippocampus ; metabolism ; In Vitro Techniques ; Male ; Peptide Fragments ; secretion ; Rats ; Rats, Sprague-Dawley ; Receptor, Serotonin, 5-HT2C ; Serotonin ; pharmacology ; Serotonin 5-HT2 Receptor Agonists ; Serotonin 5-HT2 Receptor Antagonists

OBJECTIVETo investigate the effect of Qingikailing and Shengmai injection alone or combined on the acute lung injury (AL) induced by oleic acid in rabbits.

METHODThe rabbits were randomly divided into 11 groups: oleic acid group; control group; treatment groups including low, middle and high dosage groups of Qingkailing and Shengmai injection alone and combined, respectively. ALI model was established by iv oleic acid (0.05 mL x kg(-1)) in these groups, and then iv above drugs respectively,while in control group, the same volume of normal saline was given. The respiratory amplitude and rate were observed, and blood samples were taken from cervical artery for blood-gas analysis before and at 30, 60, 120 min after oleic acid or normal saline administration. At the end of experiment, the concentration of LDH, CAT and MDA in the lung tissue were measured and pathologic changes of lung tissue were observed microscopically.

RESULTCompared with oleic acid group, the respiratory amplitude markedly enhanced (P < 0.05) in the low and high dose groups of Qingkailing and Shengmai injection. PaO2 increased significantly (P < 0.05) in the low dose group of combined Qingkailing and Shengmai injection, PaCO2 decreased markedly (P < 0.05) in the low dose groups of Qingkailing and Shengmai injection alone and combined. The level of MDA significantly decreased (P < 0.05) in the each group of Qingkailing and Shengmai injection alone, the level of MDA significantly decreased (P < 0.05) and CAT increased (P < 0.05) in the low dose group of combined Qingkailing with Shengmai injection. The low dose group of combined Qingkailing and Shengmai injection can alleviate the pathological changes induced by oleic acid.

CONCLUSIONThe curative effect of the low dose group of combined Qingkailing with Shengmai injection for the ALI induced by oleic acid was better than Qingkailing and Shengmai injection alone at the same dosage.

Animals ; Carbon Dioxide ; blood ; Catalase ; blood ; Drug Combinations ; Drug Therapy, Combination ; Drugs, Chinese Herbal ; administration & dosage ; isolation & purification ; pharmacology ; Female ; L-Lactate Dehydrogenase ; metabolism ; Lung ; pathology ; Male ; Malondialdehyde ; blood ; Oleic Acid ; Oxygen ; blood ; Plants, Medicinal ; chemistry ; Rabbits ; Random Allocation ; Respiration ; drug effects ; Respiratory Distress Syndrome, Adult ; blood ; chemically induced ; pathology ; physiopathology

OBJECTIVETo investigate the effect of Qingkailing and Methylprednisolone (MP) injection alone or combined on the acute lung injury (ALI) induced by oleic acid in rabbits.

METHODThe rabbits were randomly divided into 11 groups: oleic acid group; control group; treatment groups including low, middle and high dosage groups of Qingkailing and MP alone and combined, respectively. ALI model was established by i.v. oleic acid (0.05 mL x kg(-1)) in these groups, and then i.v. above drugs respectively, while in control group, the same volume of normal saline was given. The respiratory amplitude and rate were observed, and blood samples were taken from cervical artery for blood-gas analysis before and at 30, 60, 120 min after oleic acid or normal saline administration. At the end of experiment, the concentration of LDH, CAT and MDA in the lung tissue were measured and pathologic changes of lung tissue were observed microscopically.

RESULTCompared with oleic acid group, the respiratory amplitude markedly enhanced (P < 0.05) and respiratory rate lowered (P < 0.05) in the low, middle and high dose groups of Qingkailing and MP injection. On the 30 min of treatment, PaO2 increased significantly (P < 0.05) in the low and middle dose groups of combined Qingkailing and MP injection; PaCO2 decreased markedly (P < 0.05) on the 120 min of treatment in each treatment group. The level of LDH significantly increased (P < 0.05), CAT and MDA decreased (P < 0.05) in the middle and high groups of Qingkailing and MP injection. The low and middle dose groups of combined Qingkailing and MP injection can alleviate the pathological changes induced by oleic acid.

CONCLUSIONThe curative effect of the low dose group of combined Qingkailing and MP for the ALI induced by oleic acid was better than Qingkailing and MP alone, while the big dose groups of Qingkailing and MP alone better than the combination at the same dosage.

Animals ; Anti-Inflammatory Agents ; therapeutic use ; Blood Gas Analysis ; methods ; Drug Therapy, Combination ; Drugs, Chinese Herbal ; isolation & purification ; therapeutic use ; Female ; Lung ; metabolism ; pathology ; Male ; Methylprednisolone ; therapeutic use ; Oleic Acid ; Phytotherapy ; Plants, Medicinal ; chemistry ; Rabbits ; Random Allocation ; Respiratory Distress Syndrome, Adult ; chemically induced ; drug therapy ; metabolism ; Respiratory Function Tests

OBJECTIVESTo investigate the efficacy of by combining a 12-week course of lamivudine in those HBeAg-positive hepatitis B patients receiving peginterferon alfa-2a (peg-IFN alpha-2a) therapy.

METHODSA total of 58 patients initiated a 52-week course of peginterferon alfa-2a were enrolled and divided into 3 groups. The patients with HBV DNA undetectable or HBeAg negative at week 12 were divided into group A, in this group treatment continued to week 52 with peg-IFN alpha-2a alone; The rest patients were divided into group B1 and B2, in group B1, lamivudine was combined at a course of 12 weeks, while in group B2 treatment continued to week 52 with peg-IFN alpha-2a alone. Clinical responses were assessed at week 52.

RESULTS8 out of 58 patients achieved undetectable HBV DNA or HBeAg loss at week 12 and divide into group A. In this group the HBV DNA loss rate, HBeAg seroconversion rate, HBsAg loss rate and ALT normalization rate were 100% (8/8), 75% (6/8), 0% (0/8) and 100% (8/8) respectively at the end of treatment. In this group the HBV DNA loss rate, HBeAg seroconversion rate, HBsAg loss rate and ALT normalization rate were 100% (8/8), 75% (6/8), 0% (0/8) and 100%(8/8) respectively at the end of treatment. The rest 50 patients without early response to peg-IFN alpha-2a at week 12 were divided into group B1 (24 patients enrolled) and B2 (26 patients). At the end of treatment, the HBV DNA loss rate, HBeAg seroconversion rate, HBsAg loss rate and ALT normalization rate in Group B1 were 50% (12/24), 38% (9/24), 4% (1/24) and 63% (15/24) respectively, and 31% (8/26), 27% (7/26), 0% (0/26) and 35% (9/26) respectively in group B2.

CONCLUSIONThose patients with early responses to peg-IFN alpha-2a therapy can achieve high clinical responses at the end of 52-week treatment. The combining therapy of lamivudine for a course of 12-weeks can improve the clinical responses for the patients without early responses to peg-IFN alpha-2a.

Adult ; Antiviral Agents ; therapeutic use ; DNA, Viral ; blood ; Drug Therapy, Combination ; Female ; Hepatitis B e Antigens ; blood ; Hepatitis B, Chronic ; blood ; drug therapy ; Humans ; Interferon-alpha ; therapeutic use ; Lamivudine ; therapeutic use ; Male ; Pilot Projects ; Polyethylene Glycols ; therapeutic use ; Recombinant Proteins ; Treatment Outcome ; Young Adult

This study was aimed to investigate the expression and activity of membrane surface tissue factor (TF) of monocytes and platelets in peripheral blood cells from patients with cerebral infarction and their clinical significance. The TF expressions in monocytes and platelets from 25 patients with cerebral infarction were detected by flow cytometry, the TF activity was detected by chromogenic reaction method, and compared with 24 normal people used as control. The results showed that the TF expressions of monocytes and platelets in peripheral blood cells from patients with cerebral infarction were significantly higher than that in normal controls (p<0.01), and TF activity was also higher in patients than that in controls (p<0.01). In conclusion, the expression and activity of membrane surface in patients with cerebral infarction were enhanced, the hematocyte-derived tissue factor as a trigger in coagulation pathway is involved in pathological thrombosis in patients with cerebral infarction.
Aged ; Blood Cells ; metabolism ; Case-Control Studies ; Cerebral Infarction ; blood ; metabolism ; Erythrocyte Membrane ; metabolism ; Female ; Flow Cytometry ; Humans ; Male ; Middle Aged ; Monocytes ; metabolism ; Thromboplastin ; metabolism

OBJECTIVETo investigate the risk factors for the initial bowel resection and postoperative recurrence in a cohort of patients with Crohn disease(CD).

METHODSA total of 216 consecutive patients who were regularly followed up in the Department of Gastroenterology at the First Affiliated Hospital of Sun Yat-sen University between 2003 and 2009 were included. Probabilities for initial intestinal resection were calculated with Kaplan-Meier method. The influence of concomitant covariates on the cumulative probability rates was examined using Cox proportional hazard model. The risk of postoperative recurrence, including endoscopic recurrence, clinical recurrence and surgical recurrence, was also investigated during the follow-up. Logistic analysis was performed for the risk factors of recurrence.

RESULTSThe median follow-up was 55 months. A total of 44 patients(20.4%) underwent bowel resection. The cumulative frequency of surgery was 11%, 25%, and 45% at 1, 5, and 10 years after initial onset. Multivariate analyses showed that age at diagnosis and disease behavior were independent risk factors for initial intestinal resection(P<0.05). All but 4 patients had complete follow-up after the surgery with a median duration of 20.4 months. Endoscopic recurrence rate was 52.6% within 1 year, and clinical recurrence rate was 22.5%. Median time to clinical recurrence was 22.6 months. Multivariate analyses showed that perianal disease was the only independent risk factor for clinical recurrence(P<0.05). During the follow-up 2 patients(5%) underwent further operation and both had the same indications for the reoperation as that for the initial surgery.

CONCLUSIONSPatients with CD have a high frequency of surgery and the postoperative recurrent rate is also high. Age at diagnosis and disease behavior are associated with the probability of initial surgery. The presence of perianal disease is associated with a higher risk of clinical recurrence.

Adolescent ; Adult ; Crohn Disease ; surgery ; Digestive System Surgical Procedures ; methods ; Female ; Follow-Up Studies ; Humans ; Logistic Models ; Male ; Postoperative Period ; Proportional Hazards Models ; Recurrence ; Retrospective Studies ; Risk Factors ; Young Adult

OBJECTIVETo study the expression and pathological implication of transforming growth factor-1 (TGF-1) and endothelin-1 (ET-1) in intraacinar pulmonary arterioles of children with congenital heart disease and pulmonary hypertension (HP).

METHODSForty-one children with left-to-right shunt congenital heart disease were studied including 25 cases of HP (group A), 16 cases without HP (group B) and 10 children without congenital heart disease as the contols (group C). Expression of TGF-beta1 mRNA and ET-1 mRNA in intraacinar pulmonary arteriolar (IAPA) was studied using in-situ hybridization and image pattern analysis of their absorption values (A value). Changes of the intraacinar arterioles and lung tissue were studied by elastic fiber staining and electronic microscopy respectively.

RESULTS(1) There was a significant difference in the amount of intraacinar pulmonary arterioles (partial-muscular and muscular) counted in either group A or B in comparing with that of group C (F values 149.96 and 142.01 respectively, P < 0.01); (2) Electronic microscopy demonstrated endothelial proliferation of the small arteries, thickening of arteriolar wall, increased density of collagen fibers at adventitia and increased thickness of the capillary basal membrane; (3) The A value of TGF-beta1 mRNA expressed in the pulmonary arterioles of groups A and B by in-situ hybridization were 0.1988 +/- 0.0498 and 0.1098 +/- 0.0428 respectively, however, the expression was weak in group C (A value: 0.0578 +/- 0.0096). There were all significant between each two groups (F = 45.95, P < 0.01). The expression of ET-1 mRNA was markedly increased as well in the endothelial cells of pulmonary arterioles in both groups A and B, with A values of 0.1692 +/- 0.0205 and 0.1004 +/- 0.0140 respectively, whereas the expression was weak in group C (A value of 0.0746 +/- 0.0119). There were all significant between each two groups (F = 139.996, P < 0.01).

CONCLUSIONSThe number of intraacinar pulmonary partial-muscular and muscular arterioles in patients with left-to-right shunt congenital heart defect is drastically increased, along with marked restructuring of the pulmonary vasculatures. In addition, there seems a correlation present between the overexpression of TGF-beta1 mRNA and ET-1 mRNA in intraacinar pulmonary arterioles and the occurrence of pulmonary hypertension in patients with congenital heart disease.

Child ; Child, Preschool ; Endothelin-1 ; biosynthesis ; genetics ; Female ; Heart Defects, Congenital ; complications ; metabolism ; pathology ; Humans ; Hypertension, Pulmonary ; complications ; metabolism ; pathology ; Infant ; Lung ; pathology ; ultrastructure ; Male ; Pulmonary Artery ; metabolism ; pathology ; RNA, Messenger ; biosynthesis ; genetics ; Transforming Growth Factor beta1 ; biosynthesis ; genetics