Objective: To construct mcpr1prokaryoti c expression vector and to express MCPR1 protein.Methods:PCR was used to obtain coding region of mcpr1. Construction of a high-level fusion protein expression vector pGEX-4T-mcpr1 was conducted by inserting the fra gment of coding region of mcpr1into a fusion protein expression vector pGEX -4T-1. Then the recombinant plasmid was transferred into E. colito prepar e the MCPR1/GST fusion protein. DNA sequencing and endonucleases digesting were used to check the coding region. Results:pGEX-4T- mcpr1 wa s constructed successfully and the coding region was inserted into the vector co rrectly. A new protein band of 36 000 was observed by SDS-PAGE analysis after i nduction by IPTG. The 36 000 protein amounted to 39 percent of the total prote in and existed mostly in precipitation of broken bacteria. Conclusion: MCPR1 protein can be expressed in E. coliexpression system and purif ied initially.

BACKGROUND: In recent years, the immunoregulatory effects of mesenchymal stem cells (MSCs) can be used to induce immune tolerance. OBJECTIVE: To evaluate the safety and feasibility of human umbilical cord-derived MSCs (hUC-MSCs) in liver transplantation patients. METHODS: hUC-MSCs were cultured and identified. After approved by the Medical Ethics Committee, a total of 50 patients were randomly divided into experimental group and control group according to the proportion of 1:1. In the experimental group, hUC-MSCs were perfused by the portal vein during the operation and infused into the jugular vein on the 3rd day after the operation. The injection dose was 1×106/kg (prepared as 50 mL of cell suspension). Both groups received standard immunosuppressive regimens. Blood biochemistry and immune function indicators were detected preoperatively and at postoperative days 3, 7, months 1, 2, 3, 6, 12. Acute and chronic rejection rates, incidence of infection, and incidence of transplantation-related complications were recorded. RESULTS AND CONCLUSION: (1) At 3 and 7 days after the operation, the percentage of peripheral blood CD4+CD25+ cells (regulatory T cells) in the experimental group was significantly higher than that in the control group (P < 0.05). The percentage of CD4+ cells (helper/inducer T cells) and ratio of CD4+/CD8+ T lymphocytes were significantly lower in the experimental group than the control group (P < 0.05). (2) There was no significant difference in postoperative alanine aminotransferase and total bilirubin levels between the two groups (P > 0.05). (3) The incidence of abnormal liver function in the experimental group was significantly lower than that in the control group (P < 0.05). (4) The incidence of transplantation-related complications and the rate of infection showed no significant difference between the two groups (P > 0.05). Overall, the intravenous infusion of hUC-MSCs is safe and feasible in liver transplantation patients, which in early stage can promote the the proliferation and activation of CD4+CD25+ cells (regulatory T cells), reduce the percentage of CD4+ cells (helper/inducer T cells) and lower the ratio of CD4+/CD8+ T cells, thereby improving the immune status in liver transplantation patients.

Moderate drought stress has been found to promote the accumulation of active ingredients in Glycyrrhiza uralensis root and hence improve the medicinal quality. In this study, the transcriptomes of 6-month-old moderate drought stressed and control G. uralensis root (the relative water content in soil was 40%-45% and 70%-75%, respectively) were sequenced using Illumina HiSeq 2000. A total of 80,490 490 and 82 588 278 clean reads, 94,828 and 305,100 unigenes with N50 sequence of 1,007 and 1,125 nt were obtained in drought treated and control transcriptome, respectively. Differentially expressed genes analysis revealed that the genes of some cell wall enzymes such as β-xylosidase, legumain and GDP-L-fucose synthase were down-regulated indicating that moderate drought stress might inhibit the primary cell wall degradation and programmed cell death in root cells. The genes of some key enzymes involved in terpenoid and flavonoid biosynthesis were up-regulated by moderate drought stress might be the reason for the enhancement for the active ingredients accumulation in G. uralensis root. The promotion of the biosynthesis and signal transduction of auxin, ethylene and cytokinins by moderate drought stress might enhance the root formation and cell proliferation. The promotion of the biosynthesis and signal transduction of abscisic acid and jasmonic acid by moderate drought stress might enhance the drought stress tolerance in G. uralensis. The inhibition of the biosynthesis and signal transduction of gibberellin and brassinolide by moderate drought stress might retard the shoot growth in G. uralensis.
Droughts ; Gene Expression Regulation, Plant ; Glycyrrhiza uralensis ; genetics ; Plant Roots ; Sequence Analysis, DNA ; Stress, Physiological ; Transcriptome

The dynamic changes of germination percentage, germination potential, thousand-seed weight, antioxidase activity in Desmodium styracifolium seeds with different storage time were tested, and electrical conductivity, contents of soluble sugar, soluble protein, starch in seed leach liquor were also determined in order to reveal the mechanism of seed deterioration. The results as the following. (1) The germination percentage, germination potential and thousand-seed weight of D. styracifolium seeds declined, while the seed coat color darkened with the extension of storage time. (2) The activities of superoxide dismutase (SOD) and peroxidase (POD) decreased with the prolongation of storage period. The SOD activity declined fastest in 1,095-1,185 d of storage, while the POD activity declined significantly in 365-395 d of storage. (3) The electrical conductivity and the contents of soluble sugar, starch in seed leach liquor increased, while the content of soluble protein declined with the extension of storage time. (4) Correlation analysis indicated that the germination percentage, germination potential and thousand-seed weight of D. styracifolium seeds have a significantly positive correlation with SOD and POD activity, while have a significantly negative correlation with the electrical conductivity, contents of soluble sugar and starch. It can be concluded that during the storage of D. styracifolium seeds, physiological and biochemical changes including decrease in antioxidase activity, rise in electrical conductivity, degradation effluent of soluble sugar and starch, degradation of soluble protein were the main factors leading to the seed deterioration.
Color ; Fabaceae ; chemistry ; enzymology ; growth & development ; metabolism ; Germination ; Peroxidases ; metabolism ; Plant Proteins ; metabolism ; Seeds ; chemistry ; enzymology ; growth & development ; metabolism ; Starch ; metabolism ; Superoxide Dismutase ; metabolism ; Time Factors

AIMTo study the characteristics of the interaction between insulin and liposome.

METHODSThe interaction between insulin and liposome was studied by fluorescence spectra and microcalorimetry methods. The sample of insulin liposome interaction after separation by supper-centrifugalization or gel filtration was determined by fluorescence and HPLC.

RESULTSThe results indicate that there was only little increase in fluorescence intensity and no blue shift of peak in fluorescence spectrum. Fluorescence quenching experiments with NaI and acrylamide as quenchers showed that the KSVs (the slope of Strm-Volmer equation) of insulin were more similar to that with added liposome, indicating low interaction between insulin with liposome. The microcalorimetric results indicate that the heat released during the mixture of liposome with insulin, was 1.98 kcal.mol-1, suggesting that the reaction belongs to weak reaction. The quantity of insulin in the insulin-liposome mixture sample after separation by ultracentrifuge or by Sephadex G-75 determined by HPLC, the combination percent was only 0.2%, indicating low interaction between insulin and liposome.

CONCLUSIONThe interaction between insulin and liposome was weak.

Chemistry, Pharmaceutical ; Chromatography, High Pressure Liquid ; Drug Carriers ; Drug Delivery Systems ; Hypoglycemic Agents ; administration & dosage ; chemistry ; Insulin ; administration & dosage ; chemistry ; Liposomes ; Spectrometry, Fluorescence

This study assessed the clinical application of transvaginal three-dimensional ultrasound (3D TVUS) in the diagnosis of congenital uterine malformation. A retrospective study was performed on 62 patients with congenital uterine malformation confirmed hysteroscopically and/or laparoscopically. The patients were subjected to transvaginal two-dimensional ultrasound (2D TVUS) and 3D TVUS. The accuracy rate was compared between the two methods. The accuracy rate of 3D TVUS was (98.38%, 61/62), higher than that of 2D TVUS (80.65%, 50/62). 3D TVUS coronal plane imaging could demonstrate the internal shape of the endometrial cavity and the external contour of the uterine fundus. It allowed accurate measurement on the coronary plane, and could three-dimensionally show the image of cervical tube, thereby providing information for the diagnosis of some complex uterine malformation. 3D TVUS imaging can obtain comprehensive information of the uterus malformation, and it is superior to 2D TVUS for the diagnosis of congenital uterine malformations, especially complex uterine anomaly.

In the basis of a large amount of literatures, this article sumed up the characteristics and application of eggshell membrane.

Objective To investigate the molecular background of the New Delhi-metallo-1 (NDM-1)-producing Morganella morganii.Methods Two carbapenem-resistant M.morganii named 1 and 2 were isolated in the Second Hospital of Jiaxing,Zhejiang on October 4th and 29th,respectively.Antimicrobial susceptibility was determined by agar dilution method.Pulsed-field gel electrophoresis (PFGE) was performed to analyse the homololgy of isolates.Amplification with specific primers,DNA sequencing,conjugation experiments and genetic environment analysis were conducted to investigate the molecular mechanisms of resistance.Results The two M.morganii isolates were resistant to carbapenem and fluoroquinolones,while susceptible to aztreonam.PFGE analysis indicated that the two isolates were distinguishable.Amplification and DNA sequencing confirmed the coexistence of blaNDM-1,blasHv-12,qnrS1 and aac(6')-Ib-cr in both isolates.Transconjugants were detected with blaNDM.1 and qnrS1 simultaneously.Genetic environment analysis demonstrated that the blaNDM-1-bleMBL-trpF-dsbC-cutA1 structure was in consistence with those from known blaNDM-1-carrying Klebsiella pneumoniae.Conclusion The blaNDM-1 in M.morganii isolates possiblely obtained from K.pneumoniae through translatable plasmids.

Objective To provide new information for treatment and prognosis of blastic plasmacytoid dendritic cell neoplasm (BPDCN).Methods Through one case report and literature review of 48 BPDCN cases were reviewed retrospectively.The clinical characteristics,treatment choices and prognosis were analyzed.Results BPDCN patients were mainly elderly males,mostly presented as skin rash and bone marrow infiltration.Immunophenotype was characteristically expressed as CD4,CD56 and CD123.Lymphoid-like regimens could induce higher response rate,lower relapse rate and longer overall survival compared with myeloid-like regimens.Allogeneic hematopoietic stem cell transplantation may provide long-term survival.At the onset of the disease,The counts of white blood cells (WBC) and blood platelet (Plt) may be correlated with inferior overall survival.Conclusions BPDCN is a disease with distinct clinical characteristics and immunophenotype.Lymphoid-like regimen may be the better treatment of choice,while allogeneic hematopoietic stem cell transplantation should be taken into account in the first complete remission for longterm survival.

Objective To establish an animal model for implantable ventricular assist device. Methods Seven male calves, body weight 120 to 180 kg, were anesthetized and underwent surgical implantation through a left thoracotomy at the 4th intercostal space. The domestic-made implantable ventricular assist device (DIVAD) was implanted after cardiopulmonary bypass and induction of ventricular fibrillation. The major indexes of mechanical properties of the DIVAD are similar to those of imported devices. The DIVAD was 29.5 mm × 72 mm, with a total weight of 158 g. The maximal pump speed was 9000 rpm and the maximal pump flow was 8 L/min in in vitro experiment. A flow meter was incorporated into the pump. The DIVAD was constructed with an external controller, and the pump can be monitored and adjusted through it. The inflow cannula was positioned into the left ventricle and the outflow cannula was sutured to the descending aorta. The pump was run at 3,500 to 8,000 rpm. The cardiopulmonary bypass was weaned. The pump output and animal condition was continuously monitored. Heparin was administered to maintain the activated clotting time at 1.5 to 2 times its baseline value. Results All the seven calves weaned from cardiopulmonary bypass. The mean survival time is 20.28 hours with a range from 0.5 to more than 93 hours. Conclusion Calf is the right animal model for NIVAD implantation and there are some characteristics in its perioperative treatment. The establishment of this animal model may play important role for further improvement of NIVAD.