The growth changes of glutathione (GSH) and ergosterol in Saccharomyces cerevisiae (CICC1447 and CICC1339) were detected under 0.5Mpa pressure with compressed high-pure air (O-2∶N-2=21∶79). The results showed that logarithmic phases of the two strains were delayed; their biomass and special growth rate were lower than those of control sample (0.1MPa) and the double time were prolonged under 0.5MPa. High-pressure could increase the content of GSH obviously, compared to ambient atmosphere control samples. When the holding time was 3h, the content of GSH and ergosterol in CICC1447 increased 42.6% and 20.1%, respectively. However, the content of GSH in CICC1339 increased 58.7% when the holding time was 6h, while ergosterol content reduced. The results indicated that different yeast strains have different stress-response mechanism to copy with high-pressure shock.

AIMUnderstanding the modes and activities of metal bacterial chlorophylls as PHD sensitizers with DNA.

METHODSThe modes and activities of the interaction of DNA and metal complexes of bacterial chlorophyll, which have been prepared by extraction and synthesis reaction, have been discussed according to the ultraviolet-visual spectrum and nucleic acid electrophoresis.

RESULTSIt indicates that the system of DNA and metal complexes have enchanced the interaction by the ultraviolet-visual spectrum. At the same time, it also indicates that metal complexes of bacterial chlorophyll and DNA have different combining way and have strong cutting effect in illumination by the nucleic acid electrophoresis.

CONCLUSIONThis paper proved that metal bacterial chlorophylls as PHD sensitizers have great advantage.

Bacteriochlorophylls ; chemical synthesis ; chemistry ; pharmacology ; Copper ; chemistry ; DNA ; metabolism ; Electrophoresis ; HL-60 Cells ; Humans ; K562 Cells ; Nickel ; chemistry ; Organometallic Compounds ; chemical synthesis ; chemistry ; pharmacology ; Protein Binding ; Spectrophotometry, Ultraviolet ; Zinc ; chemistry

AIMTo find a new PDT sensitizer.

METHODSThere were four complexes (Cu, Zn, Co, Ni) synthesized through reaction of metal and deprivating-Mg bacteriochlorophyll in the organic solvent. Their antitumor action was detected by MTT.

RESULTSThe ultraviolet-visual spectrum and the fluorescence spectrum of these complexes showed that synthesis of these four complexes was succeeded. And these metal complexes have potent antitumor action on two kinds of leukaemic cells.

CONCLUSIONMetal bacteriochlorophylls as PDT sensitizers have very good properties and this is a way to develop new PDT sensitizers.

Antineoplastic Agents ; chemical synthesis ; chemistry ; pharmacology ; Bacteriochlorophylls ; chemistry ; Cell Proliferation ; drug effects ; Cobalt ; chemistry ; Copper ; chemistry ; HL-60 Cells ; cytology ; Humans ; K562 Cells ; cytology ; Metals, Heavy ; chemistry ; Nickel ; chemistry ; Organometallic Compounds ; chemical synthesis ; chemistry ; pharmacology ; Photosensitizing Agents ; chemical synthesis ; chemistry ; pharmacology ; Zinc ; chemistry

AIMTo explore the effects of calcitonin-gene-related peptide (CGRP) on LPS-induced MMP-9 secretion by alveolar macrophages (AM) in vitro.

METHODSThe supernatant of LPS-induced Wistar rat AM from different intervention groups were collected to measure the activity by gelatin zymography.

RESULTS(Only secreting a small amount of MMP-9 with unstimulated AM, LPS stimulated MMP-9 production in a concentration-dependent manner (p < 0.01). (2) The activity of MMP-9 in CGRP intervention groups at different levels were significantly lower than those in non-intervention group (p < 0.01). (3) The inhibiting effects of CGRP were diminished by H-7 and W-7, an antagonist of protein kinase C (PKC) and calmodulin (CaM) (p < 0.05).

CONCLUSIONThese data suggested that CGRP involved in the MMP-9 secretion by AM, partly, via PKC and CaM pathway.

Animals ; Cells, Cultured ; Female ; Lipopolysaccharides ; adverse effects ; Macrophages, Alveolar ; secretion ; Male ; Matrix Metalloproteinase 9 ; metabolism ; Rats ; Rats, Wistar ; Receptors, Calcitonin Gene-Related Peptide ; metabolism

BACKGROUNDMutations in the fibrillin-1 gene have been identified in patients with Marfan syndrome (MFS). This study aimed to identify the molecular defects in the fibrillin-1 gene in a Chinese family with Marfan syndrome, accompanied by aortic aneurysms/dissection.

METHODSTwo patients and one non-carrier in the family underwent complete physical, ophthalmic, and cardiovascular examinations. Genomic DNA was extracted from leukocytes of venous blood of these individuals in the family as well as 50 healthy normal controls. Polymerase chain reaction amplification and direct sequencing of all 65 coding exons of fibrillin-1 gene were analyzed.

RESULTSWe found a novel mutation (c.8547T > G, p.Tyr2849X) in exon 65 of fibrillin-1 gene in a Chinese proband with Marfan syndrome, accompanied by aortic aneurysms/dissection. Sudden death at a young age of affected members was seen due to aortic aneurysms/dissection. By evaluating genotype-phenotype correlations of patients with mutations in the 3' end of fibrillin-1 gene (exons 64 and 65), we also found that the presence of nonsense mutations occurring in exons 64 and 65 appeared to be an indicator of early-onset aortic risk and sudden death.

CONCLUSIONSThese results expand the mutation spectrum of fibrillin-1 gene and help in the study of the molecular pathogenesis of Marfan syndrome, indicating that mutations occurring in the 3' end of fibrillin-1 gene may play an independent functional role in the pathogenesis of Marfan syndrome.

Adult ; Female ; Fibrillin-1 ; Fibrillins ; Genotype ; Humans ; Male ; Marfan Syndrome ; etiology ; genetics ; Microfilament Proteins ; genetics ; Middle Aged ; Mutation ; Phenotype

BACKGROUNDImplantation of tissue-engineered scaffolds is one of the most promising therapeutic strategies for inducing nerve regenerations following spinal cord injuries. In this paper, we report a novel bioengineered hybrid scaffold comprised of three major extracellular matrix (ECM) proteins.

METHODSECM-scaffolds (ECM-S) were prepared by gelling fibrinogen, fibronectin and laminin using fresh rat plasma. Olfactory ensheathing cells (OECs) were isolated from fresh rat olfactory mucosa, purified under differential adhesion, and assessed by immunofluorescent staining. OECs were seeded onto ECM-S and cultured. The effects of the scaffolds on the seeded cells were detected using the immunofluorescent staining, Western blotting, scanning electron microscopy and transmission electron microscopy.

RESULTSTissue-engineered ECM-S could be easily molded into mat-like or cylindrical shapes and gelled by addition of fresh plasma. Observations by electron microscopy show that the ECM-S forms a stable three-dimensional porous network. Studies on the effects of the ECM-S on the biological behaviors of OECs in vitro indicate that the scaffold can promote OEC adhesion, proliferation and process extensions. Additionally, OECs seeded on the scaffold maintained the expression of nerve growth factor, matrix metalloproteinase-3 and matrix metalloproteinase-9.

CONCLUSIONWe developed a biosynthetic hybrid gel which could be used as a scaffold for OEC transplantation; this gel can promote nerve regeneration following spinal cord injuries.

Animals ; Cells, Cultured ; Immunoblotting ; Microscopy, Electron, Scanning ; Microscopy, Electron, Transmission ; Olfactory Bulb ; cytology ; physiology ; transplantation ; Olfactory Mucosa ; cytology ; physiology ; transplantation ; Rats ; Spinal Cord Injuries ; therapy ; Tissue Engineering ; methods ; Tissue Scaffolds

BACKGROUNDIt is well known that increased cumulative ventricular pacing proportion (CumVP%) is one of the most important causes for adverse cardiovascular events. Therefore, how to reduce CumVP% has been a treatment issue in recent years. This study aimed to investigate the effects of different pacing algorithms on CumVP% in patients with pacemakers.

METHODSPacemakers with three pacing algorithms, i.e., conventional dual chamber rate adaptive pacing (DDDR), search atrioventricular conduction plus (SAV+) and managed ventricular pacing (MVP), were implanted in 42 patients including 41 with bradycardia arrhythmias and one with ventricular tachycardia. Pacemakers were programmed to work in conventional DDDR, SAV+ and MVP during the follow-up periods of the first, the second and the third month. In each pacing algorithm, the time percentages of four pacing and sense status including atrial sense-ventricular sense (AS-VS), atrial sense-ventricular pacing (AS-VP), atrial pacing-ventricular sense (AP-VS) and atrial pacing-ventricular pacing (AP-VP) were calculated. Cumulative ventricular pacing proportions were compared in the three pacing algorithms in the first, the second and the third month postoperatively.

RESULTSIn the DDDR algorithm AS-VS, AS-VP, AP-VS and AP-VP were 2.4%, 52.3%, 2.5% and 42.8% respectively, while in SAV+ they were 19.3%, 34.9%, 33.9% and 12.0%, in MVP they were 38.9%, 13.2%, 41.6% and 6.4%. In the above the DDDR, SAV+ and MVP algorithms, cumulative ventricular pacing proportions were 95.1%, 46.9% and 19.6%, respectively (P < 0.05) and the percentages of CumVP% < 40% in patients were 0, 23.8% and 95.2.0% (P < 0.05).

CONCLUSIONSCompared with the conventional DDDR algorithm, both SAV+ and MVP significantly reduced the CumVP%, especially the MVP algorithm. Patients may benefit from MVP algorithm due to reduced CumVP%.

Aged ; Algorithms ; Cardiac Pacing, Artificial ; methods ; Electrophysiology ; Female ; Heart Ventricles ; physiopathology ; Humans ; Male ; Middle Aged ; Pacemaker, Artificial

Background and Objective: As a prospective vaccine carrier,nanoparticles can protect antigens from degradation and enhance immune response.This study prepared nanovaccines with MAGE-3-derived CD4+CD8+T cell epitope peptides,and investigated its character and antitumor effects on transplanted gastric cancer in mice.Methods: We adopted the self-assembly method to prepare peptide/chitosan conjugated with deoxycholic acid(chitosan-deoxycholic acid)nanoparticles.We observed the appearance of the chitosan-deoxycholic acid nanoparticles through a transmission electron microscope(TEM)and analyzed the peptide content and its release pattern by fluorescence spectrophotometry.We observed tumor-suppression efficacy in vivo through animal experiments.Results: We successfully prepared nanoparticles with MAGE-3 peptide antigen,and its encapsulation efficiency and loading level were about 37% and 17.0%,respectively.These nanoparticles presented a delayed release pattern in phosphate buffered saline(PBS)at pH 7.4,and the full release time was about 48 h.In 2 mg/mL lysozyme,the nanoparticles showed a sudden release,and the full release time was about 24 h.ELISPOT and cytotoxic experiments showed that the MAGE-3 peptide loaded nanoparticles could stimulate immune response in vivo and could generate MAGE-3-targeted cytotoxic T lymphocytes(CTLs),and kill MAGE-3-specific tumor cells.Tumor suppression experiments showed that the regression ratio of the peptide-loaded nanoparticles group was 37.81%.Conclusion: MAGE-3 peptide/chitosan-deoxycholic acid vaccine-loaded nanoparticles can stimulate antitumor immune response in vivo and can regress the growth of mouse forestomach carcinoma cell line MFC.

Objective:To explore the role of NK cells in allogeneic hematopoietic stem cell micro-transplantation(MST)in the treatment of patients with acute myeloid leukemia(AML).Methods:Data from 93 AML patients treated with MST at our center from 2013-2018 were retrospectively analyzed.The induction regimen was anthracycline and cytarabine combined with peripheral blood stem cells transplantation mobilization by granulocyte colony stimulating factor(GPBSC),followed by 2-4 courses of intensive treatment with medium to high doses of cytarabine combined with GPBSC after achieving complete remission(CR).The therapeutic effects of one and two courses of MST induction therapy on 42 patients who did not reach CR before transplantation were evaluated.Cox proportional hazards regression analysis was used to analyze the impact of donor NK cell dose and KIR genotype,including KIR ligand mismatch,2DS1,haplotype,and HLA-Cw ligands on survival prognosis of patients.Results:Forty-two patients received MST induction therapy,and the CR rate was 57.1％after 1 course and 73.7％after 2 courses.Multivariate analysis showed that,medium and high doses of NK cells was significantly associated with improved disease-free survival(DFS)of patients(HR=0.27,P=0.005;HR=0.21,P=0.001),and high doses of NK cells was significantly associated with improved overall survival(OS)of patients(HR=0.15,P=0.000).Donor 2DS1 positive significantly increases OS of patients(HR=0.25,P=0.011).For high-risk patients under 60 years old,patients of the donor-recipient KIR ligand mismatch group had longer DFS compared to the nonmismatch group(P=0.036);donor 2DS1 positive significantly prolonged OS of patients(P=0.009).Conclusion:NK cell dose,KIR ligand mismatch and 2DS1 influence the therapeutic effect of MST,improve the survival of AML patients.

Objective: To investigate the current status of antithrombotic strategy for elderly patients with atrial fibrillation (AF) and acute coronary syndrome (ACS) after stent implantation in Beijing area and to study the safety and efficacy of different therapeutic strategy. Methods: A total of 467 relevant patients were enrolled by re-travelling electronic medical records from 12 hospitals in Beijing area. The patients' mean age was (78.70±3.32) years and they were divided into 2 groups by antithrombotic therapy condition: Triple therapy group, n=17 (3.64％), Double therapy group, n=450 (96.36％). The incidence of major adverse cardiac and cerebral events (MACCE) including all-caused death, non-fatal myocardial infarction, stent thrombosis, target vessel revascularization (TVR), stoke and bleeding was compared between Triple therapy group and Double therapy group.Results: The medication in Double therapy group included aspirin+ticagrelor, aspirin+clopidogrel, clopidogrel+warfarin and cilostazol+clopidogrel; in Triple therapy group was aspirin+clopidogrel+warfarin. Patient with HAS-BLED score≥3 was defined as high risk of bleeding and they were all treated by double therapy; HAS-BLED<3 was defined as low risk of bleeding, only 5.03％ patients were treated by triple therapy. 3 patients in Triple therapy group and 33 in Double therapy group suffered from gastrointestinal bleeding, P=0.338; 6 patients in Triple therapy group and 128 in Double therapy group had MACCE, P=0.589; 3 and 80 patients died in Triple therapy group and Double therapy group, P=0.766. Conclusion: Triple therapy was rarely used in elderly AF and ACS patients after stent implantation, double therapy was the main strategy; the incidence of MACCE and mortality were similar between triple and double therapies; patients with triple therapy had the higher incidence of gastrointestinal bleeding.