Administration, Inhalation ; Animals ; Female ; Male ; Pesticides ; analysis ; toxicity ; Rats ; Rats, Wistar

A strain KX6,producing thermotolerant endoglucanase,was isolated from compost. The morpholo-gical identification and 16S rRNA sequence analysis showed it belongs to Streptomyces xylophagus. The production and characterization of endoglucanase from Streptomyces xylophagus KX6 was studied. Maximum endoglucanase yield of 0.538 IU/ml was achieved with medium pH8.0,containing CMC2Na 1.0% as carbon resource,soybean meal 1% as nitrogen resource,2% inoculating volume,30% 250 ml triangle flask bulk for medium volume at 40℃ 200r/min shaker for 48h. The endoglucanase exhibited optimum catalytic activity at pH7.0 and 50℃. The enzyme was stable at 50℃,and able to retain 60% of the full activity,when it was incubated at 60℃ for 1h.The enzyme was stable at pH6.0~7.0. All these findings suggest that the enzyme is a thermotolerant neutral endoglucanase.

Background Retinitis pigmentosa (RP) is a monogenic inheritance and blinding disease of fundus oculi.There is not an effective therapeutic method now.Objective This work was to identify the mutations of RP1 gene in Chinese RP patients in Ningxia area and to explore the potential interactions in the pathogenesis of RP.Methods The periphery blood of 3-5 ml was collected from 110 individuals with RP(35 ADRP and 75SRP)and 100 normal controls in Ningxia area.Polymerase chain reaction (PCR) and direct DNA sequencing were used to screening the sequence alterations in the entire coding region and splice sites of RP1 gene.Multivariate analysis and two web-based programs( PolyPhen and SIFT) were used to analyze the results.Results Eleven mutation locus were detected in the exon 4 of RP1 gene including two novel sequence variants:p.Lys1152Lys without a higher mutation rate in comparison with normal control group(x2 =9.12 P＜0.01 ),but c.* 247A＞C with a higher mutation rate in comparison with normal control group(x2 =12.77,P＜0.01 ) and c.* 247A＞C mutation was thought to be correlated with RP( r=1.11,P＜0.05 ).The other ten mutation locus were reported as single nucleotide polymorphisms (SNP).The mutation rate of p.Gln1725Gln was found to be higher in the RP patients than the normal controls (x2 =42.09,P＜0.01 ),but no the significant correlation was seen between the pathogenesis of RP and mutation of p.Gln1725Gln(r=1.74,P＞0.05).p.Lys1152Lys mutation was found in only 1 patient.Three SNPs( p.Arg872His,Ala1670Thr,Ser1691Pro) were always occurred in the same 83 RP patient and the relevance ratio was higher than controls ( P＜0.01 ).The age of night blindness on patients with concurrent three mutations was (30.54± 13.68 ) years,and the best corrected visual acuity (BCVA) was 0.50 ± 0.38.The age of night blindness on patients without concurrent three mutations was(21.06± 16.24) years,and the BCVA was 0.40 ±0.33 and were higher than controls ( t =2.11,P ＜ 0.05 ).Conclusions In this study,the prevalence of RP1 mutations among the RP patients in Ningxia population was lower than other populations (＜ 1％ ).The alliance of SNPs (p.Arg872His、p.Ala1670Thr、p.Ser1691Pro) may play a protective role on RP patients and reduce the frequency of mutatiaon in RP1 gene.

OBJECTIVETo explore the effect of Jianpi Tongluo Jiedu Recipe (JTJR) on protein expression levels of COX-2, NF-kappaBp65, Bcl-2, and Bax, mRNA expression levels of COX-2 and Bcl-2, and the apoptotic index (Al) in gastric mucosa of patients with precancerous lesions of gastric cancer (PL-GC).

METHODSTotally 65 PLGC patients were recruited and treated by JTJR (modified by syndrome typing), one dose per day for six successive months. Protein expression levels of COX-2, NF-KBp65, Bcl-2, and Bax were detected in 65 patients using immunohistochemical (IHC) assay before and after treatment. mRNA expression levels of COX-2 and Bcl-2 were detected in 54 patients using reverse transcription-polymerase chain reaction (RT-PCR). Meanwhile, changes of Al was detected in 65 patients using TdT-mediated dUTP-biotin nick end labeling (TUNEL) fluorescence method.

RESULTSAfter treatment with JTJR, positive protein expression levels of COX-2, NF-KBp65, and Bcl-2 were obviously decreased in the gastric mucosa of PLGC patients (P <0.01), but Bax positive protein expression was found to be higher (P < 0.05). At the same time mRNA expression levels of COX-2 and Bcl-2 were significantly lower after treatment than before treatment (P < 0.05, P < 0.01); Al also increased after treatment (P < 0.05).

CONCLUSIONJTJR could promote apoptosis possibly via NF-kappaBp65/COX-2, COX-2/Bcl-2, and NF-kappaBp65/Bcl-2 signaling pathways, thereby affecting PLGC patients.

Apoptosis ; Cyclooxygenase 2 ; metabolism ; Drugs, Chinese Herbal ; pharmacology ; therapeutic use ; Gastric Mucosa ; metabolism ; Humans ; NF-kappa B ; metabolism ; Precancerous Conditions ; drug therapy ; metabolism ; Proto-Oncogene Proteins c-bcl-2 ; metabolism ; Signal Transduction ; Stomach Neoplasms ; drug therapy ; metabolism ; bcl-2-Associated X Protein ; metabolism

BACKGROUNDTurbulent shear stress (TSS) plays an important role in the research of fluid dynamics of heart valves. This study aimed to perform a quantitative study of TSS downstream of porcine artificial mitral valves in order to verify the correlation of hot-film anemometry (HFA) and Doppler echocardiography combined with computer-aided image analysis for the detection of TSS.

METHODSA porcine model of mitral valve replacement was established. HFA and Doppler ultrasound techniques were used to directly and indirectly measure TSS-relevant parameters of the artificial mitral valve following different mitral valve replacements: different approaches were used to reserve the subvalvular apparatus of the mitral valve. A correlation analysis was then carried out.

RESULTSThere was a significant correlation between the HFA and Doppler ultrasound combined with computer-aided image analysis of the TSS at the same time and at the same site. No significant difference was found in the TSS measured by the two methods.

CONCLUSIONSCompared with HFA, Doppler echocardiography combined with computer-aided image analysis is a safe, non-invasive, and real-time method that enables accurate and quantitative detection of TSS downstream in vivo, objectively reflecting the flow field downstream of the artificial mitral valve. Doppler ultrasound combined with computer-aided image analysis can be employed for quantitatively evaluating the downstream hemodynamic performance of the mitral valve.

Animals ; Echocardiography, Doppler ; methods ; Heart Valve Prosthesis ; Image Processing, Computer-Assisted ; Mitral Valve ; diagnostic imaging ; surgery ; Pulsatile Flow ; Rheology ; Stress, Mechanical ; Swine

Traditional Chinese medicinal resource survey method is time-consuming, strenuous, and having great human influence, the precision is not high enough. This paper, by using spatial information technology, carries on spatial sampling survey for wild medicinal plants resource for generous species to arrange the quadrat scientifically and estimate the suitable area, reserve precisely of medicinal plants. It not only improves the survey precision, but reduces the workload of field survey and provides scientific basis for survey method of pilot work on the fourth national traditional Chinese medicinal resource census.
Biodiversity ; Conservation of Natural Resources ; Ecosystem ; Humans ; Plants, Medicinal ; Spatial Analysis

Looking retrospectively at the development of humanity, vaccination is an unprecedented medical landmark that saves lives by harnessing the human immune system. During the ongoing coronavirus disease 2019 (COVID-19) pandemic, vaccination is still the most effective defense modality. The successful clinical application of the lipid nanoparticle-based Pfizer/BioNTech and Moderna mRNA COVID-19 vaccines highlights promising future of nanotechnology in vaccine development. Compared with conventional vaccines, nanovaccines are supposed to have advantages in lymph node accumulation, antigen assembly, and antigen presentation; they also have, unique pathogen biomimicry properties because of well-organized combination of multiple immune factors. Beyond infectious diseases, vaccine nanotechnology also exhibits considerable potential for cancer treatment. The ultimate goal of cancer vaccines is to fully mobilize the potency of the immune system as a living therapeutic to recognize tumor antigens and eliminate tumor cells, and nanotechnologies have the requisite properties to realize this goal. In this review, we summarize the recent advances in vaccine nanotechnology from infectious disease prevention to cancer immunotherapy and highlight the different types of materials, mechanisms, administration methods, as well as future perspectives.

BACKGROUNDSeveral clinical trials have shown that sirolimus-eluting stents significantly reduce the risk of restenosis after percutaneous coronary intervention (PCI). The FIREBIRD stent (coated with durable polymer) and the EXCEL stent (coated with bioabsorbable polymer) are two different types of sirolimus-eluting stents made in China; both have been approved for clinical use in China by the State Food and Drug Administration. The mid-term (6-month) angiographic and clinical results of both stents have been confirmed exciting perspective outcomes. However, it is unclear whether there are differences in the long-term safety and efficacy between the two types of stents in daily practice.

METHODSAll consecutive patients undergoing elective PCI with EXCEL or FIREBIRD stents between June 1, 2006 and December 31, 2006 at Fu Wai Hospital in Beijing were included. Patients were classified from the index admission according to stent types (EXCEL or FIREBIRD) used. Clinical and procedural risk factors were collected prospectively. With propensity score matching without replacement, the frequency of major adverse cardiac events (MACE, a composite of death, myocardial infarction or target vessel revascularization) and stent thrombosis during a 2-year follow-up period were compared between the two groups.

RESULTSA total of 474 patients were treated with EXCEL, and 640 were treated with FIREBIRD. Three hundred and ninety-seven EXCEL patients were matched to 397 FIREBIRD patients, 2-year risk-adjusted MACE rates were 6.1% in EXCEL group and 7.6% in FIREBIRD group (HR 0.84, 95% CI 0.50-1.43), whereas the respective rates for mortality, myocardial infarction and target-vessel revascularization were 2.3% vs 2.8% (HR 0.74, 95% CI 0.30-0.85), 1.8% vs 1.3% (HR 1.41, 95% CI 0.45-4.43) and 2.5% vs 4.0% (HR 0.62, 95% CI 0.28-0.37), respectively. Cumulative incidence of stent thrombosis at 2 years was 1.8% in the EXCEL group vs 1.3% in the FIREBIRD group (P = 0.5610), whereas the rate of very late stent thrombosis was 0.5% vs 1.3% (P = 0.2550).

CONCLUSIONSResults from this long-term, relatively large size, single-center study showed that both of the EXCEL and the FIREBIRD sirolimus-eluting stent had similar and lower incidence of MACE after PCI in daily practice.

Aged ; Angioplasty, Balloon, Coronary ; methods ; Coronary Restenosis ; drug therapy ; therapy ; Drug-Eluting Stents ; Female ; Humans ; Male ; Middle Aged ; Sirolimus ; therapeutic use ; Treatment Outcome

BACKGROUNDSeveral clinical trials have shown that rapamycin-eluting stents significantly reduce the risk of restenosis after percutaneous coronary intervention (PCI). The Firebird stent and the Excel stent (coated with bioabsorbable polymer) are two different types of rapamycin-eluting stents made in China, both have been recently approved for clinical use in China by State Food and Drug Administration. However, it is unclear whether there are differences in safety and efficacy between the two types of stents in daily practice.

METHODSIn the month of June 2006, a total of 190 consecutive patients were treated exclusively with Firebird stents (n = 93, Firebird group) or Excel stents (n = 97, Excel group) in our center and were included in this study. The frequency of major adverse cardiac events (MACE, a composite of death, myocardial infarction or target lesion revascularization), binary restenosis, and late lumen loss and stent thrombosis during a six-month follow-up period were compared between the two groups.

RESULTSPatient and lesion characteristics were comparable between the groups. Major adverse cardiac event rates were low in hospital and at 6 months (2.1% in the Excel group and 0% in the Firebird group, P > 0.05). The 6-month angiographic in-stent restenosis rate was 0% in both groups, with an associated late loss of (0.15 +/- 0.21) mm versus (0.14 +/- 0.20) mm (P = 0.858) and the in-segment restenosis rate was also 0% for the Excel group and the Firebird group. There was no definite stent thrombosis identified in either group during the six-month follow-up period and only one patient in the Excel group had probable stent thrombosis in hospital.

CONCLUSIONSResults from this mid-term, single-center study showed that both of the Firebird and the Excel rapamycin eluting stent had similar effects on reducing the incidence of MACE and the risk of restenosis (both in-stent and in-segment binary restenosis) after PCI in daily practice.

Adult ; Aged ; Angioplasty, Balloon, Coronary ; methods ; Coronary Angiography ; Coronary Restenosis ; prevention & control ; Drug Delivery Systems ; Female ; Follow-Up Studies ; Humans ; Male ; Middle Aged ; Polymers ; administration & dosage ; Sirolimus ; administration & dosage ; Stents

BACKGROUNDPatients with small coronary lesions are at increased risk for repeat interventions after coronary angioplasty and stenting. The efficacy of drug-eluting stents (DES) has been demonstrated to improve the outcomes of these patients and is a focus of interest. Currently, two platforms of DES are available (sirolimus-eluting stent (SES) and paclitaxel-eluting stent (PES)). However, it has less been known that DES, SES vs PES, is superior for the treatment of small coronary lesions.

METHODSIn this retrospective study, 87 consecutive patients with 151 lesions underwent implantation of coronary SES (n = 68) and PES (n = 83). Quantitative coronary angiography (QCA) was performed at the time of stent implantation and subsequently at 8 months post-stenting. Small vessel disease was defined as lesions in vessels with diameter 2.5 mm measured by QCA. Major adverse cardiac events (MACE) including death, thrombosis, nonfatal myocardial infarction and target lesion revascularization (TLR) were compared between the two groups.

RESULTSBaseline clinical characteristics and angiographic parameters were similar between the two groups. At clinical and angiographic follow-up, overall thrombosis rates were similar in both groups (0 vs 1.2%, P > 0.05). The TLR and in-segment restenosis were not significantly different (19.1% vs 25.3%; 10.3% vs 10.8%, P = 0.365 and P = 0.913 respectively) between the two groups. The in-stent restenosis rate, however, was significantly higher in the PES group (4.4% vs 21.7%; P = 0.002). Similarly, the late loss was significantly higher in the PES group ((0.140.38) mm vs (0.490.61) mm; P < 0.001).

CONCLUSIONSIn this small sample-size, non-randomized study, the data indicated that implantation of SES for the treatment of patients with small coronary lesion showed more favorable results in respect of restenosis compared with PES implantation.

Adult ; Aged ; Angioplasty, Balloon, Coronary ; methods ; Coronary Angiography ; Coronary Disease ; therapy ; Coronary Restenosis ; prevention & control ; Drug Delivery Systems ; Female ; Humans ; Male ; Middle Aged ; Paclitaxel ; administration & dosage ; Retrospective Studies ; Sirolimus ; administration & dosage ; Stents