Fungal elicitors are a group of chemicals that can stimulate the secondary metabolite production in plants and microbial cells. After being recognized, it could enhance the expression of related genes through the signal-transduction pathway; regulate the activity of the enzyme involved in the biosynthesis of secondary metabolites. In recent years, the inducible mechanism of fungal elicitors has been studied deeply worldwide. Meanwhile, it has acquired wide concern in the area of biological industry, especially in the fermentation industry. This paper addresses the application and prospect of fungal elicitors in the secondary metabolites of plant and microbial cells.
Alkaloids ; biosynthesis ; genetics ; Camptothecin ; biosynthesis ; Fermentation ; Fungi ; genetics ; metabolism ; Industrial Microbiology ; methods ; Paclitaxel ; biosynthesis ; Plants, Medicinal ; metabolism ; Recombinant Proteins ; biosynthesis ; genetics ; Secondary Metabolism

Objective To investigate the effect of Qingjing Capsule (QC) in treating advance menorrhea (AM) and to evaluate its safety. Methods Double- blind, double- imitating, parallel- controlled and randomized trial was performed in 63 cases of AM with deficiency- heat syndrome.Thirty- two cases was in QC group(Group A) and other 31 in Gujing pill group(Group B).The menstrual cycle, clinical symptoms and signs, basal body temperature (BBT), serum levels of estradiol (E2) and progesterone and endometrium biopsy were observed to evaluate the effects of QC. Results The short- term markedly- effective rate was 90.63% and 77.42% and the short- term effective rate was 96.88% and 93.55% in Group A and Group B respectively. The long- term markedly- effective rate was 83.87% and 67.74% and the long- term effective rate was 93.55% and 80.65% in Group A and Group B respectively. The long- term markedly- effective rate in QC group is superior to that in Gujing pill group, the differences being significant(P

Objective:To investigate the inhibitory effect of adenovirus-mediated herpes simplex virus-thymidine kinase (TK) gene combined with ?-IFN on renal clear-cell carcinoma. Methods: Adenovirus containing suicide gene TK, in combination with GCV or ?-IFN, was used to treat human renal clear-cell carcinoma cell line 786-0, and the in vitro cytotoxic effects against 786-0 were evaluated using MTT method. The subcutaneous transplantation model of 786-0 cells was established with nude mice. Adenovirus containing TK gene was injected intratumorally and the GCV (50 mg/kg) was injected intraperitoneally; ?-IFN (104 U/L) was injected intratumorally in combined therapy. The growth of tumors was observed after treatments. Results: The survival rate of 786-0 cells was (35.07?1.43)% in the TK+GCV+?-IFN group, (68.57?1.41)% in the TK+GCV group and (68.65?1.45)% in the ?-IFN group ( P=0.000). There was an obvious synergic effect between Ad-TK and ?-IFN in inhibiting 786-0 cells. Ad-TK combined with GCV and ?-IFN significantly suppressed the growth of 786-0 cells growth in nude mice model.Conclusion: Adenovirus-mediated TK plus prodrug GCV combined with ?-IFN has obvious therapeutic effect in treatment of human renal clear-cell carcinoma.

Objective To compare the clinical effect of ERCP and PTCD metal stent implantation in the treatment of malignant obstructive jaundice.Methods 42 patients who were treated successfully with ERCP biliary metal stent implantation in the treatment of malignant obstructive jaundice were selected as the ERCP group,38 patients who were successfully treated with PTCD biliary metal stent implantation in the treatment of malignant obstructive jaundice,were selected as the PTCD group.The changes of alanine aminotransferase,aspartate aminotransferase,direct bilirubin,total bilirubin content and complications of patients were compared between two groups.Results On the third day of the ERCP group after operation,alanine aminotransferase,aspartate aminotransferase,direct bilirubin,total bilirubin levels were (203.94 ±12.53)U /L,(180.94 ±17.53)U /L,(185.63 ±17.53)μmol/L,(240.41 ± 18.79)μmol/L respectively,those of the PTCD group were (230.63 ±13.95)U /L,(209.19 ±19.74)U /L,(192.52 ± 16.93)μmol/L,(266.83 ±20.73)μmol/L respectively,which were significantly lower than before operation(all P <0.05).The incidence rate of complications of ERCP group was 4.76%,which was significantly lower than 23.68% of the PTCD group(χ2 =6.02,P <0.05).Conclusion ERCP and PTCD biliary metal stent placement in the treatment of malignant obstructive jaundice can effectively relieve the obstruction.The incidence of complications of PTCD is slightly higher in both common complications.

ObjectiveTo investigate the clinical characteristics,diagnosis,treatment and prognosis of limited stage primary esophageal small cell carcinoma (PESC).MethodsClinical data was retrospectively analyzed for 42 patients with pathologically confirmed PESCs who underwent transthoracic esophagectomy with lymphadenectomy from Nov.1990 to Dec.2010 at the Cancer Hospital of Shantou University Medical College.The survival analysis was performed using Kaplan-Meier method.ResultsThe clinical symptoms,imaging and endoscopic features of PESC were similar to those of esophageal squamous cell carcinoma (ESCC).Of the 26 cases that received pre-operative endoscopic biopsy,only five cases were diagnosed as PESC,while the other 21 cases were misdiagnosed as ESCC.The mean follow-up time of this series was 25.3 months (0-123 months).34 patients died of the disease during the follow-up;7 were still alive and 1 was lost.The median survival time (MST) of the 41 patients was 13.0 months (95 ％ confidence interval 6.3-19.7),and the 6-,12-,24-,36-,and 60-month overall survival rates (OS) were 78.6 ％,57.5 ％,30.8 ％,23.7 ％,10.5 ％,respectively.ConclusionPESC is a rare disease with poor prognosis,and is prone to be misdiagnosed by endoscopic biopsy.Currently no standard treatment has been established.

Objective To investigate the relationship between plasma homocysteine (Hcy), Kv1.3 channel and cardiac troponinI (cTnI) in patients with acute ST-segment elevation myocardial infarction (STEMI). Methods According to the level of Hcy, 80 STEMI patients were divided into STEMI with Hhcy group (Hcy > 15 μmol/L, n=41) and control group (STEMI group, Hcy≤15μmol/L, n=39). The Hcy, blood lipid and cTnI were detected with automatic biochemistry analyzer, respectively. Peripheral lymphocytes were isolated by ficoll density gradient centrifugation. Real-time PCR was used to detect mRNA expression of Kv1.3, and Western blot assay was used to detect protein expression of Kv1.3. Results cTnI concentrations were obviously higher in STEMI with Hhcy group than those in STEMI group (μg/L:22.997 ± 5.880 vs. 12.881 ± 6.343;P<0.01). Multiple linear regression analysis showed that age, gender, hypertension, diabetes mellitus, smoking, family history, total cholesterol (TC), triglyceride (TG), high density lipoprotein-cholesterol (HDL-C) and low density lipoprotein-cholesterol (LDL-C) had no obvious influence on Hcy (P>0.05). The relative expression levels of Kv1.3 mRNA and protein were significantly higher in STEMI with Hhcy group (1.35±0.14, 0.85±0.12) than those in STEMI group (1.00 ± 0.07, 0.64 ± 0.05, P<0.05). Moreover, there was a positive relation between Hcy level and the mRNA and proteinexpression of Kv1.3 channel (r=0.299, r=0.542, P<0.05). There was a positive relation between protein expression levels of Kv1.3 channel and cTnI (r=0.644, P<0.05). Conclusion Our results support that Hcy could exacerbate the concentration of cTnI through playing an important role in the Kv1.3 mRNA and protein expression in lymphocytes.

Objective To observe the influence of different level of hyperhomocysteinemia on mRNA and protein expressions of KV1 .3 ,CaN,NFAT,IL-6 and TNF-αin lymphocytes of patients with acute ST-segment elevation myocardial infarction (STEMI).Methods We selected 90 STEMI patients and divided them into three groups according to the level of plasma homocysteine:the first experimental group (STEMI group,Hcy<1 5μmol/L, n=30),the second experimental group (STEMI with mild Hhcy group,Hcy 15~30μmol/L,n=30)and the third experimental group (STEMI with intermediate Hhcy group,Hcy>30 μmol/L,n=30 ).Another 30 healthy examined people were selected as control group (n=3 0 ).Peripheral lymphocytes were isolated by Ficoll density gradient centrifugation.The Hcy in the plasma was measured with the IMX assays.Real-time quantitative PCR (RT-PCR)was used to detect mRNA expressions of KV1.3,CnAα,NFAT1,IL-6 and TNF-αand Western blot technique was used to detect the expressions of KV1.3,CnAαand NFAT1.Results The mRNA and protein expression levels of KV1.3,CnAαand NFAT1 in each experimental group were significantly higher than those in control group (P<0 .0 5 or P<0 .0 1 ).Multiple comparison in each experimental group showed that compared with that in the first experimental group,the expression level of the second experimental group increased (P<0.05 or P<0.01)and compared with first and second experimental groups,the expression level of the third experimental group increased (P<0.05 or P<0.01).The mRNA expression levels of IL-6 and TNF-αin each experimental group were significantly higher than those in control group (P<0.05 or P<0.01 ).Multiple comparison in each experimental group showed that compared with that in the first experimental group,the expression level of the second experimental group increased (P<0 .0 5 or P<0 .0 1 )and compared with first and second experimental groups,the expression level of the third experimental group increased (P<0.01).Plasma total Hcy levels were positively correlated with mRNA and protein expressions of KV1.3 in all observed groups (r=0.503 P=0.000,r=0.726 P=0.000).Conclusion The higher level of Hcy in plasma,the higher mRNA and protein expression levels of KV1.3,CnAα,NFAT1 and the higher mRNA expression levels of IL-6,TNF-αin the lymphocyte of STEMI patients,which may be one mechanism for Hcy exacerbating the inflammatory reaction of STEMI.

Objective To identify the risk factors of chronic ketamine-induced upper urinary tract dysfunction (KUUTD).Methods Medical records of 103 patients with ketamine-associated urinary dysfunction(KAUD) from Sep.2009 to Jul.2015 were retrospectively reviewed.All the patients were divided into the upper urinary tract dysfunction group(n =39)or the normal group(n =64)according to the diagnostic criteria.Indexes such as general features (age,gender,BMI),drug-abusing characteristics (abusing time,frequency,dose,abstinent period),duration of LUTS,pelvic pain and urgency/frequency symptom score(PUF score),serum parameters (WBC,ALT,AST,γ-GT),bladder diary (daytime inter-void interval,nocturia,average urine volume),urodynamic data (maximum cystometric capacity,post-void residual,maximum urethral closure pressure,maximum and average flow rate,instable contraction,bladder compliance) and imaging manifestations were compared between the two groups.Logistic regression analysis was performed for the evaluation of variables with statistical significance.Results There was significantly difference between the two groups in BMI (t =2.127,P =0.043),drug-abusing frequency (t =2.335,P =0.029),abstinent period (t =3.451,P =0.003),duration of LUTS (t =2.289,P =0.036),PUF score (t =3.030,P =0.004),γ-GT value(t =2.697,P =0.012),MCC(t =5.056,P ＜ 0.001),MUCP(t =3.015,P =0.008),BC (t =8.562,P ＜ 0.001) and imaging findings of bladder contracture (x2 =15.155,P ＜0.001).The multivariate Logistic regression analysis showed that drug-abusing frequency(OR =1.279,P =0.038),abstinent period(OR =0.394,P =0.028),γ-GT value (OR =1.007,P =0.032),MCC (OR =0.775,P =0.011)and BC (OR =0.013,P =0.008)were the key factors of KUUTD.Conclusion Consecutive and frequent drug abuse,combination with chronic obstructive cholangitis,reduced capacity and low compliance bladder are the risk factors of upper urinary tract dysfunction associated with ketamine abuse.

Objective To investigate the effect of methylguanidine and 1-methylhydantoin on cells cytotoxicity, apoptosis in human renal tubular epithelial cell line (HK-2). Methods Human PTEC cell line HK-2 was used in this study. HK-2 was cultured and divided into 3 groups: Norma1 control group (A), methylguanidine group(B) and 1-methylhydantoin group (C). The cell inhibitory rate of HK-2 was detected by MTT method. The cytotoxicity of methylguanidine to HK-2 was determined by NAG release test. Cell apoptosis was evaluated by using Hoechst stain and FACS with Annexin-V/PI. Results The OD value and NAG concentration of creatinine, methylguanidine and 1-methylhydantoin group were compared with normal control group. OD value decreased and NAG concentration significantly increased(0.188±0.011, 0.176±0.010 vs 0.545±0.021, F＝1557.74, P＜0.01; 20.488±0.473, 22.225±0.565 vs 5.125±0.198, F＝3848.22, P＜0.01). By Hoechst stain, pycnosis and apoptotic body could be found when HK-2 was cultivated in methylguanidine 1-methylhydantoin group. In methylguanidine, 1-methylhydantoin group apoptotic HK-2 apparently increased, compared with that in control group (18.23±1.1581, 20.22±1.1433 vs 2.473±0.321, F＝526.06, P＜0.01). Compared with group B, the OD value in group C decreased significantly (0.176±0.010 vs 0.188±0.011,t＝2.26, P＜0.05), NAG concentration increased significantly (22.225±0.565 vs 20.488±0.473,t＝-6.67, P＜0.01), and apoptotic rate in-creased significantly (20.22±1.1433 vs 18.23±1.1581,t＝-2.762, P＜0.05). Conclusions 1-methylhydantoin has more powerful cytotoxic effect to renal tubular epithelial cells than that of Methylguanidine.