Methyl valerate (MVA) pathway is one of the important ways for synthesis of terpenoids. This study was based on data of the transcriptome sequencing of Magnolia officinalis, the associated genes MoACOT, MoHMGS, MoHMGR, MoMK in methyl valerate (MVA) pathway, were completed in detail by using bioinformatics methods. The results of analysis showed that MoACOT and MoMK were stable hydrophobic proteins, MoHMGS and MoHMGR were unstable hydrophobic protein. The secondary structures of all proteins were hybrid architecture,and alpha helical were the major motifs. There were no clear transmembrane domains in MoACOT, MoHMGS and MoMK, but two transmembrane domains were founded in MoHMGR which were from 39-61 aa and 82-104 aa resepectively. The results of evolutionary relationship analysis showed that MoACOT, MoHMGS, MoHMGR and MoMK had relative close relationship to angiosperm or dicotyledonous plants, and accorded with genetic evolution rule. From transcriptome data, transcripted level of MoACOT, MoHMGS, MoHMGR, MoMK in M. officinalis and M. officinalis var. biloba was not significantly different. The result provided theoretical reference for study on Methyl valerate (MVA) pathway of terpenoid of M. officinalis.
Computational Biology ; Genes, Plant ; Magnolia ; genetics ; metabolism ; Phylogeny ; Terpenes ; metabolism

OBJECTIVETo observe the phenomenon of delayed neuron death secondary to traumatic brain injury, and the protective effect of p53 antisense oligonucleotide against neuron apoptosis secondary to traumatic brain injury.

METHODSThis study was based on the rat diffuse brain trauma model established by a simple weight-drop device. The behavior scales of neural function of rats and TUNEL that examined the injury extent of DNA in the cortex were used as a general assessment of brain injury. Electron microscope was used to observe the histological and cellular morphology. mRNA and protein expression of p53 were detected by in situ hybridization and immunohistochemistry. In this model, the therapeutic effect of p53 antisense drug were observed.

RESULTSFollowing trauma, the behavior scores of rats decreased rapidly and remarkably. Apoptotic neurons appeared in the traumatized cortex as early as 2 hours after impact, and peaked at 24 hours. As early as 2 hours after impact, p53 mRNA and p53 protein in the cortex were expressed increasingly.

CONCLUSIONNeural apoptosis plays an important role in delayed neuron death and is responsible for neural dysfunction following traumatic brain injury. So the inhibition of neural apoptisis would turn into a new therapic measure against delayed neuron death following traumatic brain injury.

Animals ; Apoptosis ; drug effects ; Brain Injuries ; physiopathology ; Female ; Immunohistochemistry ; In Situ Hybridization ; In Situ Nick-End Labeling ; Male ; Microscopy, Electron ; Neurons ; drug effects ; pathology ; ultrastructure ; Oligonucleotides, Antisense ; pharmacology ; Rats ; Rats, Wistar ; Tumor Suppressor Protein p53 ; genetics ; metabolism

Aged ; Case-Control Studies ; Cerebral Infarction ; blood ; genetics ; Female ; Fibrinogen ; genetics ; metabolism ; Haplotypes ; Humans ; Male ; Middle Aged ; Polymorphism, Genetic

Objective To explore the changes of Sema3A and it′s receptor Npl in temporal lobe epilepsy(TLE)rat brain and the roles in epileptogenesis mechanism.Methods TLE model was established with male healthy SD rats,in which mossy fiber sprouting(MFS)was verified using Neo-Timm staining method.Sema3A mRNA,Npl mRNA and protein was respectively analyzed by immunohistochemistry and in situ hybridization in the entorhinal cortex(EC)or dentate gyrus(DG)at different time after LiCL-PILO induced TLE.Results There were Mossy fiber sprouting(7d:0.70?0.42,15d:1.50?0.52,30 d:2.20 ?0.41,60 d:2.50?0.51)in DG inner molecular layer(IML)of TLE rat compared with those of controls (P

OBJECTIVETo study the passive immunization with human monoclonal antibodies as for prophylaxis of human cytomegalovirus (HCMV) infection.

METHODSFab monoclonal antibodies to HCMV were recovered by repertoire cloning of mRNA from a HCMV infected individual. Antigen binding specificity, CDR sequence of V(H) and V(L) and neutralizing activity on HCMV AD169 stain were analyzed in vitro. The light and heavy chain Fd fragment genes of Fab antibodies were further cloned into a recombinant baculovirus expression vector pAC-kappa-Fc to express intact IgG. Secreted products were purified with affinity chromatography using protein G.

RESULTSSDS-PAGE and Western blot confirmed the expression of the intact IgG. Immuno-blotting and -precipitation were used to identify HCMV proteins. One Fab monoclonal antibody recognized a conformational HCMV protein.

CONCLUSIONIgG antibodies can neutralize the HCMV AD169 strain efficiently at a titer of 2.5 microg/mL and may prove valuable for passive immunoprophylaxis against HCMV infection in humans.

Amino Acid Sequence ; Animals ; Base Sequence ; Cell Line ; Cloning, Molecular ; Cytomegalovirus ; immunology ; DNA, Viral ; genetics ; Genes, Viral ; Humans ; Immunoblotting ; Immunoglobulin G ; immunology ; Immunoprecipitation ; Insecta ; Molecular Sequence Data ; Peptide Library ; Recombinant Proteins ; immunology

BACKGROUNDMicrovascular decompression (MVD) is a well accepted surgical treatment strategy for trigeminal neuralgia (TN) with satisfying long-term outcome. However, considerable recurrent patients need more effective management. The purpose of this study was to evaluate the effectiveness of radiofrequency thermocoagulation rhizotomy (RTR) on patients with recurrent TN after MVD.

METHODSTotally 62 cases of recurrent TN after MVD undergoing RTR from January 2000 to January 2010 were retrospectively evaluated. Based on surgical procedures undertaken, these 62 cases were classified into two subgroups: group A consisted of 23 cases that underwent traditional RTR by free-hand; group B consisted of 39 cases that underwent RTR under the guidance of virtual reality imaging technique or neuronavigation system. The patients in group A were followed up for 14 to 70 months (mean, 40 ± 4), and those in group B were followed up for 13 to 65 months (mean, 46 ± 7). Kaplan-Meier analyses of the pain-free survival curves were used for the censored survival data, and the log-rank test was used to compare survival curves of the two groups.

RESULTSAll patients in both groups A and B attained immediate pain relief after RTR. Both groups attained good pain relief rate within the first two years of follow-up: 92.3%, 84.6% and 82.6%, 69.6% respectively (P > 0.05). After 2 years, the virtual reality or neuronavigation assisted RTR group (group B) demonstrated higher pain relief rates of 82.5%, 76.2% and 68.8% at 3, 4 and 5 years after operation respectively, while those in group A was 57.2%, 49.6%, and 36.4% (P < 0.05). Low levels of minor complications were recorded, while neither mortalities nor significant morbidity was documented.

CONCLUSIONSRTR was effective in alleviating the pain of TN cases suffering from unsuccessful MVD management. With the help of virtual reality imaging technique or neuronavigation system, the patients could attain better long-term pain relief.

Adult ; Aged ; Electrocoagulation ; methods ; Female ; Humans ; Male ; Microvascular Decompression Surgery ; Middle Aged ; Radiosurgery ; methods ; Retrospective Studies ; Rhizotomy ; methods ; Treatment Outcome ; Trigeminal Neuralgia ; surgery ; therapy

Objective To investigate the current condition of Keshan disease(KD), and inner and outer environmental selenium (Se) levels in Shandong Province, in order to provide scientific evidence for the research, prevention and control work. Methods Inhabitants from 20 villages of 8 counties in KD endemic areas were selected as subjects undergoing general physical examination and electrocardiogram (ECG). Suspicious cases were followed up by chest X-ray radiographs. Meanwhile the Se contents in hair, wheat, corn and sweet potato were measured. Results Ninety one patients with KD, including 82 with latent KD and 9 with chronic KD, were screened out of 2613 inhabitants. The total incidence of KD was 3.48% (91/2613), while the incidence of latent and chronic KD was 3.14%(82/2613) and 0.34%(9/2613) respectively. No new cases of acute or sub-acute KD were found. A total of 368 abnormal ECCs were discovered and the rate of abnormal ECG detected among surveyed population was 14.08% (368/2613). Out of 113 suspects who took X-ray, 57 cases had cardiomagaly. In 217 samples of hair, 228 samples of wheat, 214 samples of corn and 190 samples of sweet potato that were collected, the Se contents were determined by fluorescence. The average Se content in hair, wheat,corn and sweet potato were (0.406±0.090), (0.026±0.009), (0.023±0.010), (0.024±0.006)mg/kg respectively. Conclusions Current condition of KD in Shandong Province remains relatively stable. Se content was increased in the hair, nearly achieving the level in normal areas, but remains low in food.

Purpose: The purpose of this study was to assess the amount of variance in the coping strategies of patients with brain tumors that could be accounted for by resilience. Methods: This cross-sectional survey involved 95 patients who had experienced surgical, chemotherapy, or radiotherapy therapies for their brain tumors at least 1 month before data collection. The investigator collected data using the scales of the Ways of Coping Checklist-Revised and Resilience Scale. Data were analyzed using descriptive statistics, t tests, analysis of variance, Pearson product–moment correlation, and hierarchical multiple regression. Results: The results revealed that resilience was significantly positively associated with patients' problem-focused coping (r = .65, p < .001) and total coping (r = .49, p < .001). In addition, resilience accounted for 27% (R2inc = .27, p < .001) and 16% ((R2inc = .16, p < .001) of the distinct variances in predicting patients’ problem-focused coping and total coping. Conclusion The current results provide evidence to support the importance of resilience in shaping the coping strategies of relevant patients. As resilience shows a crucial element in patient coping with brain tumors, health team members should develop and employ appropriate strategies to improve the resilience of patients with brain tumors.

Purpose: The purpose of this study was to assess the amount of variance in the coping strategies of patients with brain tumors that could be accounted for by resilience. Methods: This cross-sectional survey involved 95 patients who had experienced surgical, chemotherapy, or radiotherapy therapies for their brain tumors at least 1 month before data collection. The investigator collected data using the scales of the Ways of Coping Checklist-Revised and Resilience Scale. Data were analyzed using descriptive statistics, t tests, analysis of variance, Pearson product–moment correlation, and hierarchical multiple regression. Results: The results revealed that resilience was significantly positively associated with patients' problem-focused coping (r = .65, p < .001) and total coping (r = .49, p < .001). In addition, resilience accounted for 27% (R2inc = .27, p < .001) and 16% ((R2inc = .16, p < .001) of the distinct variances in predicting patients’ problem-focused coping and total coping. Conclusion The current results provide evidence to support the importance of resilience in shaping the coping strategies of relevant patients. As resilience shows a crucial element in patient coping with brain tumors, health team members should develop and employ appropriate strategies to improve the resilience of patients with brain tumors.

OBJECTIVETo observe human neuronal apoptosis secondary to traumatic brain injury, and to elucidate its regulative mechanism and the change of expression of apoptosis-related genes.

METHODSSpecimens of brain were collected from cases of traumatic brain injury in humans. The histological and cellular morphology was examined by light and electron microscopy. The extent of DNA injury to cortical neurons was detected by using TUNEL. By in situ hybridisation and immunohistochemistry the mRNA changes and protein expression of Bcl-2, Bax, p53, and caspase 3 p20 subunit were observed.

RESULTSApoptotic neurons appeared following traumatic brain injury, peaked at 24 hours and lasted for 7 days. In normal brain tissue activated caspase 3 was rare, but a short time after trauma it became activated. The activity peaked at 20-28 hours and remained higher than normal for 5-7 days. There was no expression of Bcl-2 mRNA and Bcl-2 protein in normal brain tissue but 8 hours after injury their expression became evident and then increased, peaked at 2-3 days and remained higher than normal for 5-7 days. The primary expression of Bax-mRNA and Bax protein was high in normal brain tissue. At 20-28 hours they increased and remained high for 2-3 days; on the 7th days they returned to a normal level. In normal brain tissue, p53mRNA and P53 were minimally expressed. Increased expression was detected at the 8th hour, and decreased at 20-28 hours but still remained higher than normal on the 5th day.

CONCLUSIONSFollowing traumatic injury to the human brain, apoptotic neurons appear around the focus of trauma. The mRNA and protein expression of Bcl-2, Bax and p53 and the activity of caspase 3 enzyme are increased.

Adult ; Brain Injuries ; pathology ; physiopathology ; Caspase 7 ; Caspases ; metabolism ; Female ; Humans ; Immunohistochemistry ; In Situ Hybridization ; Male ; Necrosis ; Neurons ; pathology ; Proto-Oncogene Proteins ; metabolism ; Proto-Oncogene Proteins c-bcl-2 ; metabolism ; Tumor Suppressor Protein p53 ; metabolism ; bcl-2-Associated X Protein