Objective:The iodine excretion of adult individuals was calculated by two creatinine correction methods of urinary iodine, and the significance and value of the methods to measure individual iodine nutrition levels were assessed to provide a reference basis for further epidemiological investigation and study of iodine deficiency disorders.Methods:Healthy adults aged 18 - 59 years from Fujian Province were recruited and their 24 h urine, fasting urine, and morning spot urine (8:00 - 12:30) were collected and the corresponding urinary iodine and creatinine concentrations were measured. The estimated 24 h urinary iodine excretion was calculated using two different creatinine correction and creatinine estimation formulas were compared with the measured 24 h urinary iodine excretion.Results:There were no significant differences in measured 24 h urinary iodine excretion value, estimated 24 h urinary iodine excretion value 1 of fasting urine and morning spot urine, and estimated 24 h urinary iodine excretion 2 of fasting urine and morning spot urine between genders (μg/d: 195.5 vs 190.9, 190.0 vs 181.7, 160.2 vs 144.2, 174.8 vs 179.2, 148.3 vs 131.5); there were no significant differences in measured 24 h urinary iodine excretion and fasting urinary estimated 24 h urinary iodine excretion 1, estimated 24 h urinary iodine excretion 2 ( P > 0.05), and there were significant differences in measured 24 h urinary iodine excretion and morning spot urinary estimated 24 h urinary iodine excretion 1, estimated 24 h urinary iodine excretion 2 ( P < 0.01). And there were significant linear correlations between measured 24 h urinary iodine excretion and estimated 24 h urinary iodine excretion 1 of fasting urine and morning spot urine, estimated 24 h urinary iodine excretion 2 of fasting urine and morning spot urine ( r = 0.772, 0.266, 0.828, 0.391, P < 0.01). Conclusions:It is feasible to estimate 24 h urinary iodine excretion in adults with creatinine-corrected fasting urinary iodine concentration. Creatinine-corrected fasting urinary iodine concentration can be used as an individual iodine nutrition level evaluation index, but whether it is applicable to children and pregnant women remains to be further studied.

The vitamin K epoxide reductase complex subunit 1 (VKORC1), the rate-limiting enzyme for vitamin K recycling, is significantly down-regulated in the kidneys of urolithiasis patients. This study searched for direct evidence to define the inhibitory activity of VKORC1 against calcium oxalate (CaOx) crystal formation. In the experiment of VKORC1 overexpression, HK-2 cells were transfected with the pFLAG-CMV-7.1-VKORC1 plasmid as a pFLAG-CMV-7.1-VKORC1 transfection group or the pFLAG-CMV-7.1 plasmid as a pFLAG-CMV-7.1 control group. In the experiment of VKORC1 knockdown, HK-2 cells were transfected with the PGPU6/GFP/Neo-VKORC1shRNA-2 as a PGPU6/GFP/Neo-VKORC1shRNA-2 transfection group or the PGPU6/GFP/Neo-shRNA-NC plasmid as a PGPU6/GFP/Neo-shRNA-NC control group. The expression of VKORC1 in HK-2 cells was detected by real-time quantitative PCR and Western blotting. The CaOx crystal formation was observed under the laser-scanning confocal microscope. It was found that the expression levels of VKORC1 mRNA and protein were significantly higher in the pFLAG-CMV-7.1-VKORC1 transfection group than in the pFLAG-CMV-7.1 control group (P<0.01). The number of CaOx crystals in HK-2 cells incubated in fluorescently labeled CaOx monohydrate (COM) crystal medium for 48 h was 14±4 per field (100×) in the pFLAG-CMV-7.1-VKORC1 transfection group and 26±5 per field (100×) in the pFLAG-CMV-7.1 control group respectively under the laser-scanning confocal microscope. The amount of CaOx crystal aggregation and formation in the pFLAG-CMV-7.1-VKORC1 transfection group was significantly reduced as compared with the pFLAG-CMV-7.1 control group (P<0.05). The expression levels of VKORC1 mRNA and protein were significantly lower in the PGPU6/GFP/Neo-VKORC1shRNA-2 transfection group than in the PGPU6/GFP/Neo-shRNA-NC control group (P<0.05). The number of CaOx crystals in HK-2 cells incubated in fluorescently labeled COM crystal medium was 65±11 per field (100×) in the PGPU6/GFP/Neo-VKORC1shRNA-2 transfection group and 24±6 per field (100×) in the PGPU6/GFP/Neo-shRNA-NC control group respectively under the laser-scanning confocal microscope. The amount of CaOx crystal aggregation and formation in the PGPU6/GFP/Neo-VKORC1shRNA-2 transfection group was significantly increased as compared with the PGPU6/GFP/Neo-shRNA-NC control group (P<0.05). These findings suggested that the VKORC1 protein could inhibit CaOx salt crystallization, adhesion and aggregation. This research would help us to understand the mechanisms involving the interaction between crystallization and epithelial cells and the formation of CaOx.

Type 1 diabetes (T1D) results from dysfunction of pancreatic islets β cells.Recent studies supported that endoplasmic reticulum (ER) stress takes an important role in pancreatic β cell excessive loss,resulting in T1D.Here,we aimed to review the relationship between ER stress and T1D.Additionally,we also reviewed the potential mechanisms underlying ER stress mediated T1D.Studies have shown that severe ER stress is directly involved in the pancreatic β cells destruction and pathogenesis of T1D.ER stress plays a key part in pancreatic β cells and T1D,which will help in developing new effective therapeutics for T1D.

ObjectiveTo investigate the value of double-balloon endoscopy for the diagnosis of small bowel Crohn disease(CD).MethodsData of 141 patients with suspected CD undergoing double-balloon endoscopy were reviewed.Diagnosis was made based on pathological,endoscopic findings and clinic follow-up results.Detection rates and diagnosis rates of small bowel CD were compared by double-balloon enteroscopy,CT enterography and capsule endoscopy.ResultsThe detection and diagnosis rates of small bowel CD by double-balloon endoscopy were 90.8％ ( 128/141 ) and 98.4％ ( 126/128),respectively.These two variables by CT enterography were 76.0％ (19/25) and 89.5％ (17/19),and those by capsule endoscopy were 60.0％ (15/25) and 93.3％ (14/15).ConclusionDouble balloon enteroscopy has high application value for the diagnosis of small bowel CD.For those contraindicated with endoscopy,CT enterography can be considered as a preferred auxiliary diagnostic modality.

OBJECTIVEThis paper aims to develop a monoclonal antibodies (MAbs)- based ELISA for detecting Chlamydophila pneumoniae (C. pneumoniae) antigens in humans with the variable domains (VD) 2 and 3 of the major outer membrane protein (MOMPVD2-VD3) and to assess its sensitivity and specificity by comparing with a widely used MAb that is able to recognize the elementary bodies of C. pneumoniae.

METHODSMOMPVD2-VD3 were overexpressed in Escherichia coli and purified by affinity chromatography. Mice were immunized with the recombinant antigen, and hybridomas secreting MAbs were screened. Three stable hybridomas clones were selected and named 5D6, 7G3, and 8C9. The MAbs-based ELISA was scrutinized for species-specific recognition with a number of human throat swab samples from Group I (156 patients with typical respiratory illness clinically confirmed before) and Group II (57 healthy donors).

RESULTSIn Group I, 55 positive cases were detected by anti-EB MAb-based ELISA, 51 cases were positive by MAbs 5D6-based ELISA, and 33 and 38 cases were positive by MAb 8C9 and 7G3-based ELISA respectively. Of the 57 samples from Group II "healthy donors", 5 were positive and 52 were negative with both anti-EB and 5D6-based tests, while 2 and 3 positive cases were identified by the other two MAb-based ELISAs respectively.

CONCLUSIONThe novel MOMPVD2-VD3 MAb-based assay may have higher specificity than the anti-EB MAb, which may possibly be used as an alternative tool for the diagnosis of C. pneumoniae infection.

Animals ; Antibodies, Monoclonal ; Bacterial Outer Membrane Proteins ; immunology ; Chlamydophila Infections ; diagnosis ; microbiology ; Chlamydophila pneumoniae ; isolation & purification ; Enzyme-Linked Immunosorbent Assay ; methods ; Humans ; Mice ; Protein Structure, Tertiary

Abstract: Mycobacterium senegalense is one of the major pathogens causing bovine farcy, and reports of its infection in human are rare. Here is a report on a woman who had been taking hormones and immunosuppressants for a long time for SLE and underwent abdominal soft tissue infection with Mycobacterium senegalense after abdominal liposuction, to provide reference for clinical diagnosis and treatment. The patient, female, 32 years old, has a history of SLE for more than 2 years, and currently takes "methylprednisolone, hydroxychloroquine, and mycophenolate mofetil" regularly. Nine months before the patient was admitted to the hospital, she once performed abdominal, waist and buttock liposuction in a medical beauty institution. One month after the operation, several masses gradually appeared on the abdominal wall, accompanied by tenderness, one of the masses had obvious fluctuation on palpation and purulent fluid could be drawn out. The location of the abdominal wall mass was consistent with the insertion site of the liposuction needle. After the onset of the disease, the patient went to the medical beauty institution for puncture of the abdominal wall mass, and 5 mL of purulent fluid was pierced and sent for bacterial culture, and cultured "Mycobacterium Senegalense", after 3 days of treatment with "cephalosporin" antibiotics (specifically unknown), the symptoms did not improve, so she went to the second affiliated hospital of hainan medical college. After completing the relevant examinations during the hospitalization in our hospital, in order to clarify the etiology, another abdominal puncture to extract pus was performed, the mycobacterial culture + identification results: Mycobacterium senegalense. Consistent with the out-of-hospital results, the diagnosis of Mycobacterium senegalense infection was confirmed. After 3 months of treatment with "cefoxitin, azithromycin, amikacin, and levofloxacin", the patient's abdominal wall soft tissue infection was cured. Trauma or invasive procedures can lead to skin, muscle, or bone infection with nontuberculous mycobacteria (NTM), which can manifest as chronic painless nodules that progress to purulent folliculitis and abscesses. NTM infection should be suspected when the patient's wound has been exposed to water, there is a history of surgery, and empirical anti-infection is ineffective. This is the first case of Mycobacterium senegalense infection caused by medical beauty, which tell people that they should be cautious when choosing medical aesthetic projects and medical aesthetic institutions.

Objeetive To observe the disease-causing gene mutation in Chinese patients with hypertrophic cardiomyopathy and to analyze the correlation between the genotype and the phenotype.Methods Specimens of peripheral blood were collected and the genome DNA was extracted in 65 unrelated patients with hypertrophic cardiomyopathy and 60 normal controls.The exon 7 and 8 of cardiac troponin?gene were screened with PCR and direct sequencing technique.Results A missense mutation in the exon 7 of the cardiac troponin?gene Was identified in a 40-year-old male patient with hypertrophic cardiomyopathy (Asp127Tyr)which was absent in the controls.Conclusion A novel missense mutation of cardiac troponin?was identified in a patient with hypertrophic cardiomyopathy,this mutation might be the disease-causing gene mutation in this Chinese patient.

Objective To analyze the causes and epidemiological characteristics of injury in Hunan Province, so as provide scientific basis for the development of intervention measures of injury. Methods The Excel 2007 software and SPSS 18.0 software were used to organize and analyze the injury surveillance system data. Results A total of 107 754 effective cases were collected in three years, and the male-female ratio was 1.65:1. The top three causes of injury were falls(36.0%), motor vehicle accident (20.6%) and sharp knife injury (11.8%). The locations of injuries were mainly roads (30.9%) and homes (28.3%). The top three activities at the time of injury were leisure activities (24.7%), driving (17.6%) and work (16.4%). 93.2% of injury was unintentional injury, and the degree of injury was mainly mild injury (74.3%). Conclusions The number of injuries is increasing year by year. The number of male injuries is more than that of females. Systematic research and intervention measures should focus on falls and motor vehicle accident .

Microbial secondary metabolites are one of the major sources of anti-bacterial, anti-fungal, antitumor, anti-virus and immunosuppressive agents for clinical use. Present challenges in microbial pharmaceutical development are the discovery of novel secondary metabolites with significant biological activities, improving the fermentation titers of industrial microbial strains, and production of natural product drugs by re-establishing their biosynthetic pathways in suitable microbial hosts. Synthetic biology, which is developed from systematic biology and metabolic engineering, provides a significant driving force for microbial pharmaceutical development. The review describes the major applications of synthetic biology in novel microbial secondary metabolite discovery, improved production of known secondary metabolites and the production of some natural drugs in genetically modified or reconstructed model microorganisms.
Bacteria ; metabolism ; Biological Products ; metabolism ; Drug Discovery ; Fermentation ; Fungi ; metabolism ; Gene Transfer Techniques ; Metabolic Engineering ; Synthetic Biology

AIMTo select higher thrombolytic and lower toxic single component of earthworm fibrinolytic enzymes (EFE).

METHODSEFE containing total components were obtained by affinity chromatography from Eisenia fetida. Using ion-exchange chromatography to separate three main components EfP-0-2, EfP-I-1 and EfP-I-2 from EFE, their thrombolytic activity and toxicity were compared with EFE.

RESULTSAmong these components, EfP-I-1 had higher thrombolytic activity in vitro. When 4.5 mg x kg(-1) of these components were injected, the contents of fibrinogen in rat serum were not affected, but only EfP-I-1 exhibited distinct thrombolytic activity. When 6.0 mg x kg(-1) of them were injected intravenously, the bleeding time was not evidently delayed only by EfP-I-1. The acute toxicity test showed that the LD50 of EfP-I-1 was higher than EFE by 2. 17 times.

CONCLUSIONBecause of distinct thrombolytic activity, lower toxicity in vivo, higher content in EFE and easy to purify, EfP-I-1 was adapted to be developed as a single component medicine for treating thrombus.

Amino Acid Sequence ; Animals ; Bleeding Time ; Dogs ; Electrophoresis, Polyacrylamide Gel ; Female ; Fibrinogen ; metabolism ; Fibrinolytic Agents ; chemistry ; isolation & purification ; pharmacology ; toxicity ; Lethal Dose 50 ; Male ; Mice ; Molecular Sequence Data ; Molecular Weight ; Oligochaeta ; chemistry ; enzymology ; Rats ; Rats, Wistar ; Sequence Analysis, Protein ; Spectrophotometry, Infrared ; Venous Thrombosis ; blood ; drug therapy