The prenylation of aromatic compounds plays an important role in the natural product research because it not only gives rise to an astounding diversity of primary and secondary metabolites in plants, fungi and bacteria but also enhances the bioactivities and bioavailabilities of these compounds. However, further investigation of prenylated aromatic compounds is frequently hindered due to their low content in nature and difficulties in chemical synthesis. Cloning aromatic prenyltransferase genes followed by heterologous expression would be attractive tools for the chemoenzymatic synthesis of bioactive molecules. This review summarizes the classifications, structural investigations, enzymatic catalysis and other progress in aromatic prenyltransferases originated from microorganisms.

AIM:To evaluate the changes of the corneal surface morphology undergoing overnight orthokeratology treatment and assess the effect of optical center deviation in controlling the development of myopia.METHODS:This was a retrospective clinical study.One hundred and thirty-four children (134 eyes) with myopia aged 10.66 ± 1.79 years were treated with overnight orthokeratology lenses.The examinations of visual acuity,axial length and corneal topography were performed before and 3,6,12,18 and 24mo after wearing orthokeratology.The results of right eye were taken as the object of this study,SPSS19.0 for statistical analysis.RESULTS:The distance of decentration about 134 children at 3,6,12,18 and 24mo after wearing orthokeratology were 0.84±0.45mm,0.77±0.40mm,0.79± 0.41 mm,0.78±0.41 mm,and 0.79±0.42mm respectively.The difference between these groups were not statistically significant (F=1.187,P=0.319).The mean distance of decentration after orthokeratology treatment was 0.79 ± 0.35mm,the growth of axial length after 24mo was 0.32± 0.30mm,the mean distance of decentration divided into 3 groups,mild (＜0.5mm) 27 eyes,medium (0.5-1.0mm)79 eyes,severe (＞ 1.0mm) 28 eyes,the growth of axial length frow 3 groups after 24mo were 0.45±0.34mm,0.32 ±0.28mm,0.23 ± 0.29mm,were statistically significant difference between each groups (F=3.825,P=0.024).By linear-regression analysis,the growth of axial length and the mean distance of decentration after 24mo was statistically significant difference (F =7.246,P =0.008),equation of linear regression was Y=0.478-0.194X.At 24mo after wearing orthokeratology,the mean distance of decentration about 18 eyes with monocular diplopia was 1.18±0.36mm,and 116 eyes without monocular was 0.73± 0.31mm,the distance of decentration were statistically significant difference (t=5.59,P＜0.01).CONCLUSION:The degree of decentration tended to be stable after 3mo of orthokeratology treatment and influenced the effect of myopia control and visual quality.

This study was aimed to dynamically observe the expression level of lactate dehydrogenase (LDH) in MDS patients and to explore the significance of LDH level for prognostic judgement of MDS patients. The expression level of LDH in 163 confirmedly diagnosed patients from 2001 to 2009 years in our hospital, the changes of LDH level in follow-up patients and relation of the LDH changes to prognosis, survival time and MDS progression, as well as the relation of LDH level to blood cell count, ratio and karyotype of blast cells in bone marrow were analyzed retrospectively. The results showed that the median LDH level in 163 MDS patients at diagnosis was 214 U/L (range 102 - 865 U/L), the median survival time of patients with increased LDH (> 240 U/L) was 25.6 months which was significantly shorter than that of patients with normal LDH level (56.8 months)(p < 0.05). When MDS patients were classified according to IPSS, the increased LDH level in MDS patients was observed in high risk and intermediate II groups (337.20 ± 298.00 U/L and 234.07 ± 216.00 U/L, respectively) which was significantly higher than that in low risk group (154.94 ± 46.08 U/L) (p < 0.05). The LDH level in patients with MDS progression was obviously enhanced while LDH level in patients without progression was not enhanced, mainly maintained in stable level as compared with LDH level at diagnosis and before progression (p < 0.005). By multivariate analysis, the increase of LDH level was found to be an independent prognostic factor. It is concluded that the LDH level may be used as indicator for judging prognosis of MDS patients, which is helpful to early recognition of MDS progression and risk stratification of disease, as well as selection of rational therapy.
Adolescent ; Adult ; Aged ; Aged, 80 and over ; Female ; Humans ; L-Lactate Dehydrogenase ; blood ; Male ; Middle Aged ; Myelodysplastic Syndromes ; blood ; diagnosis ; Prognosis ; Retrospective Studies ; Young Adult

OBJECTIVETo investigate the status of dental caries in the human of Tang dynasty.

METHODSAll teeth in 62 human skulls of Tang dynasty excavated from the Chang'an county in Xi'an city were examined and analyzed by statistics. The difference of prevalence in different group including age, sex and tooth position was tested with Chi-square test.

RESULTSThe prevalence of dental caries was 62.9%. And there were 92 caries teeth, which was 14.6% of the whole teeth. The root caries (33.3%) was more than the occlusal caries (28.7%). The most frequent recorded caries were the third molar, followed by the second molar, then the first molar. There was no significant difference between male and female.

CONCLUSIONSThe dental caries was popular in human of Tang dynasty, but the prevalence lowers than the modern people. And with the human evolution and the improvement of the social productivity, the prevalence of dental caries was gradually ascending.

Adult ; Archaeology ; China ; epidemiology ; DMF Index ; Dental Caries ; epidemiology ; Female ; Humans ; Male ; Middle Aged ; Prevalence

Familial isolated pituitary adenoma (FIPA) is an autosomal dominant disease, characterized by low penetrance, early-onset disease, more invasive tumor growth, as well as somatotroph and lactotroph adenomas in most cases. It has been indicated that the aryl hydrocarbon receptor interacting protein (AIP) gene is a tumor suppressor gene. Many heterozygous mutations have been discovered in AIP in about 20% of FIPA families. However, the exact molecular mechanism by which its disfunction promotes tumorigenesis of pituitary is unclear.
Growth Hormone-Secreting Pituitary Adenoma ; genetics ; Humans ; Intracellular Signaling Peptides and Proteins ; genetics ; Mutation ; Pituitary Neoplasms ; genetics

The tumor multidrug resistance reversal effect of NPB304, a novel taxane, was studied. MTT assay was used to determine the IC50 of chemotherapy drugs. Western blotting assay was applied to analyze the expression of P-glycoprotein (P-gp). The effect of compounds on the P-gp function and P-gp ATPase activity was determined by rhodamine 123 (Rh123) accumulation assay and analysis kit, respectively. Molecular docking was employed to predict the binding force between compounds and P-gp. Transmembrane transport of NPB304 was analyzed using MDCK II and MDR1-MDCK II cell model. NPB304 displayed multidrug resistance reversal effect on KBV cells and MCF-7/paclitaxel cells, NPB304 collaborative with P-glycoprotein (P-gp) inhibitors verapamil enhanced the reversal activity, specifically, 10 μmol x L(-1) verapamil in combination with paclitaxel reversed resistance by 56.5-fold, while combined with NPB304 increased the reversal fold; NPB304 synergistically increased Rh123 accumulation in the resistant cells when combined with verapamil, and NPB304 at 0-1 μmol x L(-1) enhanced the ATPase activity activated by verapamil was observed. NPB304 existed the hydrophobic interactions with the TM regions of P-gp, and the binding force between NPB304 and the A chain of the TM region was stronger. P-gp ATPase activity assay demonstrated NPB304 at lower concentrations (0-1.5 μmol x L(-1)) could activate the P-gp ATPase, playing a role on inhibition of P-gp function. However, NPB304 did not have an obvious feature of P-gp substrate. NPB304 exerted itself and synergy with verapamil activity on reversing tumor resistance via inhibiting the P-gp function.
ATP-Binding Cassette, Sub-Family B, Member 1 ; metabolism ; Antineoplastic Agents ; pharmacology ; Biological Transport ; Drug Resistance, Multiple ; Drug Resistance, Neoplasm ; Drug Synergism ; Humans ; MCF-7 Cells ; Rhodamine 123 ; Taxoids ; pharmacology ; Verapamil ; pharmacology

Objective To assess the safety and efficacy of subthreshold micropulse yellow laser (577 nm) in the treatment of chronic central serous chorioretinopathy with foveal leakage.Methods This was a prospective study of 12 patients (12 eyes) with chronic central serous chorioretinopathy (CSC).All patients had been treated using multiple spots of subthreshold micropulse yellow laser at 577 nm with a duty cycle of 5％ over areas of focal and diffuse leakage.And lweeks,1 months,3 months,and 6 months after treatment,the best corrected visual acuity (BCVA),central macular thickness (CMT) and reduction in subretinal fluid (SRF) were recorded.Results The mean BCVA measured at 6 months after laser treatment was 0.19 ±0.11,which was in comparison to 0.27 ± 0.08 before laser treatment,and the difference was statistically significant (P =0.016).The mean CMT was significantly reduced from (432.42 ±134.17) μm before laser treatment to (248.75 ±36.06) μm after 6 months (P =0.002).The mean SRF height was significantly decreased from (213.58 ± 132.60) μm at baseline to (17.25 ±21.90) μm (P =0.002).At the last follow-up,the SRF had disappeared completely in 6 out of 12 eyes,but there were still 6 eyes suffering from SRF.There was no evidence of retinal or choroidal damage during 6-month follow up.Conclusion Subthreshold micropulse yellow laser (577 nm) is an effective treatment option for chronic CSC with foveal leakage.

Objective To understand the health-related quality of life (HRQOL) of migrant workers with pneumoconiosis who received basic medical treatment in Hunan Province. Methods A total of 613 migrant workers with pneumoconiosis who received basic medical treatment and assistance in Hunan Province was selected as the study subjects using stratified random sampling method. The European Quality of Life-5 Dimensions (EQ-5D) questionnaire was used to assess their HRQOL. Results The abnormality of the five dimensions of the EQ-5D health description system, from high to low, were as follows： daily activities, mobility, pain/discomfort, anxiety/depression, and self-care, with the abnormal rates of 50.9%, 46.8%, 41.1%, 21.0%, and 14.5%, respectively. The visual analogue scale (VAS) score of EQ-5D was (63.5±18.6) points. Patients with stage Ⅲ pneumoconiosis had high abnormality in mobility, daily activities, and pain/discomfort compared with those with stage Ⅰ and Ⅱ disease (all P<0.02). Patients in stage Ⅱ and Ⅲ of pneumoconiosis had higher incidence of anxiety/depression compared with those with stage I disease (all P<0.02). Patients with complications in addition to pneumoconiosis had higher abnormality in mobility, self-care, and pain/discomfort compared to those with simple pneumoconiosis or those eligible for lung lavage treatment (all P<0.02). Patients with simple pneumoconiosis had a higher incidence of anxiety/depression compared with those eligible for lung lavage treatment (P<0.02). Patients with stage Ⅲ pneumoconiosis had lower average VAS scores compared with stage Ⅰ and Ⅱ patients (all P<0.02). Patients with simple pneumoconiosis or those with complications had lower average VAS scores compared with those eligible for lung lavage treatment (all P<0.05). Conclusion The HRQOL of pneumoconiosis patients among migrant workers needs improvement, especially for patients with stage Ⅲ disease and those with complications. This study indicates the need of optimizing policies, raising the hospitalization expense limit for critically ill patients with stage Ⅲ pneumoconiosis or with complications, and improving their HRQOL.

Objective To understand the status of HIV infection and sexual behaviors with men and women among men who have sex with men and women (MSMW) and documented for HIV epidemic among men who have sex with men to the general population.Methods 300 participants were recruited by using "snowballing" sampling in Chengdu and Guangzhou,respectively.Participants completed the questionnaire and HIV test.The questionnaire included social demographic characteristics,number of male sexual partners,sexual behaviors and condom use in the past 6 months.Relations with female sexual partners,vaginal intercourse and condom use in the past 12 months were also studied.Results Of the 600 oarticioants,the overall prevalence of HIV infectionwas 26.2％ and the detection rate of HIV-positives in this survey was 8.5％.In the past 6 months 28.0％ of the participants had 5 or more male sexual partners and the percentage of MSMW who had used condoms consistently during anal sex intercourse with men,was 44.2％.Of the participants,52.3％ had used condoms in the last three anal sex events and 63.0％ in the last event.In the past 12 months,86.0％ of the participants who had vaginal sex with female partners and the proportions of MSMW who had wife,girlfriend,lover,female casual partner and female commercial partner were 65.0％,27.2％,1.5％,12.7％,4.5％,respectively.About a third of the MSMW had always used condoms when having vaginal sex in the past 12 month.In the last three vaginal sex events,the proportion of participants who had never used condoms was 36.5％.In the past 6 months,55.7％ of the MSMWs had used condoms consistently during anal sex with men in Chengdu,which was higher than those MSMW in Guangzhou (32.7％).In the past 12 months,the proportion of MSMW who had used condoms consistently during vaginal sex was 38.3％,which was higher than MSMW of Guangzhou (25.3％).Among those HIV-positive MSMWs,91.1％ had anal sex with men in the past 6 months and 49.7％ HIV-positive MSMW had used condoms consistently during anal sex with men.The number of HIV-positive MSMW who had used condoms in the last or last three anal sex events with men,accounted for 60.5％ and 69.4％,respectively.In the past 12 months,82.8％ of the HIV-positive participants had vaginal sex with women.Of the HIV-positive participants,42.0％ used condoms consistently and the percentage of HIV-positive MSMWs who used condom during last three vaginal sexes was 47.8％.In the past 6 months,the percentage (4.3％) of MSMW who were HIV-positive prior to the survey and never used condoms during anal sex with men was lower than the percentage (22.0％) of MSMW who were HIV-positive found in this survey.In the past 12 months 12.9％ of the MSMW who were HIV positive prior to the survey never used condoms when having vaginal sex event,which was lower than MSMW (46.3％) who were HIV positive in this survey.Conclusion The prevalence of HIV infection had reached a quite high level and with high rates of unprotected anal sex with men and vaginal sex with women among MSMWs,indicating that the inherent bridging aspect of MSMW might accelerate the spreading of HIV infection to the general population.