Chlorella is nutritious and has been used as a functional food much earlier than the other microalgae. C. pyrenoidosa, the potential microalgae which is currently cultured and developed for the new strategic industry of biofuels production and biological CO2 fixation, is a new resource food announced by the Ministry of Health of the People's Republic of China late 2012. Accumulation of high value-added substances in C. pyrenoidosa during the cultivation for lipid makes it possible to reduce the costs for C. pyrenoidosa-based biofuels production. Among these potential substances, hot water extract of Chlorella (CE), commercially known as "Chlorella growth factor", is the unique one that makes Chlorella more precious than the other algae, and the market price of CE is high. It is believed that CE is effective in growth promotion and immunoregulation. However, there is no systematic analysis on the research status of CE and its bioactivity. The present report summarized recent research progress of CE and its bioactivity. Generally, besides the main effect on immunoregulation and tumor inhibition, CE was efficient in improving metabolic syndrome, scavenging for free radicals, protecting against ultraviolet damage, chelating heavy metals, and protecting liver and bowel. Several major challenges in CE research as well as its prospects were also analysed in the present report.
Biofuels ; Chlorella ; chemistry ; Humans ; Lipids ; chemistry ; Plant Extracts ; chemistry ; pharmacology ; Water

To construct a library of mouse single chain variable fragment (scFv) antibody against ofloxacin using phage display and recombinant antibody technique, specific anti-ofloxacin scFv was screened and 3D structure was homology modeling. Total RNA was extracted from hybridoma cell of ofloxacin mAb, and was used to amplify VH and VL gene by RT-PCR using random primer. Then they were linked by a DNA linker encoding (G1y4 Ser) 3 as VH-linker-VL sequence forming scFv by SOE(splicing by overlap extension) PCR. These fragments were inserted into phage T7 after double digestion and transformed with host bacteria BLT5403. 3 ×105 pfu / ml single chain antibody phage libraries were successfully constructed. Four positive phage scFv clones were screened by direct competitive ELISA after four times of enriched procedure in the order of adsorption-elution-amplificatio, 3D structure of specific scFv was homology modeling finally. This research lays a foundation for further massive expression of anti-ofloxacin scFv.

Objective To explore the relationship between cardiac involvement and laboratory indicators in patients with rheumatoid arthritis(RA). Methods Cardiac echocardiography and ECG performance of 184 patients with RA were analyzed retrospectively. Results Among the 184 patients with RA, the pulmonary hypertension detection rate was 8. 3%, valvular disease 38. 9%, arteriosclerosis 27. 8%, wall to reduce the exercise 13.9%, myocarditis 5.6% and pericardial effusion 5.6%, according to the echocardiography examinations;Sinus tachycardia was evidenced in 15. 22% patients, ST-T changes in 39. 13%, electric axis left side in 8. 70%, branch block in 13.04%, left ventricular hypertrophy in 4. 35%, atrial fibrillation in 4. 35%, premature in 8.70%, early repolarization syndrome in 2. 17% and electric-axis right side in 4. 35% patients by ECG examinations. The serum level of CRP (46. 77 ±5. 87) mg/L was significantly higher in RA patients with cardiac involvement than that in the non-cardiac involvement patientsm (28. 45 ±3. 21) mg/L (P ＜0.05) ;While the serum level of ESR,RF,IgG,IgA,IgM, PLT showed no statistically significant differences between the two groups (P ＞ 0.05); Within RA patients withcardiac involvement, the serum level of CRP showed no significant difference among different sub-groups , which were classified according to the echocardiography performance (P ＞ 0.05). Conclusions Cardiac involvement occurred frequently in patients with rheumatoid arthritis. The valvular disease, arteriosclerosis, reducing of the wall motion and pericardial effusion are the main manifestations by echocardiography examination; Sinus tachycardia, ST-T changes,branch block and premature beats are the main ECG abnormalities. The serum level of CRP is significantly higher in RA patients with cardiac involvement than that with non-cardiac involvement patients. The higher level of CRP in patients with RA may indicate the cardiac involvement presence.

Objective To investigate the clinical characteristics of patients with polymyositis(PM) and dermatomyositis (DM), and compare the differences of PM/DM to help the understanding of clinical diagnosis and treatment. Methods One hundred and forty-five hospitalized PM/DM patients from Department of Rheumatology of the First Affiliated Hospital of Xiˊan Jiaotong University were collected from May 2008 to December 2014, and the clinical manifestations, muscle enzymes, electromyogram, muscle biopsy, treatment outcome were retrospectively analyzed. Mann-Whitney U test and χ2 test were used for statistical analysis. Results The most common initial symptom of PM was muscle weakness, accounted for 51.2%, while rash was the initial presentation in most DM patients(43.1%). The incidence of interstitial lung disease (ILD) (62.7% vs 39.5%, χ2=11.009, P=0.001), and the elevation of CRP (48.9% vs 26.8%, χ2=10.272, P=0.001) were all higher in DM than PM, while the elevation of level of CK (85.4% vs 61.8%, U=-2.668, P=0.008) and CKMB (82.9%vs 41.2%, U=-3.303, P=0.001) were more common in PM compared with DM. The pathological study showed degeneration of muscle fiber, connective tissue hyperplasia in most PM patients, and perimysium atrophy, vacuoles degeneration, muscle bundles, perivascular inflammatory cell infiltration were observed in most DM patients. During the follow-up, the clinical remission rate was 57.5%, the relapse rate and the mortality rate was 7.5%and 31.1%respectively. The mortality rate was higher in DM than PM (34.6% vs 21.4%, χ2=4.861, P=0.027). Infection and tumors were the major causes of death, and the lung was the most common site of infection. Conclusion Differences in the clinical features, muscle enzymes, CRP level, pathology and the mortality rate between PM and DM are evident, while ILD, infection and the higher mortality rate are more common in DM than in PM.

Objective: To investigate the influencing factors of depressive symptoms among rural elderly patients with chronic diseases in China, so as to provide insights into depression prevention and control among the rural elderly patients with chronic diseases. Methods: The basic demographics, health status, and lifestyle of rural residents at ages of 65 years and older who had at least one chronic disease were retrieved from The Chinese Longitudinal Healthy Longevity Survey (CLHLS) database in 2018, and participants' depressive symptoms were assessed with The Center for Epidemiological Studies Depression-10 (CES-D-10) scale. Factors affecting the depressive symptoms were identified with a multivariable logistic regression model. Results: Totally 5 146 rural elderly patients with chronic diseases were enrolled, including 2 373 men (46.11%) and 2 773 women (53.89%). The prevalence of depressive symptoms was 27.13%. Multivariable logistic regression analysis identified having two and more children (OR=0.614, 95%CI: 0.387-0.975), living alone (OR=1.450, 95%CI: 1.192-1.764), life satisfaction (general, OR=1.933, 95%CI: 1.651-2.264; low, OR=5.366, 95%CI: 3.488-8.254), self-assessed health status (general, OR=2.697, 95%CI: 2.284-3.185; poor, OR=5.338, 95%CI: 4.262-6.685), disability in instrumental activities of daily living (OR=1.592, 95%CI: 1.328-1.908), sleep duration (normal, OR=0.502, 95%CI: 0.429-0.586; too long, OR=0.494, 95%CI: 0.405-0.603), exercise (OR=0.721, 95%CI: 0.607-0.856), watching TV (OR=0.787, 95%CI: 0.664-0.933), and gardening activities (OR=0.781, 95%CI: 0.626-0.975) as factors affecting depressive symptoms among rural elderly patients with chronic diseases. Conclusions The prevalence of depressive symptoms was 27.13% among rural elderly patients with chronic diseases. Number of children, living style, life satisfaction, health status, sleep duration, exercise, watching TV, and gardening activities are associated with the development of depressive symptoms among rural elderly patients with chronic diseases.

Objective:To investigate the effect of Yiqi Dihuang Decoction assisting conventional western medicine therapy in the treatment of early diabetic nephropathy (DN) with deficiency of qi and yin.Methods:A total of 117 patients with early DN who met the inclusion criteria from June 2018 to December 2020 in Beijing Hospital of Traditional Chinese Medicine Shunyi Branch were divided into a control group of 58 patients and a treatment group of 59 patients according to the random number table method. The control group was treated with conventional western medicine therapy, and the treatment group was additionally treated with Yiqi Dihuang Decoction on the basis of the control group. Both groups were treated for 1 month. Serum levels of IL-1, macrophage scavenger receptor A (SR-A), TNF-α, C-C motif chemokine 2 (CCL2), GSH-Px and SOD were detected by ELISA before and after treatment. Cystatin C (Cys C) and SCr levels were detected by automatic biochemical analyzer. The urinary albumin was determined by radioimmunoassay, urinary creatinine determined by rate method, and urinary albumin/creatinine ratio (UACR) and glomerular filtration rate (eGFR) were calculated. The adverse events during treatment and clinical efficacy were evaluated.Results:The total effective rate was 94.92% (56/59) in the treatment group and 81.03% (47/58) in the control group, and the difference between the two groups was statistically significant ( χ2=5.35, P=0.021). After treatment, UACR [(92.28±15.42) mg/g vs. (108.42±20.76)mg/g, t=4.78], eGFR [(91.42±13.18) m·min -1·1.73m -2vs. (95.30±15.94) m·min -1·1.73m -2, t=2.02], SCr [(65.30±9.54) μmol/L vs. (70.18±12.53) μmol/L, t=5.42], Cys C [(0.65±0.12)mg/L vs. (1.07±0.26)mg/L, t=11.25] in the treatment group were significantly lower than those in the control group ( P<0.05). Serum SR-A [(37.18±6.10) μg/L vs. (51.51±7.12) μg/L, t=11.70], CCL2 [(13.12±1.63) μg/L vs. (19.68±2.90) μg/L, t=15.12], TNF-α [(20.57±3.50) ng/L vs. (29.68±4.17) ng/L, t=12.81], IL-1 [(8.47±0.97) ng/L vs. (13.12±1.57) ng/L, t=19.31] levels in the treatment group were significantly lower than those in the control group ( P<0.01); serum SOD [(24.09±3.12) mg/L vs. (18.72±2.76) mg/L, t=9.85] activity and GSH-Px [(231.57±25.38) mg/L vs. (174.58±22.96) mg/L, t=12.73] in the treatment group were significantly higher than those in the control group ( P<0.01). During the treatment period, the incidence of adverse events was 10.34% (6/58) in the control group and 6.78% (4/59) in the treatment group, and there was no significant difference between the two groups ( χ2=0.48, P=0.490). Conclusion:Yiqi Dihuang Decoction assisted with conventional western medicine can effectively improve the renal function of patients with early DN syndrome of qi and yin deficiency, inhibit the body's inflammatory response and oxidative stress response, and improve clinical efficacy.

Objective To explore the prevalence of vitamin D deficiency in the new onset and treatment-naive systemic lupus erythematosus (SLE) patients and study the correlation between serum 25(OH)D values and disease activity of SLE. Methods A retrospective case series analysis was done in 117 new-onset and treatment-na?ve SLE hospitalized patients during May 2016 and May 2017 in the Department of Rheumatology of the First Affiliated Hospital of Xi'an Jiaotong University and 39 age and gender matched healthy controls. Cinical and demographic details were collected. Disease activity of SLE was evaluated according to the systemic lupus erythematosus disease activity index (SLEDAI) score. The t-test, Mann-Whitney U test, Chi-square test, Spearman rank correlation coefficient test and multivariate linear regres sion were performed. Results Among the 117 SLE patients, 102 were female (87.2％) with the mean age of (36 ± 15) years. The median duration before diagnosis was 5(1, 12) months and the mean SLEDAI score was (12 ±7). The mean level of 25(OH)D was significantly lower in SLE patients [(10.1±6.0) ng/ml] than in healthy controls [(17 ±8) ng/ml, t=-5.273, P<0.01 ], and the prevalence of vitamin D deficiency was higher in SLE patients (109/117, 93.2％) than in healthy controls (28/39, 71.8％, x2=12.486, P<0.01). With 10 ng/ml as the cut-off point of serum 25 (OH)D, patients were divided into two groups. The percentages of haematological damage (84.3％ vs 66.0％, x2=5.321, P=0.021), lupus nephritis (32.9％ vs 14.9％, x2=4.759, P=0.029) and serositis (28.6％ vs 8.5％, x2=6.940, P=0.008), SLEDAI score [(13±8) vs (9±5), t=3.503, P=0.001)] and 24-hour urinary protein [(0.57±1.05) vs (0.21±0.46), t=2.437, P=0.017] were significantly higher in the 25 (OH)D<10 ng/ml group, but complement C3 [(0.5±0.3) g/L vs (0.7±0.3) g/L t=-2.441, P=0.016] and hemoglobin [(93±19) g/L vs (104 ±19) g/L, t=-3.052, P=0.003) were significantly lower in this group. The differences were statistically significant. SLEDAI score (r=-0.433, P=0.000), 24-hour urinary protein (r=-0.434, P=0.000)was significantly inversely correlated and complement C3 (r=0.296, P=0.001), hemoglobin (r=0.323, P=0.000) was significantly positively correlated with serum 25(OH)D level. There was an independent inverse correlation between SLEDAI score and serum 25(OH)D levels (β=-0.376, P=0.000). Conclusion The prevalence of vitamin D deficiency in the new-onset and treatment-naive systemic lupus erythematosus patients is significantly higher than that in healthy controls. There is an independent inverse correlation between serum 25 (OH)D values and disease activity of SLE.

Balancing the risks and benefits of organophosphate pesticides(OPs)on human and environmental health relies partly on their accurate measurement.A highly sensitive fluorescence anti-quenching multi-residue bio-barcode immunoassay was developed to detect OPs(triazophos,parathion,and chlorpyrifos)in apples,turnips,cabbages,and rice.Gold nanoparticles were functionalized with monoclonal antibodies against the tested OPs.DNA oligonucleotides were complementarily hybridized with an RNA fluorescent label for signal amplification.The detection signals were generated by DNA-RNA hybridization and ribonuclease H dissociation of the fluorophore.The resulting fluorescence signal en-ables multiplexed quantification of triazophos,parathion,and chlorpyrifos residues over the concen-tration range of 0.01-25,0.01-50,and 0.1-50 ng/mL with limits of detection of 0.014,0.011,and 0.126 ng/mL,respectively.The mean recovery ranged between 80.3％and 110.8％with relative standard deviations of 7.3％-17.6％,which correlate well with results obtained by liquid chromatography-tandem mass spectrometry(LC-MS/MS).The proposed bio-barcode immunoassay is stable,reproducible and reliable,and is able to detect low residual levels of multi-residue OPs in agricultural products.

Objective: To observe the effect of poloxamer 188 (P188) on megakaryocyte cultivation and induction from cord blood mononuclear cells in order to obtain more megakaryocyte progenitor cells (MPC). Methods: The cord blood mononuclear cells were isolated and inoculated in cell culture bag or cell culture flask respectively. The WIGGENS shaker and cell culture bags were used to mimick WAVE Bioreactor for three-dimensional (3D) cell culture, and the P188 was added to induction medium, The cells were detected for morphology, surface marker, viability, and number on day 14. Results: In the two-dimensional (2D) culture, CD41⁺, CD41⁺/CD61⁺, CD61⁺ megakaryocytic numbers increased significantly after adding P188 (all P<0.01). And in the 3D culture of adding P188, the cell volume became larger and the nuclear shape was irregular, the cytoplasm appeared magenta granules, and the megakaryocyte cells became more mature. By 3D culture, the expression of CD41/CD61 was (36.30±1.27)% vs (23.95±1.34)%, hence the differentiation for MPC was significantly higher than that in the 2D group (P<0.01). Furthermore, adding P188 in 3D culture resulted in highest differentiation efficiency for MPC [(59.45±1.20)%]. There were no significantly differences in terms of cell viability and cell number among 3D culture containing P188, 2D and 3D culture groups (all P>0.05). Conclusion 3D culture was beneficial for the differentiation of MPC, but the cell viability was lower than 2D group; However, the satisfied cell growth and better induction efficiency were obtained by adding of P188, which might provide a new method of megakaryocytes production for clinical application.