0.05). Conclusion The exon 8+488C/T polymorphism of Aiolos gene exists in this population of Han ethnics,however,it is not associated with bronchial asthma.

The effect of C-terminal region residues on the substrate specificity of a novel cyclic imide hydrolase (CIH), a recombinant cyclic imide hydrolase (CIH293), and its mutants deleted or substituted at C-terminus (CIH291, CIH290, KK292-293EE) was reported. The substrate specificity and kinetic parameters of the mutants were analyzed by both the spectrophotometric assay and high-performance liquid chromatography. Results show that the substrate specificity of mutants was not obviously changed, but slightly low for the affinity between the substrate and enzyme, compared with the wild-type enzyme, CIH293. In conclusion, the last three residues of CIH293 play an important role for the enzyme activity.

OBJECTIVE: Anti-Ro52 antibodies are frequently co-occur with other myositis-specific and myositis-associated autoantibodies, we here to study this phenomenon in Chinese patients suspected with inflammatory myopathies. METHODS: In the study, 1 509 patients clinically suspected with inflammatory myopathies were tested for 11 kinds of myositis-specific and myositis-associated autoantibodies (including: anti-Jo-1, PL-7, PL-12, EJ, OJ, Mi-2, SRP, Ku, PM-Scl 75, PM-Scl 100, and Ro52 antibo-dies) by line-blot immunoassay from 2010 to 2016 in Peking University First Hospital. This retrospective study was to analyze these results to reveal the characteristics of anti-Ro52 antibodies co-occuring with other myositis autoantibodies. The data were analyzed using SPSS 17.0 and Graph Pad PRISM for Chi-square test, independent t-test, Pearson's correlation analysis, and drawing statistical graphs. Significance level was set at P < 0.05. RESULTS: The positive rate of anti-Ro52 antibodies was 18.3% (276/1 509 cases), which was the most frequently detected myositis antibodies in our center. 51.8% (143/276) of the patients with anti-Ro52 antibodies were combined with the other myositis antibodies, and the most common co-occurred antibodies were anti-SRP antibodies (18.8%, 52/276), and the second common co-occurred antibodies were anti-Jo-1 antibodies (13.0%, 36/276). Anti-Ro52 antibodies were the most common antibodies that co-occurred in other myositis antibodies positive patients except in anti-OJ antibodies positive group. The co-positive rate with anti-Ro52 antibodies was the lowest in anti-PM-Scl 75 positive group (30.4%, 31/102), and the highest in anti-EJ positive group (80.0%, 12/15). The positive rate of anti-Ro52 antibodies in anti-synthase antibodies (including anti-Jo-1, EJ, OJ, PL-7, and PL-12 antibodies) positive group was 57.3% (75/131), which was significantly higher than that in the other antibodies (including: anti-Mi-2, SRP, Ku, PM-Scl 75, and PM-Scl 100 antibodies) positive group with 35.2% (119/338) (χ²=18.916, P < 0.001). The intensity of anti-Jo-1, EJ, and SRP antibodies in the group of the patients that co-occurred with anti-Ro52 antibodies was significantly higher than that in the other group without anti-Ro52 antibodies respectively (P < 0.05). The intensity of anti-SRP antibodies was significantly correlated with that of anti-Ro52 antibodies (r=0.44, P=0.001). CONCLUSION Anti-Ro52 antibodies were commonly associated with other myositis-specific and myositis-associated autoantibodies, especially with anti-synthase antibodies, and the co-presence of anti-Ro52 antibodies may be correlated with the myositis antibody intensity.
Autoantibodies ; Correlation of Data ; Humans ; Myositis/epidemiology* ; Retrospective Studies

Tumor angiogenesis provides adequate oxygen and nutrition for tumor development and supports tumor growth and metastasis. Stromal cell derived factor 1 (SDF-1) and its receptor C-X-C motif chemokine receptor 4 (CXCR4) in pancreatic cancer microenvironment are involved in tumor growth such as promoting tumor cell proliferation, migration, and angiogenesis. In this study, anti-CXCR4 nanobody (CXCR4 Nb) and anti-programmed cell death ligand 1 (PD-L1) &CXCR4 bispecific nanobody (PX4 BsNb) were expressed in Escherichia coli system and purified by nickel column affinity chromatography. We investigated the anti-angiogenesis activity and mechanism of CXCR4 Nb by in vivo and in vitro experiments. Ethical approval was obtained for collection of human peripheral blood mononuclear cell (hPBMC) samples from the Local Ethics Committee of Shanghai Jiao Tong University. All animal experiments were approved by the Animal Ethic Committee of Shanghai Jiao Tong University. The results showed that CXCR4 Nb at 0.1 μmol·L^-1 could effectively inhibit the proliferation and migration of human umbilical vein endothelial cells (HUVEC) promoted by pancreatic stellate cells in vitro. CXCR4 Nb and PX4 BsNb at 0.3 mg·kg^-1 obviously decreased tumor angiogenesis and inhibited the tumor growth in NOD/SCID mice, the inhibitory rates were 28.8% and 36.1%, respectively. CXCR4 Nb significantly inhibited tumor growth and angiogenesis with great safety, which provides support for application of CXCR4 Nb and anti-angiogenesis therapy of pancreatic cancer.

OBJECTIVETo study the clinicopathologic features, differential diagnosis and pathogenesis of sclerosing angiomatoid nodular transformation of spleen.

METHODSTen cases of sclerosing angiomatoid nodular transformation of spleen were retrieved from the archival file. Histochemical and immunohistochemical (EnVision method) studies were performed. Ultrastructural findings were also available in one of them.

RESULTSSclerosing angiomatoid nodular transformation was characterized by micronodular appearance of vascular spaces lined by plump endothelial cells with interspersed ovoid spindle cells. Immunohistochemical study showed that the endothelial cells of vessels in the angiomatoid nodules had various expressions of immunologic phenotypes and could be mainly classified into 3 types: CD34(+)/CD31(+)/CD8⁻ endothelial cells of the capillaries, CD8(+)/CD31(+)/CD34⁻ lining cells of the sinusoids and CD31(+)/CD8⁻/CD34⁻ endothelial cells of the small veins. Collagen network and dilated lymphatic sinuses were evident under transmission electron microscope.

CONCLUSIONSSclerosing angiomatoid nodular transformation of spleen is a rare benign entity. It may represent a reactive condition and bears some relationship with splenic angioma. It needs to be distinguished from borderline or malignant vascular tumors of spleen.

Adult ; Antigens, CD34 ; metabolism ; CD8 Antigens ; metabolism ; Diagnosis, Differential ; Female ; Hemangioendothelioma ; metabolism ; pathology ; Hemangiosarcoma ; metabolism ; pathology ; Histiocytoma, Benign Fibrous ; metabolism ; pathology ; surgery ; ultrastructure ; Humans ; Male ; Microscopy, Electron ; Middle Aged ; Platelet Endothelial Cell Adhesion Molecule-1 ; metabolism ; Splenic Neoplasms ; metabolism ; pathology ; surgery ; ultrastructure

OBJECTIVEType 2 diabetes has been recently recognized as an important risk factor for cognitive decline of patients with Alzheimer's disease (AD). But the roles of hyperinsulinemia (HI) and insulin resistance (IR) in the development of AD are still controversial. This study was designed to evaluate whether HI or IR influenced the cognitive functions of older cohort.

METHODSThe cognitive functions of 328 consecutive elderly patients were evaluated with a battery of cognitive rating scales. Their fasting blood glucose (FBG) and fasting insulin (FINS) were analyzed and IR was calculated with modified-Homa. The cognitive scores in different groups and the correlation of cognitive functions with HI or IR were analyzed.

RESULTSIn our study, there were 180 participants with HI and 148 without HI, and 192 with IR and 136 without IR. The participants with HI showed worse cognitive functions than those without HI in MMSE, MOCA, CDR, orientation, delayed memory, and attention/calculation domains. Similarly, the elderly with IR had lower cognitive scores than those without IR in MMSE, MOCA, CDR, GDS, orientation, delayed memory, and attention/calculation domains. The insulin levels and Homa IR had negative correlation with the scores of MMSE and delayed memory, not only in the model 1 adjusted for FBG and diabetes history, but also in the model 2 adjusted for all nine demographic characteristics.

CONCLUSIONHI and IR are important risk factors for cognitive decline of the elderly, especially for the dysfunctions in delayed memory domains.

Aged ; Aged, 80 and over ; Cognition ; Cognition Disorders ; blood ; etiology ; Female ; Homeostasis ; Humans ; Hyperinsulinism ; blood ; complications ; psychology ; Insulin ; blood ; Insulin Resistance ; Male

The alpha-amylase (EC 3.2.1.1) from the Gram-positive Alicyclobacillus acidocaldarius was one kind of thermoacidophilic enzyme, with optimal temperature and pH of 75 degrees C and 3, respectively. The nucleotide sequence of the gene amy was cloned by PCR. The gene amy was 3901bp long, comprising one open reading frame encoding a polypeptide of 1301 amino acids. The calculated molecular weight of the alpha-amylase AMY was about 140kD. The gene amy was expressed in E. coli BL21 (DE3) and Pichia pastoris respectively, and both of the cloned proteins had bioactivity. The activity of amylase expressed in P. pastoris was further testified by amylase activity staining. The alpha-amylase expressed in P. pastoris had been purified and characterized. The apparent molecular weight of that was about 160kD according to SDS-PAGE. The optimum of pH for the enzyme was pH 3.2 as the native enzyme was; but the optimum of temperature was 65 degrees C and a little lower than that of the native enzyme. Above 50% of relative activity remained after incubation for 30 minutes in 70 degrees C. So the enzyme expressed by P. pastoris was also thermoacidophilic. Moreover some sequence was cloned by PCR, which ranged from + 1174 bp to + 3288 bp in the gene amy, encoding 705 amino acids with the calculated molecular weight of 79kD. The truncated gene amy' was expressed in E. coli BL21 (DE3) induced by 1 mmol/L IPTG, and the expressed enzyme also retained alpha-amylase activity.
Bacillus ; enzymology ; genetics ; Bacterial Proteins ; genetics ; isolation & purification ; metabolism ; Cloning, Molecular ; Escherichia coli ; genetics ; metabolism ; Genetic Vectors ; genetics ; Pichia ; genetics ; metabolism ; alpha-Amylases ; genetics ; isolation & purification ; metabolism

Squamous cell papilloma is a kind of benign tumor from mucosa stratified squamous epithelium, which usually occurs in cheek, palate, lip and tongue. In this paper, a case of squamous cell papilloma occurred in interdental papilla was reported, and its pathogenesis, clinic features and treatment were discussed.
Epithelial Cells ; Epithelium ; Gingiva ; Humans ; Papilloma ; Tongue

OBJECTIVETo explore the clinical effects of the manipulation reduction combined with small splint fixation for the treatment of fresh closed fracture of radius for shorten hospital stays and reduce medical cost.

METHODSFrom July 2007 to December 2009, 200 patients (ranged the age from 40 to 80 years) with distal radius comminute fracture were treated and divided into CP group (including 21 males and 79 females, with a mean age of (62.98 +/- 0.85) years), and control group (including 20 males and 80 females, with a mean age of (63.19 +/- 0.88) years). All patients were treated manipulation reduction combined with small-splint fixation, control group removed small-splint 30 days after treatment, CP group removed 25 days after treatment. Two groups were checked by X-ray and took traditional chinese medicine (taking Yuanhu tablets, Chuangshangning tablets on the early stage; Guixiangzhenggu pill was taken on the middle stage; Shuanglongjie gu pill on the late stage), functional exercise was guided after removing of small splint. The condition of reduction and position of bone were evaluated and Gartland-Werlley scale was used to evaluate the function of wrist joint.

RESULTSTreatment time in CP group was decreased from (30.08 +/- 3.06) to (25.06 +/- 1.07) days; treatment cost in CP group was decreased from (2 100.00 +/- 332.12) to (1 644.00 +/- 125.20) Yuan. There was no significant difference in reduction and function recover of wrist joint between two groups. The results showed the effects of TCM clinic can be promised.

CONCLUSIONClinical pathway for outpatient can promote standardization of outpatient, short treatment time less medical economic burden, and worth widely used.

Adult ; Aged ; Aged, 80 and over ; Case-Control Studies ; Female ; Fracture Fixation, Internal ; instrumentation ; methods ; Fractures, Closed ; surgery ; Humans ; Male ; Middle Aged ; Radius ; surgery ; Radius Fractures ; surgery ; Splints

In order to evaluate the efficiency of ITS2 and psbA-trnH sequences used as DNA barcodes to distinguish Plantaginis Semen from its adulterants, we collected 71 samples of Plantaginis Semen and its adulterants. The ITS2 and psbA-trnH sequences were aligned through Clustal W, and the genetic distances were calculated by kimura 2-parameter (K2P) model and the Neighbor-Joining (NJ) phylogenetic trees were constructed using MEGA 5.1. The results indicated that the ITS2 sequence lengths of Plantago asiatica and P. depressa were 199 bp and 200 bp, respectively; the maximum intra-specific K2P distance were lower than the minimum inter-specific K2P distance; the NJ tree based on ITS2 sequence indicated that Plantaginis Semen and its adulterants could be distinguished clearly. The sequence lengths of psbA-trnH of both P. asiatica and P. depressa were 340 bp; the maximum intra-specific K2P distances were lower than the minimum inter-specific K2P distance; the NJ tree based on psbA-trnH sequence showed that Plantaginis Semen can be distinguished clearly from its adulterants except for P. major. Therefore, ITS2 sequences can be used as an ideal DNA barcode to distinguish Plantaginis Semen from its adulterants.
Base Sequence ; DNA Barcoding, Taxonomic ; methods ; DNA, Plant ; genetics ; DNA, Ribosomal Spacer ; genetics ; Drug Contamination ; prevention & control ; Drugs, Chinese Herbal ; chemistry ; classification ; Molecular Sequence Data ; Phylogeny ; Plant Proteins ; genetics ; Plantago ; classification ; genetics ; Quality Control ; Seeds ; classification ; genetics