ObjectiveTo investigate the effect of National Natural Science Foundation ( NSFC ) on the progress of the discipline of endocrine and metabolic research from 1987 to 2010.MethodsThe data regarding the NSFC allocated to endocrine and metabolic research from 1987 to 2010 were collected.Total expenses and numbers of the majority of programs,unit distribution,times of funding and the situation of completed program finished in recent two years were provided.ResultsFrom 1987 to 2010,a total of 731 projects and 178 398 thousands Yuan expenses of NSFC were allocated to endocrine and metabolic research.The detailed allocations are as follows:general program ( n =462 ),Young Scientists Fund ( n =187 ),regional fund ( n =28 ),Key Program ( n =9 ),National Science Fund for Distinguished Young Scholars ( n =5 ),Joint Research Fund for Overseas Chinese Young Scholars( n =2 ),Fund for Creative Research Groups ( n =1 ),International ( regional )joint research program ( n =11 ),and the others ( n =26 ).Taking the projects ( n =102 ) completed in 2009 and 2010 as an example,279 papers were published in Science Citation Index ( SCI ) included journals and 236 papers were published in Chinese journals.During the time of the projects completed,8 post-doctoral students,169 students for PhD degree,and 227 students for Master degree have been graduated.ConclusionOver the past 25 years,the continuously increased funding of NSFC on endowrine and metabolic research has led to substantial achievement.The grants of talent training and research program have increased dramatically,and the units of funding increased yearly.Talent training and subject-specific development have increased greatly.

The effects of adsorption time, solid-liquid ratio, sample concentration, flow rate on the adsorption properties of supported ionic liquids(the N-methylimidazolium functionalized silica, SilprMin) for flavonoids were investigated. The results indicated that the adsorption equilibrium for tested compounds, genistein, luteolin and quercetin, was achieved within 30 min, the adsorption efficiencies of these three compounds were improved with the increase of solid-liquid ratio, and decreased with the increase of their concentrations. Moreover, the adsorption isotherm data of the three tested compounds were in good concordance with the Langmuir model. The saturated adsorption capacity of SilprMim for genistein, luteolin and quercetin was 47.7, 52.5 and 63.2 mg/g, respectively. Adsorption efficiency of SilprMim could reach more than 90% at a sample flow rate of 0.5～1.5 mL/min. Using methanol as eluent, the saturated desorption efficiencies of genistein, luteolin and quercetin were 86.1%, 83.3% and 84.6%, respectively. The elution order of the three tested flavonoids was genistein, luteolin and quercetin. SilprMim had strong adsorption and separation capacity for three tested flavonoids, which was hopeful to be applied in separation and purification of naturally occurring flavonoids.

Objective To research and develop a model of the representative active component's content by NIR spectroscopy,so as to realize the on-line quality control of extracting process for multiple herbal medicine system in product scale.Methods The on-line NIR detection of extracting process was used to obtain the NIR spectrum,HPLC detection of the extracts was carried out to determine the content of danshensu,and PLS method was used to establish the relationship between the information of NIR and HPLC.Results The optimum NIR wavelength range was 9 715-7 082 cm-1,R=0.959 4,RMSEC=0.049 4,the average relative error was 7.2%.Conclusion NIR Technique could be used in the on-line quality control of Compound Danshen's extracting process.

The clinical significance of a myeloperoxidase (MPO) gene polymorphism and inducible nitric oxide synthase (iNOS) expression in cirrhotic patients with hepatopulmonary syndrome (HPS) was explored. Enrolled subjects were divided into three groups according to their disease/health conditions: the HPS group (cirrhotic patients with HPS; n=63), the non-HPS group (cirrhotic patients without HPS; n=182), and the control group (healthy subjects without liver disease; n=35). The distribution of the MPO -463 G/A genotype and its relationship with iNOS expression in a typical cell block from ascitic fluid were detected by immunohistochemistry and polymerase chain reaction-restricted fragment length polymorphism analysis (PCR-RFLP). In the HPS group, the partial pressure of oxygen in blood and ascitic fluid was significantly decreased (8.95+/-1.58 kPa and 6.81+/-0.95 kPa, respectively; both P<0.01), while the partial pressure of carbon dioxide significantly increased (4.62+/-0.20 kPa and 5.92+/-0.45 kPa, respectively; P<0.01). MPO and iNOS levels were significantly increased in the HPS group as compared with the non-HPS group. These increases were even more remarkable in ascitic fluid (41.36+/-11.62 and 13.23+/-4.81 mug/L; 10.27+/- 3.20 and 4.95+/-1.12 mug/L) than in blood (16.66+/-5.24 and 4.87+/-1.73 mug/L; 5.79+/-2.31 and 2.35+/-0.84 mug/L). The distribution of the MPO genotypes GG, GA, and AA were 76.2%, 22.2% and 1.6% in the HPS group, and 57.7%, 37.9% and 4.4% in the non-HPS group (P<0.05). The expression of iNOS was significantly higher in patients with the G alleles (G/G and G/A) (61.54%, 48/78) than in patients with A alleles (G/A and A/A) (38.46%, 30/78) (P<0.01). It was suggested that the expression levels of iNOS and MPO were correlated with HPS-induced hypoxemia. The MPO-463 G/A mutation might be a protective factor that prevents the development of HPS. The MPO might be involved in the regulation of iNOS expression. In humans, MPO pathways, the iNOS/NO system, and their interaction might have an impact on the occurrence and development of HPS.

Objective To investigate if Chondrus yendoi decoction(CYD) and polysaccharide(CYP) have the effects of scavenging superoxide anion(O?—2),antioxidation,protecting mitochondria from damage.Methods Lipid peroxidation and swelling of mouse liver and brain mitochondria were induced by Fe2+-L-Cys system in vitro.Superoxide anion was generated by reduced nicotinamide adenine dinucleotide(NADH)-N-methylphenazonium methyl sulfate(PMS)-4-nitrobluetetrazolium chloride(NBT) system.Lipid peroxide malondialdehyde(MDA),mitochondrial swelling and superoxide anion formation were determined by spectrophotometry.Results CYD and CYP could inhibit MDA production,protect mitochondria from swelling,and scavenge O?-2 obviously in a dose-dependent manner.Conclusion CYD and CYP had the effects of scavenging O?-2,antioxidation,protecting mitochondria from injury.CYP was the major bioactive component.

microRNAs is a group of small non-coding RNAs that play a negative regulation role in expression of target genes at post-transcriptional level by inhibition or degradation of target mRNAs after combination of the seed sequence (SS) in microRNAs with the SS-binding sequences usually located at 5'ends of target mRNAs.microRNAs was firstly found in Caenorhabditis elegans.Subsequently,many different microRNAs in eukaryocytes were revealed.In eukaryocytes,microRNA precursors are transcribed at first and then become functional microRNAs with 21-23 nt in size after splice.Most of eukaryocytic microRNAs combime with the sequences at 3'end of target mRNAs that cause the translation inhibition or degradation of the mRNAs.In the recent years,many different prokaryocytes,such as bacteria,have been confirmed to possess microRNAs.However,the microRNAs in prokaryotes such as bacteria are 50-400 nt in size and have the biological activity without splice.Moreover,the characteristics,action sites and mechanisms of the prokaryotic microRNAs have some certain diversity compared to the eukaryotic microRNAs.Our review briefly introduce the major regulation mechanisms of gene expression as well as the general characteristics of microRNAs and their regulation mechanisms of gene expression in prokaryocytes and eukaryocytes,which will provide a basis for further and profound study on the gene expression regulation and pathogenic mechanisms of prokaryotic microbial pathogens.

Objective To investigate the correlation between Streptococcus pneumoniae (S.pneumoniae) StkP kinase and drug resistance and to analyze the binding ability of StkP extracellular region (EC-StkP) to β-lactam antibiotics.Methods A stkP gene knockout (ΔstkP) mutant was constructed from S.pneumoniae strain ATCC6306 by insertional inactivation method.E-test was performed to detect the minimum inhibitory concentrations (MIC) of penicillin (PCN) and cefotaxime (CTX) against ΔstkP mutant and its wild-type strain.Bioinformatic softwares were used to predict the EC-StkP of S.pneumonia strain ATCC6306,to generate the three-dimensional structure model of EC-StkP and to analyze the correlation between the structure and functions of EC-StkP.PCR was performed to amplify the extracellular segment of stkP (EC-stkP) gene and the product of it was sequenced after T-A cloning.A prokaryotic expression system of EC-stkP gene was constructed.SDS-PAGE in combination with a gel image analysis system was used to detect the expression of the recombinant EC-StkP (EC-rStkP).The expressed EC-rStkP was extracted by Ni-NTA affinity chromatography.The binding abilities of EC-rStkP to PCN and CTX were detected by isothermal titration calorimetry (VT-ITC) and surface plasmon resonance (Biacore).Results S.pneumonia strain ATCC6306 was sensitive to PCN (MIC=0.06 μg/ml) and CTX (MIC=0.12 μg/ml),but its ΔstkP mutant was resistant to the two antibiotics (PCN MIC=16 μg/ml,CTX MIC=32 μg/ml).The 295 aa segment was predicted as the extracellular region at C-end of StkP of S.pneumoniae strain ATCC6306,containing four penicillin-binding proteins and Ser/Thr kinase-associated (PASTA) domains.The cloned EC-stkP segment and the EC-stkP segment in GenBank shared 99.6% similarity in nucleotide sequence and 100% in amino acid sequence.The constructed prokaryotic expression system for EC-stkP gene expressed EC-rStkP in soluble form.Both PCN and CTX could bind to EC-rStkP and CTX was better than PCN in term of binding ability.Conclusion The stkP gene of S.pneumonia is closely related to drug resistance and the encoded protein,Ser/Thr kinase StkP,can recognize and bind to β-lactam antibiotics.

Objective:To observe the effect of Allicin in cardial fibroblasts (CFs) proliferation and Collagen secretion,and to explore its role on TLR4/NF-κB signal pathway.Methods:CFs of neonatal Wistar rats were isolated and cultured ,then was stimulated with AngⅡ.CFs proliferation was measured by thiazolyl blue ( MTT) assay.The expression of collagenⅠ,collagenⅢ was measured by ELISA.mRNA expression of TLR4 and NF-κB were detected by reverse transcription-polymerase chain reaction ,protein expression of TLR4 and NF-κB were detected with Western blot.Results: Allicin could reduced MTT value of cardial fibroblasts ( P<0.01 ) , and inhibited expression of collagenⅠ,collagenⅢ(P<0.01),which in a dose-dependent manner.Allicin could reduced mRNA expression of TLR4 and NF-κB and protein expression of TLR 4 and NF-κB in CF induced by Ang Ⅱ ( all P<0.01 ) .Conclusion: Allicin can inhibit Myocardial fibrosis ,which mechanism is possible by inhibiting TLR 4/NF-κB signal pathway.

Objective To supply the fastest and most effective first aid for patients with the least medical workers and within the shortest time after the occurrence of emergent public health accidents by application of emergency management. Methods We carried out retrospective invetigations about 55 great medical succors from the year of 2004 to 2006.Results Application of emergency nursing management played a pivotal role in these 55 great medical succors. The medical workers handled all the emergencies without confusion and a large number of patients got first aid in time. Conclusion It could facilitated the first aid for emergent public health accidents by application of emergency nursing management.