Objective To investigate the relationship between serum homocysteine (Hcy) and large artery atherosclerosis (LAA).Medods The consecutive stroke patients with LAA and small artery occlusion (SAO) were enrolled.The demographics,baseline clinical data,and laboratory test results were compared.Multivariate logistic regression analysis was used to identify the independent risk factors for LAA.Spearman correlation analysis was used to analyze the correlation between serum Hcy concentration and carotid plaque scores.Results A total of 117 patients with LAA and SAO were enrolled,42 were in the LAA group and 75 were in the SAO group.The plasma Hcy levels (median [interquartile range] 15.35 [12.20-20.43] μmol/Lvs.12.40 [10.40-15.00] μmoFL; Z=-2.540,P=0.011),the carotid plaque scores (6.30 ±4.11 mm vs.4.19 ±2.84 mm; t =2.952,P=0.004),and the proportion of plasma Hcy level at tertile groups of the patients (x2 =10.697,P =0.005) of the LAA plasma group were all significantly higher than those of the SAO group.Multivariate logistic regression analysis showed that the plasma Hcy concentration was in the third tertile (＞ 15.3 μmol/L),and it was an independent risk factor for LAA (odds ratio 4.739,95％ confidence interval 1.696-13.241; P =0.003).Moreover,there was a significant positive correlation between the serum Hcy concentration and the carotid plaque scores (r =0.245,P =0.008).Conclusions The plasma Hcy levels were positively correlated with the severity of carotid atherosclerosis.The Hcy ＞ 15.3 μmol/L was an independent risk factor for LAA.

Objective To prepare hybrid substrate and apply it to detect thiram with surface-enhanced Raman spectros-copy( SERS) which provides unique molecular vibration information .Methods The Au substrate was prepared by deposi-tion of gold film on the silver substrate that had a rough surface .The Au substrate was treated with amination as a linker with the silver sol before the hybrid substrate was formed .With PATP as a probe molecule ,the Raman intensity of PATP on the Au substrate and the hybrid substrate was compared ,respectively .Results and Conclusion PATP had stronger Raman intensity on hybrid substrate than on the Au , and the detection limit was 10 -9 mol/L.This method can be used for quanti-tative detection on the hybrid substrate by SERS .

Taxa-4(5),11(12)-diene is the precursor for paclitaxel biosynthesis. The diterpenoid paclitaxel (marketed as Taxol), a plant secondary metabolite isolated from yew, is an effective drug widely used in the treatment of numerous cancers. However, further application of taxol has been restricted due to its low yield in plants and the difficulties in extraction. To increase the intact isoprene flux, we constructed the fusion gene plasmid pBgGGTS and individual cassette plasmid pBgGGgTS to enhance the expression levels of geranylgeranyl diphosphate synthase gene (ggpps) and a taxadiene synthase gene (ts) in Coprinopsis cinerea. These two plasmids were separately transformed into C. cinerea LT2 strain, resulting in several putative transformants. Putative transformants were determined by PCR technique, indicating that 5 out of 13 putative transformants transformed by pBgGGTS and 6 out of 13 putative transformants transformed by pBgGGgTS, respectively. Additionally, the Southern blotting analysis of these 10 transformants confirmed that both ggpps and ts gene were stably integrated into the genome of C. cinerea. Crude extracts from each of the transformants were analyzed. There is no difference in the mycelium extracts among the wild-type LT2 and two types of transformants. However, analysis of culture filtrates indicated that an additional GC peak was found at the retention time of 16.762 min which was absent in the wild type control. The mass fragmentation pattern of this peak had the same diagnostic ions with taxa-4(5),11(12)-diene. According to peak area, the amounts of taxa-4(5),11(12)-diene in each fermented broth were 44 ng/L (transformed with pBgGGgTS) and 30 ng/L (transformed with pBgGGTS), respectively. In conclusion, co-expression of the ggpps and ts gene could increase the taxadiene production in C. cinerea.
Agaricales ; metabolism ; Alkenes ; metabolism ; Diterpenes ; metabolism ; Farnesyltranstransferase ; genetics ; metabolism ; Genetic Engineering ; Isomerases ; genetics ; metabolism ; Paclitaxel ; Plasmids

OBJECTIVETo observe the effect of integrative medical therapy on the prognosis of patients suffering from yin syndrome type acute ischemic stroke (YS-AIS).

METHODSA multi-center, prospective, random and parallel controlled clinical trial was carried on 606 patients of YS-AIS. Excepting the 15 patients being excluded and dropped out in the trial period, all patients were assigned to the treatment group (274 patients) treated with integrated medical protocol (i. e. Chinese medical therapy plus conventional Western medical treatment), and the control group (263 patients) treated with conventional Western medical treatment plus placebo. Patients' quality of life (QOL) and their disability level were assessed by scoring based on SS-QOL and modified Rankin scale (mRS) respectively at the terminal of the 21-day treatment (T1) and at the ends of 60-day (T2) and 90-day (T3) following-ups.

RESULTSPatients' disability level, showed by mRS scores, was not significantly different between the two groups at T1 and T2 (P > 0.05), but with significant difference at T3 (P < 0.05). The recovery in the treatment group were more significant. Although the SS-QOL scores showed no statistical significant difference between groups (P > 0.05), improvement of QOL could be seen in the treatment group and the difference between groups was more significant as the time went by.

CONCLUSIONIntegrative medical therapy could reduce the severe disability rate in patients after YS-AIS, and showed an improving trend on patients' QOL at T3.

Aged ; Female ; Humans ; Integrative Medicine ; Ischemia ; therapy ; Male ; Medicine, Chinese Traditional ; Middle Aged ; Prognosis ; Prospective Studies ; Stroke ; diagnosis ; therapy

Objective To investigate the significance of preoperative Glasgow prognostic score (GPS) for postoperative prognosis in patients of resectable colon cancer. Recent studies have revealed that the GPS, an inflammation-based prognostic score that includes only C-reactive protein (CRP) and albumin, is a useful tool for predicting postoperative outcome in cancer patients. However, few studies have investigated the GPS in the field of colon surgery. Methods The GPS was calculated on the basis of admission data as follows; patients with an elevated level of both CRP ( ＞ 10 mg/L) and hypoalbuminemia (Alb ＜ 35 g/L) were allocated a score of 2, and patients showing 1 or none of these blood chemistry abnormalities were allocated a score of 1 or 0, respectively. Prognostic significance was analyzed by multivariate analyses. Overall survival and disease-free survival was estimated using the Kaplan-Meier method. Results A total of 282 patients were evaluated. Kaplan-Meier analysis and log-rank test revealed that a higher GPS predicted a higher risk of postoperative mortality and reccurence ( P ＜ 0.001 ). multivariate analyses revealed that postoperative TNM was the most sensitive predictor of postoperative mortality (OR, 0.210; 95% CI, 0.102-0.432; P＜0.01) and CEA(OR,0. 356;95% CI,0. 179 -0. 707; P = 0.003),CA19-9(OR,0. 260;95% CI,0. 120 -0. 564;P ＜ 0.01),CRP( OK,4. 503;95% CI, 1. 590 -12. 751 ;P =0.005) , GPS( OR, 0. 340 ;95% CI,0.181 -0.920;P＜0.01)were associated with postoperative mortality. Conclusions Preoperative GPS is considered to be a useful predictor of postoperative mortality in patients with colon cancer.

AIM: To confirm the expression level of the gene which corresponding to JT8 tag decreased in coronary artery disease (CAD). METHODS: The validity and reliability of the results gotten by serial analysis of gene expression method was verified by RT-PCR and Northern blot. The expression level of the gene which corresponding to JT8 tag was compared with the expression level of GAPDH and ?-actin in JT and WY, while according to SAGE results that the gene expression level of JT8 gene was 8 times higher in JT than in WY. RESULTS: It was found that the results of RT-PCR and Northern bolt were identified with the results of SAGE. The expression level of JT8 gene decreased in CAD. CONCLUSION: These results verified the validity of SAGE method and made a good foundation for further discovery of new candidate genes. [

Objective:To explore the gene frequencies of HLA-Cw and to analyze the recognition characteristic between HLA-Cw and KIR in Guangdong Han population.Methods:An auto semi-quantitative PCR-RSSO method was adopted to detect the HLA-Cw genotypes of a sample of 122 bone marrow donors.Results:The gene frequencies of HLA-CW 03,07,01,08,04,14,15,12,06,05,16 were 0.237 1 , 0.215 9 , 0.175 2 , 0.112 9 , 0.050 5 , 0.041 9 , 0.041 9 , 0.037 6 , 0.033 3 , 0.008 2 , 0.004 1 respectively.HLA-Cw 02,04,05,06 belong to “group 1” recognizing KIR-2DL1/2DS1.HLA-Cw 01,03,07,08 belong to “group 2” recognizing KIR-2DL2/2DL3;2DS2/2DS3.There was a significant difference between the two groups in total HLA-Cw gene frequencies in Guangdong Han population( P

Objective To investigate the subtype distribution and sequence characteristics of HIV-1 strains prevalent among sexual infectors in Beijing. Methods We collected the blood samples from 100HIV sexual infectors in Beijing during 2008 and separated plasma specimens. RNA was extracted from the plasma and the gag gene was amplified by RT-PCR and nest-PCR. The PCR products were sequenced directly and phylogenetic analyses of gag gene was performed using the MEGA4 software. Results Among 100 HIV-1 plasma samples,84 gag gene fragments were amplified and analyzed. Eight HIV subtypes including B(22 strains), B'(8 strains),C( 1 strain) ,CRF01_AE (38 strains) ,CRF02_AG (2 strains) ,CRF07_BC(9 strains) ,CRF08_BC(3 strains) and C/CRF01_AE recombinant like strain( 1 strain) were identified circulating in Beijing. Conclusion CRF01 _AE and subtype B were predominant in Beijing account for 45.2% and 26.2% and the surveillance of HIV gene variation should be paid more attention.

Objective To investigate the role of Th9 cells in primary biliary cirrhosis and its clinical significance.Methods The percentages of Th9 cells in patients with PBC (n=38)and healthy controls (n=38)were measured by flow cytometry. Patients clinical data were collected and Mayo risk scores were calculated.Determined the levels of IL-9,PU-1 and TGF-βmRNA expressions and the protein levels of IL-9 in plasma.Further analyzed the correlation between Th9 cells and clinical parameters.Results Compared to healthy controls,Th9 cells percentage was higher in PBC patients and increased with dis-ease stages (t=27.29;P<0.01).IL-9,PU-1 and TGF-βmRNA expressions were increased compared with healthy controls (t=14.69,23.92,10.48;all P<0.01)and the protein level of IL-9 was also up-regulated (t=11.66;P<0.01).The clinical parameters (ALP,AST,ALT,GGT and TBIL)were higher than healthy controls (t=10.94,12.95,10.56,14.92,27.70;all P<0.01).Moreover,the percentage of Th9 cells were positively correlated to Mayo risk,ALT,AST,GGT and TBIL (P<0.05).Conclusion Th9 cells may be involved in the pathogenesis of PBC and related to the disease stage,which provides new clues for future immunotherapy.

Objective To study the effects of IL-4 in prostate cancer cells glycometabolism and proliferation. Methods We used IL-4 to treat PC3 cells, then tested the changes of LDH-A expression by RT-qPCR, Western Blot, CCK-8 and lactate production assay. Results Our data showed that IL-4 induced LDH-A up-expression in PC3 cells at mRNA and protein levels. Also, IL-4 promoted the proliferation activation and increased lactate production in PC3 cells. Conclusion IL-4 can strengthen the proliferation activation in PC3 cells by up-regulating LDH-A expression.