Phage display technology has been developed as a powerful tool for selecting polypeptides or proteins with desired biological and physicochemical properties from huge random peptide libraries.Fragments of foreign peptides or proteins that are expressed as fused proteins displayed on the phage surface can keep their relatively independent spatial structure and biological activity,so that they can interact with their ligands to mimic selection of specific molecular epitopes,thus providing an efficient high-throughput screening system.Phage display has been used to allow rapid identification of peptide ligands for a variety of target molecules by an in vitro selection process called "panning".Phage display techniques can be widely exploited to construct tumor-associated antibody libraries,select polypeptides tumor-associated antigen,investigate antigen epitope and design vaccines and medicine,and are used especially as a tool for the diagnosis and treatment of tumor,gene therapy and tumor cell signal transduction research.Recent applications and advanced developments of phage display in cancer research are discussed in this article for the further reference to investigators.

Objective To explore the effect of carvedilol on ACE2 gene and protein expression in chronic heart failure rats after myocardial infarction.Methods The heart failure model was induced by acute myocardial infarc- tion (AMI) through ligating the left anterior descending coronary artery.One month after operation,rats were randomized to receive placebo or carvedilol 2 mg/(kg?d),by gavage.Sham-operated rats were used as the control group.Hemodynamies,body mass and left ventrieular mass index,plasma and myocardial level of angiotensin Ⅱ were determined.ACE2 gene and protein expression was assessed by using RT-PCR and Western Blot.Results The mortality of placebo and Carvedilol groups were 20%,compared with 0% in sham operated rats.Carvedilol significantly improved LVEDP,LVSP,+dp/dt_(max) and-dp/dt_(min) in CHF rats but all the hemodynamics data were still inferior than that of controls.Plasma and myocardial angiotensin Ⅱ level were increased significantly in CHF placebo rats than those of control rats (plasma Ang Ⅱ:CHF:194?19 vs controls:132?15 ng/L,myocardium Ang Ⅱ:CHF:6.7?0.4 vs control:3.8?0.3 ng/g,P

OBJECTIVETo evaluate the efficacy and safety of hepatectomy combined with cryoablation and ethanol injection in patients with unresectable multiple liver metastases from colorectal cancer.

METHODSClinical data of 23 patients with multiple liver metastases form colorectal cancer in the Affiliated Tumor Hospital of Guangzhou Medical College between January 2005 and December 2010 were analyzed retrospectively. There were 15 males and 8 females with average age of 52.2 years. All the patients underwent hepatectomy combined with ultrasound-guided cryoablation and ethanol injection intraoperatively.

RESULTSAmong 98 lesions in 23 patients, 45 were removed intraoperatively and 53 were treated by cryoablation and ethanol injection. Operative time for liver lesions ranged from 27 to 96 minutes and intraoperative blood loss 50 to 450 ml. One patient developed pleural effusion and 1 myoglobinuria after operation. All the patients were followed up with a median follow-up time of 34 months(8 to 70 months). The 1-, 3-, and 5-year survival rates were 83.2%, 45.5% and 37.6% respectively.

CONCLUSIONHepatectomy combined with cryoablation and ethanol injection is an effective and safe treatment option for patients with unresectable multiple liver metastases from colorectal cancer.

Adult ; Aged ; Colorectal Neoplasms ; pathology ; Combined Modality Therapy ; Cryosurgery ; Ethanol ; administration & dosage ; therapeutic use ; Female ; Follow-Up Studies ; Hepatectomy ; Humans ; Injections ; Liver Neoplasms ; secondary ; surgery ; Male ; Middle Aged ; Retrospective Studies ; Treatment Outcome

The present study aimed to explore whether the stretch of ischemic myocardium could modulate the electrophysiological characteristics via mechanoelectric feedback (MEF), as well as the effect of phalloidin on the electrophysiological changes. Thirty-two Wistar rats were randomly divided into 4 groups: control group (n=9), phalloidin group (n=7), myocardial infarction (MI) group (n=9), MI + phalloidin group (n=7). The acute myocardial infarction (AMI) was conducted by ligation of the left anterior descending (LAD) coronary artery for 30 min in isolated rat heart. The volume alternation of a water-filled latex balloon in the left ventricle produced the stretch of myocardium. After perfused on Langendorff, the isolated hearts were stretched for 5 s by an inflation of 0.1, 0.2 and 0.3 mL separately and the effect of stretch was observed for 30 s, including the left ventricular systolic pressure (LVSP), left ventricular end-diastolic pressure (LVEDP), ±dp/dt(max), monophasic action potential duration at 90% repolarization (MAPD90), and occurrence of premature ventricular beats (PVB) and ventricular tachycardia (VT). The stretch caused an increase of MAPD(90) in both control and MI rats (P<0.05, P<0.01). Moreover, MAPD(90) in MI group increased more significantly than that in the control group at the same degree of stretch (P<0.05, P<0.01). Phalloidin (1 μmol/L) had no effect on MAPD(90) in basal state. After stretch, MAPD(90) in phalloidin group slightly increased but was not significantly different from that in the control group. However, phalloidin reduced MAPD(90) in infarcted myocardium, especially when ΔV=0.3 mL (P<0.05). The incidence rates of PVB and VT in MI group were higher than that in the control group (both P<0.01). And there was no significant difference in the incidence rates of PVB and VT between phalloidin group and control group. Phalloidin inhibited the occurrence of PVB and VT in infarcted hearts (both P<0.01). LVSP and +dp/dt(max) in MI group obviously decreased (P<0.01 vs control). With application of phalloidin, LVSP slightly, but not significantly increased in infarcted hearts, while -dp/dt(max) significantly increased (P<0.05). It is suggested that MI facilitates the generation and maintenance of malignant arrhythmias, while phalloidin obviously inhibits the occurrence of arrhythmias.
Action Potentials ; Animals ; Arrhythmias, Cardiac ; prevention & control ; Coronary Vessels ; Heart ; drug effects ; physiopathology ; Heart Ventricles ; Myocardial Infarction ; physiopathology ; Phalloidine ; pharmacology ; Rats ; Rats, Wistar

SARS-CoV is a newly discovery pathogen causing severe acute respiratory problems.It has been established that the S protein in this pathogen plays an important rule in the adsorption and penetration of SARS-CoV into the host cell by interaction with the ACE2 receptor.To determinant which functional motif of the S protein was involved in the interaction with ACE2,seven truncated S proteins deleted from the N or C terminal were obtained by an E.coli expression system and purified by column chromatography to homogeneity.Each truncated S protein was fixed on to the well of an ELISA plate and an interaction was initiated with the ACE2 protein.The adsorption were quantified by ELISA,and the results indicated that amino acids from 388 to 496 of the S protein was responsible for the interaction with the ACE2 receptor,and the interaction could be completely disrupted by an antibody specific to these amino acids.Deletions adjacent to this domain did not appear to have a significant impact on the interaction with ACE2,suggesting that the S protein of SARS-CoV could be developed as a vaccine to prevent the spread of SARS-CoV.

BACKGROUNDIn 2008, infants in some areas of China suffered from stones of the urinary system which were caused by melamine-contaminated milk formula. Most of the infants were asymptomatic, and a few suffered from acute renal failure induced by urinary obstruction by stones. This study aimed to assess the significance of blood purification therapy in treatment of infants with acute obstructive oligo-anuric renal failure. Corrective perception, timely diagnosis, and active treatment of this complex disease are critical factors that guarantee a quick recovery of renal function of infants and help them to prevent multiple organ system failure.

METHODSThirteen infants with acute renal failure induced by urinary multiple obstruction caused by melamine-containing stones who had been admitted to Beijing Children's Hospital Affiliated to Capital Medical University in 2008 were investigated for the epidemiological characteristics, image features and indications of dialysis. All these infants were treated with dialysis. The efficacy of dialysis was compared with that of two control groups treated with cystoscopic retrograde catheterization into the ureter and medical treatment for the recovery of renal function.

RESULTSThe 13 infants with life-threatening complications treated with dialysis showed a blood urea nitrogen (BUN) level of (30.9+/-7.9) mmol/L and a creatinine (Cr) level of (572+/-173) micromol/L. Of these infants, 8 were treated with peritoneal dialysis (PD), and 5 with hemodialysis (HD). Ten infants recovered to urinate 24-72 hours after dialysis and 3 infants with persistent ureteral obstruction were further treated with cystoscopic retrograde catheterization into the ureter for drainage, and urination resumed soon after the operation. The average time of PD and HD were (2.1+/-0.8) days and (1.2+/-0.4) days, respectively. The total average time of PD and HD dialysis was (1.77+/-0.83) days. The recovery time of renal function of infants after dialysis was (3.08+/-1.20) days, comparable to that of the two control groups treated with catheterization with a cystoscope or by medication. There was no significant difference in the recovery time of renal function among the three groups (P>0.05).

CONCLUSIONSMelamine-contaminated milk formula may cause urinary stones and obstructive acute renal failure in infants. Dialysis is suggested to treat life-threatening complications such as hyperkalemia, oliguria or anuria if surgical intervention fails. If possible, hemodialysis or peritoneal dialysis can be performed early. Blood purification is feasible to help the infants overcome the critical stage of acute renal failure. Surgical measures can be taken to remove the obstruction if necessary.

Acute Kidney Injury ; chemically induced ; surgery ; therapy ; Child, Preschool ; China ; Cystoscopy ; methods ; Female ; Humans ; Infant ; Kidney Function Tests ; Male ; Peritoneal Dialysis ; methods ; Renal Dialysis ; methods ; Treatment Outcome ; Triazines ; poisoning

OBJECTIVETo evaluate the relationship between leukotriene expression in blood polymorphonuclear leukocytes (PMNL) and the efficacy of inhaled corticosteroids (ICS) in children with asthma.

METHODSThirty-two children with asthma (5-12 years) and ten healthy children (control group) were enrolled. The asthmatic children were subdivided into ICS well-controlled and ICS poorly-controlled groups based on their clinical symptoms and lung function. The level of leukotriene C4 synthase (LTC4S) mRNA in PMNL was detected by fluorescence quantitative polymerase chain reaction. The level of LTC4S mRNA was expressed by the value of qCt, and the value of qCt was diversely correlated with the level of LTC4S mRNA expression. The concentration of urinary leukotriene E4 (LTE4) was measured using ELISA.

RESULTSThe expression of LTC4S mRNA in PMNL was significantly higher in children with asthma (qCt: 1.12+/-0.27) than that in the control group (qCt: 1.42+/-0.12; P< 0.05). The expression of LTC4S mRNA in PMNL in the ICS poorly-controlled group (qCt: 1.03+/-0.17) was significantly higher than that in the ICS well-controlled group (qCt: 1.24+/-0.33; P< 0.05) and the control group(1.42+/-0.12; P< 0.01). There was no significant difference in the level of urinary LTE4 among the the ICS poorly-controlled, the ICS well-controlled and the control groups.

CONCLUSIONSLTC4S mRNA expression in PMNL in asthmatic children increases, and the LTC4S mRNA expression in the ICS poorly-controlled group is higher than that in the ICS well-controlled group. This suggests that an increased leukotriene expression might be associated with poorly-controlled asthma.

Administration, Inhalation ; Adrenal Cortex Hormones ; administration & dosage ; Asthma ; drug therapy ; Child ; Child, Preschool ; Female ; Glutathione Transferase ; genetics ; Humans ; Leukotriene E4 ; urine ; Male ; RNA, Messenger ; blood

OBJECTIVETo determine the role and related mechanisms of heme oxygenase-1/carbon monoxide (HO-1/CO) on VSMCs proliferation induced by insulin-like growth factor-I (IGF-I).

METHODSVSMCs isolated from rabbit aorta were cultured in vitro and proliferation was induced by IGF-I. Hemin (a substrate and inducer of HO-1) or zinc protoporphyrin-IX (Znpp-IX, an inhibitor of HO-1) was added to stimulate or inhibit the expression of HO-1. The mRNA and protein expressions of HO-1 were detected by RT-PCR and Western blot analysis. CO released into the culture media was quantitated by measuring carbon monoxide hemoglobin (COHb), VSMCs proliferation and cell cycle were determined by (3)H-TdR incorporation assay and flow cytometry, respectively.

RESULTSThe HO-1 mRNA and protein expressions in VSMCs and the amount of COHb in the culture media were significantly increased and the IGF-I-induced (3)H-TdR incorporations of VSMCs significantly reduced by hemin in a dose-dependent manner (P < 0.01). Furthermore, VSMCs in the G(0)/G(1) phase were increased and in the S and G(2)/M phase decreased by hemin (P < 0.01). Opposite results were observed in VSMCs treated with Znpp-IX.

CONCLUSIONSEndogenous HO-1 and CO are important mediators for inhibiting IGF-I induced VSMCs proliferation by reducing VSMCs DNA synthesis and decelerating cell cycle progression.

Animals ; Carbon Monoxide ; metabolism ; Cell Proliferation ; Cells, Cultured ; Heme Oxygenase-1 ; metabolism ; Insulin-Like Growth Factor I ; pharmacology ; Muscle, Smooth, Vascular ; cytology ; Myocytes, Smooth Muscle ; cytology ; metabolism ; RNA, Messenger ; genetics ; Rabbits

OBJECTIVETo investigate the effect of heme oxygenase/carbon monoxide (HO-1/CO) system on lipid deposition at aortic intima and the mechanism involved in hyperlipidemic rabbits.

METHODSTotally 32 rabbits, were divided into four groups. One group as control. Three groups for the following treatments: 1.5% cholesterol ration (Ch group, n = 8); 1.5% cholesterol ration plus HO-1 inducer hemin (Hm group, n = 8); and instead of hemin, the HO-1 inhibitor, zinc protoporphyrin IX (Zn group, n = 8) was given by injection into the abdominal cavity. Experiments were lasted for 12 weeks. Rabbit aortas were then isolated as the samples for histopathologic and ultrastructural examination. The protein expressions of HO-1 and endothelin-1 (ET-1) were investigated by immunohistochemical staining and Western blot analysis.

RESULTSComparing with the Ch group, rabbits of the Hm group showed a remarkably less extent of lipid deposition at the aortic intima [(17.9 ± 3.0)% vs (54.0 ± 4.2)%], and rabbits of the Zn group had a marked extent of lesion development [(61.1 ± 3.5)%]. Lipid deposition, endothelial damage and neo-intimal formation were less severe in rabbits of the Hm group than those in the Zn or Ch group, respectively. Comparing with the control group, rabbits of the Ch group showed a significant decrease of aortic NO production and cNOS activity. However, there were an enhancement of CO production and HO-1 activity (P < 0.01). Compared with Ch group, rabbits of the Hm group showed a remarkable elevation of aortic HO activity and CO production, whereas rabbits of the Zn group showed a marked decrease of both parameters. Compared with the Ch group, rabbits of the Hm group demonstrated a marked reduction of aorta ET-1 expression, whereas Zn group had a significantly higher ET-1 expression.

CONCLUSIONSModulation of HO-1/CO system may improve vascular endothelial function and inhibit smooth muscle cell proliferation in hypercholesterolemic rabbits, likely through a compensatory mechanism and a reduction of ET-1 expression, eventually leading to an inhibition of atherosclerotic plaque development.

Animals ; Aorta ; metabolism ; pathology ; Carbon Monoxide ; metabolism ; Cholesterol ; pharmacology ; Endothelin-1 ; metabolism ; Enzyme Inhibitors ; pharmacology ; Heme Oxygenase-1 ; antagonists & inhibitors ; metabolism ; Hemin ; pharmacology ; Hyperlipidemias ; metabolism ; pathology ; Nitric Oxide ; metabolism ; Nitric Oxide Synthase ; metabolism ; Plaque, Atherosclerotic ; metabolism ; pathology ; prevention & control ; Protoporphyrins ; pharmacology ; Rabbits ; Tunica Intima ; metabolism ; pathology

PURPOSETo investigate the clinical significance and management of ASCUS/LSIL.

METHODS254 patients who were examined with cervical cytology in the Cancer Institute and Hospital Chinese Academy of Medical Sciences were ASCUS/LSIL, of whom 136 cases underwent colposcopy, Data were analyzed retrospectively according to the golden criterion of pathology outcome.

RESULTS140 cases were ASCUS, and 114 cases were LSIL. Cervical intra-epithelial neoplasia (CIN) were diagnosed in 51.5% of patients with ASCUS, compared with 59.6% of patients with LSIL (P>0.05). High-grade cervical intraepithelial neoplasia were diagnosed in 22.9% of patients with ASCUS, compared with 30.7% of patients with LSIL (P >0.05). In the 136 patients examined with colposcopy, inflammation was found in 47 cases, low-grade intraepithelial lesion in 53 cases, High-grade intraepithelial lesion in 36 cases. The pathological results show inflammation in 55 cases, low-grade intraepithelial lesion in 41 cases, High-grade intraepithelial lesion in 40 cases (Kappa=0.314, U=0.064, P less than 0.05). CIN were diagnosed in 79% (67/84) of HPV-positive patients identified by pathology, compared with 43.5% (74/170) of HPV-negative patients (chi2=29.88 P less than 0.05). 83.5% of 254 patients were between 35 to 55 years old, and that was consistent with HPV-positive women age peak.

CONCLUSIONPatients with ASCUS should be paid the same attention with LSIL patients and colposcopy examination should be done immediately to avoid missed diagnosis and missed follow-up examination, especially for HPV positive patients between 35 to 55 years old.

Adult ; Cervical Intraepithelial Neoplasia ; diagnosis ; therapy ; virology ; Colposcopy ; Cytodiagnosis ; instrumentation ; methods ; Female ; Humans ; Middle Aged ; Neoplasms, Squamous Cell ; diagnosis ; therapy ; virology ; Papillomaviridae ; isolation & purification ; Papillomavirus Infections ; diagnosis ; therapy ; virology ; Retrospective Studies ; Uterine Cervical Neoplasms ; diagnosis ; therapy ; virology ; Young Adult