The DegP protein, functioning as both chaperone and protease, plays a critical role in degrading and removing denatured or damaged proteins in the cellular envelope during heat shock and other stresses. So far, several proteins have been identified as its natural targets. A carboxyle-terminal peptide derived from the PapG pilus, one of the in vivo substrates for DegP, has been shown to activate the protease. Nevertheless, neither the details nor the physiological implications of such activation have been studied. The evidence that DegP undergoes conformational changes upon binding the peptide derived from C-terminal sequence of pilus subunit PapG has been presented. It demonstrated that upon binding this peptide, detectable changes can be observed for both secondary and tertiary structures of DegP, as examined by CD spectroscopy. Gel filtration and dynamic light scattering analysis also revealed that the size of DegP becomes smaller to a minor extent. Moreover, both the hydrophobic surfaces and catalytic sites of DegP were found to expose slightly in the presence of the peptide. Upon peptide binding, a less flexible and more rigid conformation of DegP was obtained as analyzed by fluorescence anisotropy. The physiological implications of these observations for DegP are discussed.

Human Y chromosome contains sex determining region and the genes associated with spermatogenesis.Genomics of the human Y-chromosome association with male infertility appeared and new exploration for male infertility was formed.Though the genes of Y chromosome lack of meiotic recombination,Y chromosome did not disappear,but also it is being in evolution.It includes several families of satellite sequences and the alphoid repeats,Alu repeats associated with male infertility.A total of 107 genes were listed in the database in Y chromosome.The male specific region on Y(MSY) harbours 156 transcription units of which half(78) are suspected to encode proteins,27 protein or protein families identified,11 protein only expressed in the testis associated with spermatogenesis.It is likely that the genes on Y chromosome play an important role not only on spermatogenesis,but also on prostate,brain or other organs.

In this article, the method of quick and accurate identification ofAstragalus membranaceus (Fisch.) Bge. var.mongholicus (Bge.) Hsiao in different growth years by electronic nose (e-nose) technique and chemical analysis was developed. An e-nose was used to detect the odors ofA. membranaceus. var.mongholicus samples in two-growth-year, seven-growth year and more than a decade growth years for establishing the classification model of response characteristics. Principal component analysis (PCA) and discriminant factor analysis (DFA) were performed to differentiate theA. membranaceus. var.mongholicus samples in different growth years. PCA was performed to investigate the difference in the chemical composition and quality of different growth years inA. membranaceus. var.mongholicus samples. The results of PCA and DFA analyses for e-nose demonstrated that the samples ofA. membranaceus. var.mongholicus in different growth years could be distinguished obviously. The contents of chemical composition were similar in same growth years inA. membranaceus. var.mongholicus and different from different growth years. The results of chemical composition analysis indicated that the identification forA. membranaceus. var.mongholicus in different growth years was significant for the quality control. E-nose technique could identify the samples ofA. membranaceus. var.mongholicus in different growth years rapidly, sensitively and intactly, and could be applied for the quality control of traditional Chinese medicine.

Objective To evaluate the clinical outcome of Vancouver B2 and B3 periprosthetic femoral fractures treated with uncemented modular stems.Methods From September 2011 to April 2014,Twenty-four patients (12 males and 12 females,with the average age 63 years,ranging from 28 to 85 years) with periprosthetic femoral fractures (16 Vancouver B2 and 8 Vancouver B3) were treated with uncemented modular stems.Revision arthroplasty was conducted in all cases by using modular stems with 12 cerclage wirings and 11 great trochanter claw plates.One patient was treated with revision arthroplasty without additional fixations.Extended trochanter osteotomy was performed on 11 patients.Cortical strut allograft was used in 9 patients with severe femoral bone loss.Intraoperative complications including vascular or nerve injury and systemic complications including cardiovascular events,cerebrovascular events and deep vein thrombosis were recorded.Severe postoperative complications such as nonunion,re-fracture,periprosthetic joint infection and dislocation were recorded.The clinical outcome was evaluated by Harris score,Visual Analogue Score and Parker Mobility Score.The radiological outcome was taken to observe the healing status,stem subsidence and stability of the prosthesis.Results Two patients were lost to follow-up.Twenty-two patients were clinically followed-up.Radiological data was recorded in 16 patients.The average follow-up was 33 months (range,12-68 months).All fractures healed within 6 months.The average Harris score improved from 4.0± 1.1 preoperatively to 78.8± 16.2 postoperatively (t=-20.195,P=0.000).The mean Parker Mobility Score improved from 0.5±0.9 preoperatively to 7.0± 1.8 postoperatively (t=-14.835,P=0.000).The mean Visual Analogue Score decreased from 6.4± 1.2 preoperatively to 2.0± 1.5 postoperatively (t=10.879,P=0.000).No nonunion,infection or dislocation was found.One patient underwent re-operation because of re-fracture.Eight mm of prosthesis subsidence was observed in one case at 3 months postoperatively,and reached stable fixation at 6 months postoperatively without further subsidence.Conclusion Uncemented modular stems can achieve distal fixation and implant stability of periprosthetic femoral fractures while retaining optimal biomechanics of the hip.Assisted by femoral reconstruction techniques such as extended trochanter osteotomy,cortical strut allograft,great trochanter claw plates and cerclage wiring,revision arthroplasty using uncemented modular stems could realize optimal outcomes in treating Vancouver B2 and B3 periprosthetic femoral fractures.

0.05).Conclusion Both PTX plus DDP and NVB plus DDP are effective to advanced breast cancer.There are no significant difference between the two groups.The two regimens can be applied to the first line chemotherapy.

OBJECTIVEThis study aims to synthesize MTO1 (a kind of oligodeoxynucleotides) and N-isopropylacrylamide-modified polyethylenimines (PEN) complexes (MT01/PEN) as well as to investigate the effect of the complexes on the expression of osteoprotegerin (OPG) and the receptor activator of nuclear factor κB ligand (RANKL) in the human osteoblast-like cell line MG63.

METHODSMG63 cells were transfected by MT01/PEN complexes formed with three different mass ratios (1:2, 1:4, 1:6) of MT01 to PEN. MT01 and MT01-s were used as positive control. Enzyme-linked immunosorbent assay and real-time polymerase chain reaction were performed to estimate the amount of OPG and RANKL released into the culture media and in MG63 at 24, 48, 72 h.

RESULTSMG63 responded to the MT01/PEN complexes by significantly upregulating the OPG on the protein and mRNA levels (P < 0.05). The protein and mRNA levels of RANKL were lower in most of the groups with complexes, and the OPG/RANKL ratio were higher (P < 0.05). MG63 were affected by the MT01/PEN complexes with different mass ratios, particularly when the ratio was 1:6.

CONCLUSIONMT01 can enhance the promotion of ossification by establishing the delivery system with PEN.

Acrylamides ; Cell Line ; Enzyme-Linked Immunosorbent Assay ; Humans ; Oligodeoxyribonucleotides ; Osteoblasts ; Osteoprotegerin ; Polyethyleneimine ; RANK Ligand ; RNA, Messenger ; Real-Time Polymerase Chain Reaction

Objective To investigate the effect of neutrophil extracellular traps (NETs) on inflammation of rheumatoid arthritis (RA), especially angiogenesis. Methods The presence of NETs in synovial tissues of RA and osteoarthritis (OA) was observed by immunofluorescence assay. Neutrophils were isolated from peripheral blood of health volunteers. Neutrophils were cultured in vitro, the formation of NETs was observed. NETs were extracted as a stimulating agent. The effects of NETs on the proliferation of human umbilical vein endothelial cells (HUVECs) and synovial fibroblasts (RAFLS) were evaluated by MTT, and which were classified into two groups: HUVECs group and RAFLS group, with the following treatment: control and NETs (0.28 mg/L). Wound repair assay was employed to evaluate the effect on the cell migration stimulated with NETs. The experiment was divided into three groups:control, VEGF (40μg/L VEGF) and NETs (0.28 mg/L NETs). Results (1) Compared with OA, NETs were found more in the synovial tissue of RA. (2) NETs formation was induced by stimulator in vitro. The concentration of extracted NETs-DNA was 27.8 mg/L. (3) MTT assay showed that compared with the control groups, low concentration of NETs (0.28 mg/L) promoted the proliferation of HUVECs (0.499 ± 0.011 vs. 0.393 ± 0.009, P<0.05) and RAFLS (0.266 ± 0.007 vs. 0.192 ± 0.007, P<0.05). (4) It was showed that a significant wound closure induced by low concentration of NETs (0.28 mg/L) was found compared with control. Conclusion Our present study suggests that NETs are found more in the synovial tissue of RA, and low concentration of NETs can promote angiogenesis in RA.

Objective To evaluate the safety of magnesium borate ore powder (MBOP) as a molluscicide, especially for the arsenic content in the soil samples from the fields used MBOP over more than one year. Method The arsenic in the soil samples was assayed by using the AgDDTC method recommended by the government. Result In all of the soil samples, the arsenic contents did not exceed the national health criterion. However, the arsenic in the MBOP treated soil samples was higher than that in the control one′s. Conclusion The application of MBOP as a molluscicide in the fields does cause some side effects on the environment.

Objective To investigate the neutrophil extracellular traps (NETs) formation and their molecular mechanisms induced by serum amyloid A (SAA) in rheumatoid arthritis (RA).Methods Neutrophils were isolated from peripheral blood of RA and healthy volunteers.① Neutrophils were cultured in vitro,the formation of NETs was observed and their percentage was calculated.② Neutrophils were cultured in vitro,divided into six groups:control,SAA,[SAA+anti-Toll like receptro4 (TLR4)-Ab],LPS,(LPS+anti-TLR4-Ab) and anti-TLR4-Ab.Appropriate stimulation was conducted for each group.NETs formation and their percentages were investigated.The concentration of DNA in supernatant was detected by fluorescent staining.F test and t test were used for statistical analysis.Results ① The purification of isolated neutrophils was higher than 95％.The network which was collocated with the spreading neutrophils nucleus and neutrophil elastase under the microscope,was NETs.In the RA group,the formation of NETs induced by SAA was significantly more than control [(19.1±0.8) vs (7.4±0.5),t=12.30,P＜0.05].② However,after pretreated with anti-TLR4 antibody,NETs formation was significantly less than the SAA group [(5.7±0.4) vs (14.7±1.1),t=7.825,P＜0.05].Moreover,the fluorescence intensity of DNA in supernatant was significantly higher in SAA group than that of anti-TLR4-Ab pretreatment group [(18.7 ±0.7) vs (12.9±0.8),t=5.552,P＜0.05].The concentration of DNA in supernatant of SAA group was higher than that of anti-TLR4-Ab pretreatment group [(36.9±1.3) μg/ml and (16.3±0.6) μ,g/ml,t=14.41,P＜0.05].Conclusion SAA can induce the formation of NETs from neutrophils by binding to TLR4 in RA.

Objective: To observe the effects of acupoint sticking therapy of different dosages and durations on the subjective and objective sleep indicators in insomnia patients.Methods: Ninety-six patients with insomnia due to liver-Qi stagnation and spleen deficiency were divided into a high-dosage 7 d group (25 cases), a high-dosage 14 d group (22 cases), a low-dosage 7 d group (21 cases), and a low-dosage 14 d group (28 cases) using the random numbers generated in a stratified and stage-by-stage manner in combination with the visiting sequence. The four groups all received the same acupuncture treatment, but acupoint sticking therapy varied in dosage and duration. Before and after treatment, the actigraphic readings (total time in bed, total sleep time, sleep efficiency, number of wake bouts, length of wakes after asleep, and sleep latency), Pittsburgh sleep quality index (PSQI) score, and symptoms score of traditional Chinese medicine (TCM) were observed. A correlation analysis was conducted among the subjective and objective indicators. Results: The PSQI score was positively correlated with the total time in bed and total sleep time (P<0.05). After treatment, the sleep latency, PSQI scores, and TCM symptoms scores changed significantly in the four groups (P<0.05). The total sleep time and sleep efficiency gained improvements after treatment in the high-dosage 14 d and low-dosage 14 d groups (P<0.05). The high-dosage acupoint sticking groups had longer total sleep time compared with the low-dosage groups of the same treatment duration (P<0.05). After treatment, the length of wakes after asleep, PSQI scores, and TCM symptoms scores were better in the 14 d groups than in the 7 d groups of the same acupoint sticking dosage (P<0.05). Conclusion: Given the same acupuncture treatment, acupoint sticking therapy of different treatment durations produces different effects on the length of wakes after asleep, PSQI score, and TCM symptoms score in insomnia patients, and the 14-day acupoint sticking treatment is superior to the 7-day treatment.