Objective To investigate the role of acid-sensing ion channels (ASICs) in global cerebral ischemia-reperfusion (I/R) injury in rats. Methods Forty-eight adult male Sprague-Dawley rats weighing 250-310 g were randomly divided into 4 groups ( n = 12 each): sham operation group (group S); global cerebral I/R group (group I/R); normal saline group (group NS) and specific ASIC blocker amiloride group (group A). Global cerebral I/R was produced by occlusion of 3 vessels ( 10 min occlusion of the bilateral common carotid arteries and basilar artery) followed by reperfusion. In group NS and A, NS 6 ml/kg and amiloride 0.6 mg/kg were injected through femoral vein immediately before reperfusion respectively. Six rats in each group were selected, the dialysate in CA1 area was collected before ischemia (baseline), immediately after ischemia and during 20 min reperfusion (once every 10 min) for determination of lactate concentrations. The left 6 rats in each group were elected at 8 h of reperfusion and the open field test and inclined plane test were peeformed to assess neurological behavior.The rats were then sacrificed and brain tissues taken for microscopic examination and brain water content was calculated. Results Compared with group S, the concentration of lactate in the dialysate and brain water content were significantly increased and neurological deficits developed in group I/R and NS (P ＜ 0.05). Compared with group I/R, the concentration of lactate in the dialysate and brain water content were significantly decreased and neurological deficits were improved in group A ( P ＜ 0.05 ), but no significant change in the parameters mentioned above was found in group NS ( P ＞ 0.05). Microscopic examination showed that the damage to the brain tissues was attenuated in group A compared with group I/R. Conclusion ASICs are involved in the development of global cerebral I/R injury in rats.

Objective To evaluate the effect of Ganoderma lucidum on drug resistance of the cisplantin-resistant ovarian cancer cell line(A2780CP).Methods The A2780CP cells were randomly divided into control group and test group.The cells in control group and test group were incubated in culture media alone and in culture media containing Ganoderma lucidum 0.5 mg/ml for 48 h respectively.The resistance index(RI) of A2780CP was determined by WST-1 assay.The expression of Akt,Bcl-2 and p53 protein was measured by Western blot.Results The RI was significantly deeressed,the expression of Akt and Bcl-2 protein was down-regulated,while p53 protein expression was up-regulated in test group as compared with control group(P<0.05).Conclusion Ganoderma lueidum can reduce the resistance of A2780 CP cells to cisplantin by down-regulating the expression of Akt and Bcl-2 and up-regulating p53 expression in A2780CP cells.

Flagellum is a slender and wavy protein-attached filament on the surface of certain bacterial cells. It not only plays an important role in the movement and pathogenic ability of bacteria, but also participates in a variety of host immune regulation. Flagellin is a structural protein that forms the main part of flagellar filaments and can be recognized by TLR5 and other receptors in the host cell to induce the body′s immune response. At present, flagellin is widely used in the research of new immune adjuvants due to its immune activation, and its inflammation inhibitory effect also has good prospects against immune pathological damage. In this review, we summarized and analyzed the recent progress on the basic structure and function of flagellin, the host recognition mechanism, and its role in regulating the host immune system.

Objective To evaluate the effect of chronic low potassium on K+uptake rate in the my?ocardium and skeletal muscle of rabbits. Methods Thirty?two adult male rabbits, aged 12-14 weeks, weighing 2?0-2?7 kg, were randomly divided into 4 groups ( n=8 each) using a random number table:normal feeding group ( group N) , low potassium feeding group ( group L) , potassium supplementation con?trol group ( group SC ) and potassium supplementation experimental group ( group SE ) . N and SC groups were given a normal diet only, and L and SE groups were fed with a low potassium diet for 15 days. Potassi?um chloride ( KCl) 0?5 mol∕L was then infused intravenously at the initial rate of 60 μmol·kg-1 ·min-1 in SE and SC groups. Blood samples were obtained from the central artery of the left ear every 5 min for meas?urement of plasma K+ concentrations. The infusion rat of KCl was then adjusted until the plasma K+concen?tration reached 5?5 mmol∕L and maintained at this level for 1 h, and then infusion was stopped. The total volume of KCl infused was recorded. The hearts and soleus muscle of animals were excised for determination of K+content. K+uptake and uptake rate were calculated. Results Compared with N group, the plasma K+concentration, and K+content in the myocardium and soleus muscle were significantly decreased in group L ( P<0?05) . Compared with SC group, the total volume of KCl infused, and K+uptake and uptake rate in the myocardium and soleus muscle were significantly increased in group SE ( P<0?05) . Conclusion Chro?nic hypokalaemia can increase K+ uptake rate in the myocardium and skeletal muscle of rabbits.

ObjectiveTo assess the efficacy of intrahepatic arterial infusion of Endostar (rh-endostatin, YH-16) combined with transcatheter arterial chemoembolization (TACE) for the treatment of advanced hepatocellular carcinoma (aHCC). MethodsThe study enrolled 76 aHCC patients who were admitted to and treated at the Petroleum Hospital Affiliated to Tianjin Medical University during September 2009 to June 2011. Of these, 44 patients were treated with TACE plus Endostar, and the other 32 (the control group) with TACE alone. After treatment, all patients were subjected to non-scheduled re-examination by computed tomography (or magnetic resonance imaging), in order to check tumor recurrence (or metastasis) and angiogenesis. Count data were compared between groups using the χ2 test. Survival curves were plotted using the Kaplan-Meier method, and postoperative survival differences were analyzed using the log-rank test. ResultsCompared with the control group, the experimental group treated with TACE plus Endostar had significantly increased response rate (7045% vs. 43.75%, χ2=5.47, P＜0.05) and disease control rate (84.09% vs. 56.25%, χ2=7.18, P＜0.01). The median progression-free survival significantly differed between groups (9.00 vs. 5.00 months , P=0.044), whereas the median overall survival showed no significant difference (10.64 vs. 8.11 months, P=0.448). ConclusionTACE plus Endostar significantly improves the short-term outcome and progression-free survival but has little effect on the overall survival span in patients with aHCC.

OBJECTIVE: To construct protein functional network according to the physiological process in vivo and functionally based distinct families, to understand biological functions, and to make wise decisions. METHODS: We described here a very effective strategy combining with multiple-docking and protein-ligand binding-affinity fingerprint method to generate bio-functional network and pathway and reveal the protein "unknown" functions and their relationship. RESULTS: Totally 27 sets of proteins and 28 bio-active molecules were used to reconstruct the possible phospholipids metabolic network by computational simulation strategy. The protein-ligand network reconstruction and pathway based drug design showed that the direct interaction investigation might be effective in complex biological system study. CONCLUSION Even for weak and moderate interactions in the real biology system, the relationship between each other can be achieved by fingerprint analysis based on multiple-docking data. The results of these calculations give valuable insight into the pathway and the function relationship among these proteins. This method can be a very useful tool for protein classification, target selection, and inhibitor design.
Ligands ; Molecular Docking Simulation ; Phospholipids ; metabolism ; Proteins ; chemistry

Objective To investigate the efficacy and safety of regional citrate anticoagulation (RCA) for continuous veno-venous hemofiltration (CVVH) in patients with severe trauma.Methods Sixty-four patients with severe trauma who needed to apply continuous renal replacement therapy (CRRT) and were admitted into the department of critical care medicine in Tianjin Hospital from June 2013 to August 2015 were enrolled in the study.According to the patient's actual condition,they were divided into two groups:no anticoagulant group (29 cases) and RCA group (35 cases).The filter lifetime,after treatment the activated partial thromboplastin time (APTT),acid-base balance,free calcium ([Ca2+]i) and serum sodium (Na+) concentrations,bleeding episodes were compared between the two groups.Results The average filter lifetime in RCA group was longer than that in no anticoagulant group (hours:50.7 ± 11.3 vs.4.9 ± 1.2,P ＜ 0.01).After the end of treatment,the levels of APTT (s:30.7 ± 8.8 vs.32.1 ± 7.3),pH value (7.41 ± 0.09 vs.7.40 ± 0.07),[Ca2+]i (mmol/L:2.13 ± 0.20 vs.2.21 ± 0.17),and Na+ (mmol/L:139 ± 8 vs.141 ± 6) were ofno significant differences between the RCA group and the no anticoagulant group (all P ＞ 0.05).The incidence of clinicalbleeding in RCA group was lower than that in no anticoagulant group [2.9％ (1/35) vs.13.8％ (4/29)],but the differencewas not statistically significant (P ＞ 0.05).Conclusions RCA-CVVH is a safe and effective therapeutic method inpatients with severe trauma who need for CRRT,the stability of internal environment is not affected and no incidence ofclinical bleeding event is increased.

Objective To study the setup error under deep inspiration breath hold (DIBH) guided by optical surface monitoring system (OSMS) and free breathing (FB) FB1 and FB2 (without OSMS guidance, directly set up the body marker line by laser lamp) in radiotherapy after radical mastectomy for left breast cancer, and to provide a basis for individualized clinical target volume-planning target volume (CTV-PTV) expansion for the doctor in charge to delineate the target volume. Methods A total of 36 patients with left breast cancer after radical mastectomy were selected and divided into three groups, in which cone beam computed tomography (CBCT) images were taken in three states: DIBH, FB1, and FB2, respectively. CBCT and CT images were analyzed for registration; the absolute error data of linear displacement in the ventro-dorsal, cranio-caudal, and left-right directions were recorded, and the expanding margin was calculated. Results The translation errors in the ventro-dorsal, cranio-caudal, and left-right directions were (0.06 ± 0.22) cm, (0.05 ± 0.23) cm, and (0.01 ± 0.24) cm in the DIBH group, (0.07 ± 0.21) cm, (0.02 ± 0.23) cm, and (0.02 ± 0.21) cm in the FB1 group, and (0.07 ± 0.24) cm, (0.07 ± 0.34) cm, and (0.25 ± 0.09) cm in the FB2 group. The statistical results of the DIBH group and FB1 group in the ventro-dorsal, RTN, and ROLL directions were significantly different (P < 0.05). The statistical results of the FB1 group and FB2 group in the ventro-dorsal direction were significantly different. The relation of three groups in the value of margin of planning target volume was DIBH < FB1 < FB2 in the ventro-dorsal and cranio-caudal directions and FB1 < DIBH < FB2 in the left-right direction. Conclusion OSMS-guided DIBH radiotherapy in patients with left breast cancer after radical mastectomy can reduce the setup error and provide an important basis for individualized CTV-PTV expansion for the doctor in charge to delineate the target volume.

Next generation sequencing technology has revolutionized studies in fermentation process, in particular, to explore the mechanism by which food microorganisms, including physiology, metabolic pathways, diversity and dynamic changes of microbial community. In addition, phylogenetic characteristics of different species or strains of the food microorganisms are disclosed. All these aspects will help explain how the microbes are interacting and responding to environmental factors. Bioinformatics analysis of genome and metagenome sequence data of food microorganisms could provide essential clues to improve fermentation process and function of microbes as well as control and prevention of foodborne disease outbreak. In this review, we summarized recent genomics and metagenomics studies on food microorganisms. The impact of next generation sequencing for the development and trends of food microorganism researches were discussed in details.
Computational Biology ; Food Microbiology ; Genomics ; High-Throughput Nucleotide Sequencing ; Metabolic Networks and Pathways ; Metagenomics ; Phylogeny