The experiment was carried out to inquire about the possibility of strain selection and improvement in Lentinus edodes through protoplast formation and mutagenesis by UV. Mycelial growth rate, yield, and period of fructification of 105 selected regenerants from UV-treated protoplasts have been measured and compared with their parents. Several selected regenerants achieved some better qualities such as higher yield and earlier fruiting. Several repeated cultivations of these regenerants reconfirmed their new capacities. The results indicated that protoplast formation and mutagenesis are the potential methods for strain selection and improvement in edible fungi.

AIM:To investigate radiosensitization effect of apatinib, a vascular endothelial growth factor (VEGF) receptor2 tyrosine kinase inhibitor, on human gastric carcinoma cell line SGC-7901 and its mechanism.METHODS:SGC-7901 cells were divided into control group, apatinib group, radiotherapy group and combination group.The cell viability was measured by CCK-8 assay.The changes of cell apoptosis and cell cycle were analyzed by flow cytometry.The protein levels of cell apoptosis biomarkers, such as PARP, cleaved caspase-9, cleaved caspase-3 and Bcl-2, and cell proliferation biomarkers, p-PLCγ1 and p-ERK1/2, were detected by Western blot.γ-H2AX expression was detected by immunofluorescence.RESULTS:Compared with apatinib group and radiation group, the cell viability was inhibited after treatment with both apatinib and X-ray (P<0.01).The protein levels of cell proliferation markers p-PLCγ1 and p-ERK1/2 were down-regulated.The cell apoptosis was enhanced (P<0.01).The protein levels of cell apoptosis makers such as PARP, cleaved caspase-9 and cleaved caspase-3 were up-regulated, while Bcl-2 was down-regulated.The disappearance of γ-H2AX foci in the nucleus was delayed, indicating that apatinib impaired the repair of radiation-induced DNA double-strand breaks.The proportion of G2 phase was significantly increased (P<0.01).The combination treatment had more significant effect on SGC-7901 cells than treating with apatinib or radiotherapy alone.CONCLUSION:Apatinib increases the radiosensitivity of gastric cancer cells via blocking VEGF pathway.

Objective:To investigate hemodynamic characteristics of the modified Blalock-Taussig shunt (MBTS) with the preservation or ligation of ductus arteriosus (DA) based on computational fluid dynamics (CFD), thus to help preoperative surgery design and postoperative prediction.Methods:A patient with pulmonary atresia and patent ductus arteriosus was included. Patient-specific three-dimensional model was reconstructed and virtual surgeries of shunt insertion and ductus ligation or preservation were performed via computer-aided design (CAD). CFD was utilized to analyze hemodynamic parameters preoperatively and postoperatively based on patient-specific anatomy and physiologic data.Results:The preservation of DA competitively reduced the shunt flow but increased total pulmonary perfusion. The shunt flow and ductal flow collided with each other, causing large and complicated turbulence in pulmonary artery where lower wall shear stress and higher oscillatory shear index were distributed, as well as higher energy loss.Conclusion:The preservation of DA is riskier in hemodynamics which may lead to pulmonary over-perfusion, inadequate systemic perfusion and heavier cardiac burden, thus increasing the risk of heart failure and it seems to bring no benefit in terms of reducing risks of thrombosis.

OBJECTIVETo report on two children manifesting multiple cafe-au-lait spots suspected as neurofibromatosis type 1, and perform NF1 gene mutation analysis.

METHODSBlood samples were collected from the 2 children, their unaffected parents and 100 normal controls. The entire coding region of the NF1 gene was amplified by PCR and subjected to direct sequencing.

RESULTSIn patient 1, a novel frameshift mutation c.1948delT (p.Leu650TyrfsX38) was identified in exon 12 of the NF1 gene. And in patient 2, a previously reported nonsense mutation c.541C>T (p.Gln181X) was revealed in exon 4b. The same mutations were not detected in their unaffected parents or 100 normal controls.

CONCLUSIONThe two patients were diagnosed with neurofibromatosis type 1 by molecular genetic testing. The pathogenic mutations were c.1948delT and c.541C>T, respectively.

Adult ; Base Sequence ; Exons ; Female ; Humans ; Infant ; Male ; Molecular Sequence Data ; Neurofibromatosis 1 ; genetics ; Neurofibromin 1 ; genetics ; Point Mutation

According to the actual requirements of pediatric intensive care, a suction detection system of pediatric oral secretions integrated with monitoring function is designed. The system has the function of adjustable intermittent attraction. The duration and proportion of intermittent attraction can be adjusted according to the individualized needs of pediatric intensive care. The suction head of pacifier can reduce the mechanical damage to pediatric oral mucosa as much as possible. Meanwhile, the system can detect and monitor the real-time biochemical indexes of the collected oral secretions, which can be used to help the judgement of aspiration and quantitatively evaluate the microcirculation dysfunction.
Bodily Secretions ; Child ; Humans ; Mouth ; Suction/instrumentation*

Objective Hemodynamic disorder of the pulmonary artery (PA) is the main cause of pulmonary arterial hypertension related to congenital heart disease (PAH-CHD). To study the hemodynamic characteristics of PA, so as to understand biomechanical factors in the occurrence and development of PAH-CHD. Methods Clinical and imaging data were collected in five PAH-CHD patients and five matched controls (Non-PAH) to reconstruct subject-specific three-dimensional (3D) PA models. Computational fluid dynamics (CFD) was performed to compare the hemodynamic difference of flow patterns, wall shear stress (WSS) and normalized energy loss (E·) in the two groups. Results Hemodynamics-related parameters showed that the velocity and WSS were higher in the left and right PA branches of PAH-CHD patients, with significantly lower WSS in the main PA. The E· significantly increased in PAH-CHD patients and positively correlated with normalized PA diameter and inflow. Conclusions Compared with Non-PAH subjects, PAH-CHD patients have obviously higher velocity and WSS in PA branches, lower WSS in main PA and greater E·, indicating these hemodynamic parameters are related with the PAH-CHD, which can be used as potential biomechanical factors for the clinical evaluation of PAH-CHD.

Objective To investigate the effects of banding width on hemodynamic characteristics of pulmonary artery (PA) by constructing pulmonary artery banding (PAB) models with different widths. Methods Based on clinical practice, with the same banding position and degree, computer-aided design (CAD) was utilized to reconstruct three-dimensional PAB models with different banding widths (2, 3, 4, 5 mm). Hemodynamic characteristics of the models with different banding widths, including pressure, streamlines, energy loss, energy efficiency and blood flow distribution ratio, were compared and analyzed through computational fluid dynamics (CFD). Results The pressure of PA decreased significantly, while the change of banding width had no significant effects on the pressure drop level at banding position. With the increase of banding width, the energy loss decreased, and the energy efficiency showed an upward trend. The blood flow of the left PA raised, and the ratio of blood flow distribution between the left PA and right PA increased, with the maximum reaching up to 2.28 : 1. Conclusions The increase of banding width can reduce the energy loss of PA and improve the energy efficiency of blood flow, but it will lead to the imbalance of blood flow distributions between the left and right lungs. Both the balance of blood flow distribution and the energy loss should be considered in choice for banding width of PAB. The virtual design of PAB surgery based on CAD and CFD will assist individualized banding width selection in future.

OX40 is a costimulatory receptor that is expressed primarily on activated CD4⁺, CD8⁺, and regulatory T cells. The ligation of OX40 to its sole ligand OX40L potentiates T cell expansion, differentiation, and activation and also promotes dendritic cells to mature to enhance their cytokine production. Therefore, the use of agonistic anti-OX40 antibodies for cancer immunotherapy has gained great interest. However, most of the agonistic anti-OX40 antibodies in the clinic are OX40L-competitive and show limited efficacy. Here, we discovered that BGB-A445, a non-ligand-competitive agonistic anti-OX40 antibody currently under clinical investigation, induced optimal T cell activation without impairing dendritic cell function. In addition, BGB-A445 dose-dependently and significantly depleted regulatory T cells in vitro and in vivo via antibody-dependent cellular cytotoxicity. In the MC38 syngeneic model established in humanized OX40 knock-in mice, BGB-A445 demonstrated robust and dose-dependent antitumor efficacy, whereas the ligand-competitive anti-OX40 antibody showed antitumor efficacy characterized by a hook effect. Furthermore, BGB-A445 demonstrated a strong combination antitumor effect with an anti-PD-1 antibody. Taken together, our findings show that BGB-A445, which does not block OX40-OX40L interaction in contrast to clinical-stage anti-OX40 antibodies, shows superior immune-stimulating effects and antitumor efficacy and thus warrants further clinical investigation.
Mice ; Animals ; Receptors, Tumor Necrosis Factor/physiology* ; Receptors, OX40 ; Membrane Glycoproteins ; Ligands ; Antibodies, Monoclonal/pharmacology* ; Antineoplastic Agents/pharmacology*