As an essential amino acid, l-tryptophan is widely used in food, feed and medicine sectors. Nowadays, microbial l-tryptophan production suffers from low productivity and yield. Here we construct a chassis E. coli TRP3 producing 11.80 g/L l-tryptophan, which was generated by knocking out the l-tryptophan operon repressor protein (trpR) and the l-tryptophan attenuator (trpL), and introducing the feedback-resistant mutant aroG^fbr. On this basis, the l-tryptophan biosynthesis pathway was divided into three modules, including the central metabolic pathway module, the shikimic acid pathway to chorismate module and the chorismate to tryptophan module. Then we used promoter engineering approach to balance the three modules and obtained an engineered E. coli TRP9. After fed-batch cultures in a 5 L fermentor, tryptophan titer reached to 36.08 g/L, with a yield of 18.55%, which reached 81.7% of the maximum theoretical yield. The tryptophan producing strain with high yield laid a good foundation for large-scale production of tryptophan.
Escherichia coli/metabolism* ; Tryptophan ; Metabolic Engineering ; Bioreactors ; Metabolic Networks and Pathways

BACKGROUND: LY01005 (Goserelin acetate sustained-release microsphere injection) is a modified gonadotropin-releasing hormone (GnRH) agonist injected monthly. This phase III trial study aimed to evaluated the efficacy and safety of LY01005 in Chinese patients with prostate cancer. METHODS: We conducted a randomized controlled, open-label, non-inferiority trial across 49 sites in China. This study included 290 patients with prostate cancer who received either LY01005 or goserelin implants every 28 days for three injections. The primary efficacy endpoints were the percentage of patients with testosterone suppression ≤50 ng/dL at day 29 and the cumulative probability of testosterone ≤50 ng/dL from day 29 to 85. Non-inferiority was prespecified at a margin of -10%. Secondary endpoints included significant castration (≤20 ng/dL), testosterone surge within 72 h following repeated dosing, and changes in luteinizing hormone, follicle-stimulating hormone, and prostate specific antigen levels. RESULTS: On day 29, in the LY01005 and goserelin implant groups, testosterone concentrations fell below medical-castration levels in 99.3% (142/143) and 100% (140/140) of patients, respectively, with a difference of -0.7% (95% confidence interval [CI], -3.9% to 2.0%) between the two groups. The cumulative probabilities of maintaining castration from days 29 to 85 were 99.3% and 97.8%, respectively, with a between-group difference of 1.5% (95% CI, -1.3% to 4.4%). Both results met the criterion for non-inferiority. Secondary endpoints were similar between groups. Both treatments were well-tolerated. LY01005 was associated with fewer injection-site reactions than the goserelin implant (0% vs . 1.4% [2/145]). CONCLUSION: LY01005 is as effective as goserelin implants in reducing testosterone to castration levels, with a similar safety profile. TRIAL REGISTRATION ClinicalTrials.gov, NCT04563936.
Humans ; Male ; Antineoplastic Agents, Hormonal/therapeutic use* ; East Asian People ; Gonadotropin-Releasing Hormone/agonists* ; Goserelin/therapeutic use* ; Prostate-Specific Antigen ; Prostatic Neoplasms/drug therapy* ; Testosterone

COVID-19 has been prevalent for three years. The virulence of SARS-CoV-2 is weaken as it mutates continuously. However, elderly patients, especially those with underlying diseases, are still at high risk of developing severe infections. With the continuous study of the molecular structure and pathogenic mechanism of SARS-CoV-2, antiviral drugs for COVID-19 have been successively marketed, and these anti-SARS-CoV-2 drugs can effectively reduce the severe rate and mortality of elderly patients. This article reviews the mechanism, clinical medication regimens, drug interactions and adverse reactions of five small molecule antiviral drugs currently approved for marketing in China, so as to provide advice for the clinical rational use of anti-SARS-CoV-2 in the elderly.

Objective: To analyze the epidemic characteristics and drug resistance of pulmonary tuberculosis among the floating population in Beijing and to provide a scientific basis for formulating strategies for the prevention and control of tuberculosis among the floating population. Methods: Data of tuberculosis patients who were positive for Mycobacterium tuberculosis culture was collected from 16 districts and one municipal institution of tuberculosis control and prevention in Beijing in 2019. The strain samples were tested for drug sensitivity by the proportional method. According to household registration location, patients were divided into the floating population and Beijing registration. SPSS 19.0 software analyzed tuberculosis patients' epidemic characteristics and drug resistance in the floating population. Results: In 2019, there were 1 171 culture-positive tuberculosis patients in Beijing, among the floating population, 593 (50.64%) patients were identified, with a male-to-female sex ratio of 2.2∶1 (409∶184). Compared to patients under household registration as Beijing residents, a higher proportion of young adults aged 20-39 years (65.09%,386/593) were noticed, with 55.65% (330/593) reported from the urban areas and 96.80% (574/593) were reported the first time. The differences were statistically significant (all P<0.05). After completing the drug sensitivity test, 37 cases were with multiple drug-resistant tuberculosis, accounting for 6.24% (37/593). The rates of isoniazid resistance (42.11%,8/19) and multidrug resistance (21.05%,4/19) in floating population patients after retreatment were significantly higher than those in newly treated patients (11.67%, 67/574 and 5.75%, 33/574), and the differences were statistically significant (all P<0.05). Conclusions: Most patients with tuberculosis in the floating population in Beijing in 2019 were young males aged 20-39 years. The reporting areas were urban areas and the newly treated patients mainly. The patients with tuberculosis in the re-treated floating population were more likely to suffer from multidrug and drug resistance, which should be taken as the key population for prevention and control.
Young Adult ; Humans ; Female ; Male ; Beijing/epidemiology* ; Tuberculosis ; Tuberculosis, Pulmonary/epidemiology* ; Tuberculosis, Multidrug-Resistant/epidemiology* ; Drug Resistance

Objective:To analyze the clinical characteristics and prognosis of patients infected with novel coronavirus Omicron variant in Shanghai, as to provide a reference for epidemic prevention, clinical diagnosis, and treatment.Methods:Altogether 4 264 novel coronavirus Omicron variant-infected patients with positive results of nucleic acid admitted to Shanghai New International Expo Center N3 Mobile Cabin Hospital from April 2 to May 7, 2022, were included. The demographic and baseline clinical characteristics, treatment strategy, prognosis, and different factors affecting the length of hospital stay were analyzed.Results:A total of 4 264 novel coronavirus variant Omicron-infected cases were collected, including 3 111 cases (73.0%) asymptomatic infections and 1 153 cases (27.0%) mild infections. The overall median age was 45 (33, 55) years old with a range from 2 years old to 81 years old. The male to female ratio was 1.37∶1. Altogether 3 305 cases (77.5%) had been vaccinated, of which 3 166 cases completed more than 2 doses. The upper respiratory tract symptoms such as cough and expectoration were the most common clinical manifestations of these infected patients. During the course of the disease, patients with asymptomatic infection were mainly treated with traditional Chinese medicine (TCM, 55.1%) and clinical observation (36.8%), and those with mild infection were mainly treated with TCM (42.2%) or integrated Chinese and Western medicine (30.4%). All patients were cured and discharged. The overall median length of hospital stay and the negative conversion time of nucleic acid were 9 (6, 10) days and 8 (5, 9) days, respectively. Compared with the asymptomatic infected patients, the hospitalization duration and the nucleic acid negative conversion time of the mildly infected patients were slightly longer [days: 10 (8, 11) vs. 9 (5, 10); 8 (6, 10) vs. 7 (4, 9), both P < 0.001]. Multiple linear regression analysis showed that the increasing age and mild infection were associated with longer hospitalization duration, and the treatment of TCM or integrated Chinese and Western medicine was associated with shortened length of hospital stay (all P < 0.05). Conclusions:The current novel coronavirus Omicron variant epidemic in Shanghai mainly caused asymptomatic and mild infections. The young and middle-aged population had a relatively high infection rate. The upper respiratory tract symptoms such as cough and expectoration were the most common clinical symptoms. Elderly and confirmed patients had prolonged hospitalization duration, while for patients receiving TCM treatment, the hospitalization duration was shortened.

Objective:To investigate the safety of early whole body computed tomography (WBCT) combined with coronary angiography (CAG) in patients with extracorporeal cardiopulmonary resuscitation (ECPR) and its application value in the diagnosis of cardiac arrest and complications of cardiopulmonary resuscitation (CPR).Methods:This was a retrospective study. Patients who underwent ECPR in the Emergency Department of the First Affiliated Hospital of Nanjing Medical University from January 2017 to July 2021 were enrolled in this research. Patients younger than 18 years or with incomplete clinical data were excluded. The results of WBCT and CAG examinations after ECPR were collected.Results:A total of 89 patients with ECPR, aged (47±17) years, were enrolled in the study, all underwent WBCT examination, and no adverse events such as ECMO and tracheal tube shedding occurred. WBCT found 7 cases of pulmonary embolism, 3 cases of aortic dissection and 2 cases of cerebral hemorrhage. WBCT identified CPR-related complications in 42 cases, including rib fractures ( n=20), pneumothorax ( n=5), mediastinal emphysema ( n=5), subcutaneous emphysema ( n=6), and hematoma or swelling at puncture site ( n=6). Fifty-five patients underwent CAG examination, the most common culprit vessels were the left anterior descending branch disease (58.2%) followed by the left circumflex branch disease (27.3%), the right coronary artery disease (21.8%) and left main artery disease (12.7%). Conclusions:Early WBCT and CAG examinations are of great significance and safety for the guidance of treatment in ECPR patients.

Objective:To investigate the significance and mechanism of ten-eleven translocation (Tet1) against Mycobacterium marinum ( Mm) infection in mice. Methods:SPF wild-type C57BL/6 and Tet1-knockout (Tet1KO) mice were injected intravenously with Mm. All mice were monitored and the abscesses formed in tail were observed and quantified. Pathological changes in mouse tail tissues were observed using hematoxylin and eosin (HE) staining and transmission electron microscopy and the differences between the two groups were analyzed. Immunohistochemistry staining was used to detect the expression and distribution of TNF-α and TGF-β in mouse tail tissues. Moreover, mouse tail tissues were cultured on 7H10 plates for bacterial counting. The expression of NF-κBp65 and TGF-β was detected by Western blot. Results:Obvious lesions including abscesses and ulcers were formed in the Mm-infected C57BL/6, but only scattered small abscesses were observed in Mm-infected Tet1KO mice. During Mm infection, the bacterial load was gradually increased in C57BL/6 mice, but decreased in Tet1KO mice. Histopathological examination showed that obvious inflammatory cell infiltration and typical granulomatous lesions were found in Mm-infected C57BL/6 mice, while no significant inflammatory cell infiltration was detected in Mm-infected Tet1KO mice. Immunohistochemistry staining demonstrated that the expression of TNF-α and TGF-β was lower in Mm-infected Tet1KO mice than in Mm-infected C57BL/6 mice. Moreover, the expression of phosphorylated NF-κBp65 and TGF-β was significantly reduced in Mm-infected Tet1KO mice as compared with that in Mm-infected C57BL/6 mice. Conclusions:Deletion of Tet1 could alleviate the inflammatory damage mediated by Mm and enhance the host immune response to bacteria.

A determination method for bilirubin in cultured cow-bezoar was developed in this study, with which the bilirubin in 15 batches of samples was quantified. The samples were first processed with 10% oxalic acid solution for the conversion of bilirubin from conjugated to unconjugated, followed by the extraction with dichloromethane. Then the obtained sample solutions were analyzed at 450 nm by HPLC[chromatographic column: Agilent TC-C_(18)(4.6 mm × 250 mm, 5 μm); mobile phase: acetonitrile and 1% glacial acetic acid aqueous solution(95∶5); flow rate: 1.0 mL·min~(-1)]. The bilirubin content in the 15 batches of cultured cow-bezoar was ranged from 21.9% to 41.7% with the average of 32.4%. The proposed method is accurate and reliable, thus making it suitable for the quantitation of bilirubin in cultured cow-bezoar and its quality assessment and control.
Animals ; Bezoars ; Bilirubin ; Cattle ; Chromatography, High Pressure Liquid ; Drugs, Chinese Herbal ; Female

Objective:To explore the method of establishing a modified demyelination and myelination regeneration model induced by dicyclohexanone oxalyl dihydrazone (CPZ) in mice with multiple sclerosis (MS), and to analyze the image markers of demyelination and myelination regeneration in mouse MS model.Methods:After the intragastrically administered with sodium carboxymethyl cellulose (CMCNa) for one week, a total of 30 C57BL/6 male mice were randomly divided into the control group ( n=10), the demyelination group ( n=10), and the remyelination group ( n=10). The mice of the control group were immediately performed MR scanning and pathological specimen obtaining; the mice in the demyelination group were administered with intragastrical CPZ-CMCNa once a day for 6 weeks for inducing demyelination, then received MR scanning and specimen obtaining with the same protocols used in control group; the mice in the remyelination group were administered with intragastrical CPZ-CMCNa once a day for six weeks for demyelination, then CPZ was withdrawn and normal diet was given for another four weeks. Then MR scanning and specimen obtaining were performed with the same protocols used in the other two groups. Regions of interest (ROIs) were set at the rostrum of corpus callosum (rCC), the bilateral normal appearing white matters (NAWM) of the rostrum of corpus callosum, and the bilateral cerebral cortex (Cx). The normalized T 2WI (T 2-normalized), fractional anisotropy (FA), mean diffusivity (MD), axial diffusivity (AD), and radial diffusivity (RD) values were compared among the three groups by one-way ANOVA. Results:The demyelination and remyelination mice model of MS were successfully established. The T 2-normalized values of rCC in control group, demyelination group and remyelination group were 0.47±0.03, 0.72±0.04, 0.54±0.04, respectively, with statistically significant difference found ( F=90.511, P<0.05). Post-hoc multiple comparisons showed significant differences among those groups ( P<0.05). There was no significant difference of T 2-normalized value in NAWM and Cx among the three groups ( P>0.05). Moreover, there were significant differences in the FA values (0.36±0.04, 0.29±0.03, and 0.32±0.05), the MD values [(0.572±0.015), (0.598±0.034), and (0.626±0.043)×10 -3 mm 2/s], the AD values [(0.79±0.04), (0.77±0.06), and (0.83±0.04)×10 -3 mm 2/s], and the RD values [(0.46±0.02), (0.51±0.03), and (0.53±0.05)×10 -3 mm 2/s] of rCC of the control group, the demyelination group, and the remyelination group (all P<0.05). Significant difference was found in FA values between the demyelination group and the control group ( P<0.05), and in MD values between the remyelination group and the control group ( P<0.05), as well as in AD values between the remyelination group and the demyelination group ( P<0.05). There were also significant differences in RD values between the remyelination group and the control group, and the demyelination group and the control group (all P<0.05). However, no significant difference was found in all diffusion tensor imaging (DTI) metrics of NAWM and Cx among the three groups (all P>0.05). The LFB-eosin staining showed that the myelin sheath of rCC was lost in the demyelination group, and the rCC was partially regenerated and repaired in the remyelination group. Conclusion:The modified CPZ-CMCNa model can selectively induce demyelination and remyelination of rCC, and the changes of demyelination and remyelination of rCC in the modified CPZ-CMCNa model can be quantitatively detected by T 2WI combined with DTI, which might provide related theoretical basis for the study on dynamic changes of MS lesions.

In this study, 10 batches of samples of cultured Bovis Calculus(cow-bezoar) were determined for the investigation of chemical profile of bile acids with the UPLC-QDA method established. The results showed that nine common bile acids, cholic acid(CA), deoxycholic acid(DCA), chenodeoxycholic acid(CDCA), taurocholic acid(TCA), taurodeoxycholic acid(TDCA), taurochenodeoxycholic acid(TCDCA), glycocholic acid(GCA), glycodeoxycholic acid(GDCA) and glycochenodeoxycholic acid(GCDCA), were founded in samples and 7 bile acids were quantified except GDCA and GCDCA. In these samples, unconjugated bile acids, the major type of bile acids, accounted for more than 97% of all types of bile acids. As for unconjugated bile acids, CA was the most major bile acid in cultured cow-bezoar and it was about twice as much as DCA. The relative low-cost method established in the current study is accurate, rapid and sensitive, which is suitable for the studies of other drugs from animal bile.
Animals ; Bile ; Bile Acids and Salts ; Calculi ; Cattle ; Female