Objective To investigate the effects of epithelial transformation sequence 2(ECT2)and p33ING1 on the metastatic activity of esophageal squamous cell carcinoma(ESCC)cells.Methods The expressions of ECT2 and p33ING1 in esophageal squamous cell carcinoma tissues and adjacent tissues were detected by immunohistochemistry and Western blotting.Human esophageal squamous carcinoma cell line KYSE140 cells were divided into 4 groups:blank group,negative control(pcDNA 3.1 NC)group,overexpression group(pcDNA 3.1 ECT2)and inhibited expression group(si ECT2).MTT assay and cell colony formation assay were used to study the proliferation and growth ability of cells,Transwell assay and scratch assay used to study the invasion and migration ability of cells,and flow cytometry used to detect apoptosis and cell cycle,Western blotting used to detect the effect of ECT2 on p33ING1 protein.Results ECT2 expression increased and p33ING1 expression decreased in esophageal squamous cell carcinoma tissues.Overexpression of ECT2 significantly increased the growth,colony formation,migration and invasion abilities of KYSE140 cells,and decreased the apoptosis rate and p33ING1 expression of KYSE140 cells.In addition,inhibition of ECT2 expression could reverse the above changes.Conclusion The high expression of ECT2 can promote the growth and metastasis of esophageal squamous cell carcinoma KYSE140 cells and inhibit their apoptosis.The mechanism may be related to the inhibition of p33ING1 expression by ECT2.

Octapeptin has strong antibacterial activity against Gram-negative bacteria such as Escherichia coli, Klebsiella pneumoniae and Acinetobacter baumannii, while it also has activity against some Gram-positive bacteria. This study used natural octapeptin A3 and B3 as lead compounds for structural modification. Twenty-one peptide derivatives (including A3 and B3) containing eight amino acid residues were prepared by solid-phase synthesis, and evaluated for antibacterial activity and renal cytotoxicity. Among them, three compounds 6, 7 and 17 exhibited broad-spectrum antibacterial activity and significantly enhanced the activity for Gram-positive bacteria while maintaining the activity of Gram-negative bacteria. Several compounds improved the activity for Pseudomonas aeruginosa. Compound 7 was active against all test strains and had relatively low renal cytotoxicity. The results provide a basis for the further development of novel polypeptide antibiotics.

Objective To investigate the inhibitory effect of quercetin on Gastro entero pancreatic NEN(GEP-NEN).Methods Human pancreatic neuroendocrine tumor BON-1 cells were randomly divided into control group,quercetin group(80 μmol·L-1 quercetin),quercetin+si-NC group(transfected with si-NC+80 μmol·L-1 quercetin),quercetin+si-growth arrest-specific+ranscript 5(GAS5)group(transfected with si-GAS5+80 μmol·L-1 quercetin).Dual luciferase reporter gene assay was used to verify the targeted binding of GASS5 to miR-18b-5p;real-time quantitative fluorescent PCR(qRT-PCR)was used to detect the mRNA expression levels of B-cell lymphoma-2(Bcl-2)and Bel-2 associated X protein(Bax);positive expression of GAS5 and miR-18b-5p in cells was detected by fluorescence in situ hybridization(FISH)assay.Results Dual luciferase reporter gene results showed that GAS5 was targeted to miR-18b-5p.The GAS5 expression levels of control group,quercetin group,quercetin+si-NC group and quercetin+si-GAS5 group were 1.00±0.13,1.72±0.19,1.78±0.14 and 1.16±0.11,respectively;the expression levels of miR-18b-5p were 1.00±0.15,0.67±0.08,0.72±0.06 and 0.95±0.11 respectively;Bax mRNA expression levels were 1.00±0.12,2.17±0.25,2.32±0.28 and 1.37±0.15,respectively;Bcl-2 mRNA expression levels were 1.00±0.15,0.41±0.05,0.37±0.06 and 1.21±0.13,respectively.The above indexes were significantly different between quercetin group and control group(all P＜0.05);the above indexes were significantly different between quercetin+si-NC group and quercetin+si-GAS5 group(all P＜0.05).Conclusion Quercetin may slow down the development of GEP-NEN by targeting GAS5/miR-18b-5p molecular axis to inhibit cell growth.

Piroxicam has polymorphism. Different crystalline forms can exhibit different physicochemical properties and biological activities. Analysis of the intermolecular interactions is essential to reveal the formation mechanism and differences of polymorphs. In this paper, Hirshfeld surface analysis and semi-empirical methods were used to calculate and analyze the intermolecular interactions in seven polymorphic forms of piroxicam. The results show that the Hirshfeld surface analysis method can clearly and intuitively reveal the intermolecular interactions, among which H…H, O…H/H…O and N…H/H…N interactions account for 95% of the total energy. There are differences in the proportion and distribution of the forces of different crystal forms. The energy calculation shows that the lattice energy of the hydrate is significantly lower than that of the anhydrous forms, and in the specific energy distribution, the contribution of the dispersion force is the most prominent. Further interaction energy analysis was found that within the distance of 3.8 Å from the center of the piroxicam molecule, different crystalline forms of piroxicam molecule have different interaction energies with surrounding molecules.

Four salts of ticagrelor, ticagrelor-3,5-dinitrobenzoic acid, ticagrelor-pyrazinamide, ticagrelor-D-proline and ticagrelor-L-proline were prepared by solvent suspension and liquid-assisted grinding to improve the solubility of ticagrelor. The compounds were characterized by powder X-ray diffraction, Fourier transform infrared spectroscopy, differential scanning calorimetry, nuclear magnetic resonance spectroscopy, elemental analysis, and the intermolecular salt-bonding forces were analyzed. The equilibrium solubility of salts and pure drug in hydrochloride buffer pH 1.2 and phosphate buffer pH 6.8 were measured by high-performance liquid chromatography. Ticagrelor was salted with 3,5-dinitrobenzoic acid, pyrazinamide, D-proline, L-proline all in a stoichiometric ratio of 1∶1; with the exception of ticagrelor-D-proline, the solubility of the other three salts provided significantly improved solubility in hydrochloride buffer pH 1.2, and the equilibrium solubility of ticagrelor-3,5-dinitrobenzoic acid was increased by approximately 1.7 folds as compared to pure drug. Salt-forming technology is convenient and can improve the solubility of ticagrelor.

Natural products have been a major source of leading compounds in drug discovery. How to effectively screen active compounds from complex matrix remains an interesting topic. In this review, we comprehensively summarized advanced liquid chromatography based approaches in natural products screening, including pre-column, on-column and post-column screening methods. Their advantages, disadvantages and prospect are also discussed.

Objective To compare the prenatal diagnostic value and image quality of magnetic resonance imaging(MRI)with fast imaging employing steady state acquisition(FIESTA)or single shot fast spin echo(SSFSE)sequence,in order to provide references for sequence selection of prenatal diagnosis.Methods The MRI data of 121 patients with suspected placental invasion were retrospectively analyzed. The ability of FIESTA in displaying MRI signs associated with placental invasion and its image quality were assessed and compared with SSFSE. Based on the records of cesarean section and pathological finding,the sensitivity,specificity,positive predictive values,and negative predictive values of these two sequences were calculated.Results The image quality was significantly higher in FIESTA than in SSFSE(χ =29.74,P=0.000). FIESTA had significantly higher ability to display focal interruptions in the myometrial wall than SSFSE(χ =6.750,P=0.006);in addition,the ability to display abnormal vessel in the placenta(χ =8.471,P=0.020),placental heterogeneity(χ =13.885,P=0.000),hypointense intraplacental bands(χ =4.267,P=0.035)were also significantly higher in SSFSE than in FIESTA,while the efficiency for displaying uterine bulging(χ =0.250,P=0.625),uterine recess(χ =0.167,P=0.687),uterine penetration and parametrium implantation(χ =0.800,P=0.375),and protrusion of the placenta into the cervix(χ =0.081,P=0.776)were not significantly different between these two sequences. Both sequences had a specificity of 100% in displaying uterine penetration and parametrium implantation,uterine recess,and protrusion of the placenta into the cervix. Conclusions FIESTA has better ability in displaying the contour and demarcation of placenta and uterine,whereas SSFSE is more efficient in displaying the changes of intraplacental signals. FIESTA can be used to observe the relationship between the placenta and the surrounding structures and whether the surrounding tissue is implanted,and the changes of placental signals can be observed in SSFSE. The combination of these two sequences can improve the prenatal diagnosis of placenta invasion.
Cesarean Section ; Female ; Humans ; Magnetic Resonance Imaging ; Placenta ; Pregnancy ; Prenatal Diagnosis ; Retrospective Studies

The composition and potency of the high temperature (40℃) stress induced size variants of a recombinant humanized monoclonal antibody (rhumAb1) were characterized by means of SEC-HPLC, nonreduced CE-SDS, liquid chromatography coupled with mass spectrometry (LC-MS) and antibody dependent cell-mediated cytotoxicity (ADCC) assay. The molecular masses of the four size variants (SEC-1-SEC-4) separated by SEC-HPLC and seven size variants (NR-1-NR-7) detected by non-reduced CE-SDS were all characterized by LC-MS. The major low molecular weight variants were generated due to the hinge region fragmentation of heavy chain. The hinge region cleavage was found mainly in the Ser221-Cys-Asp-Lys-Thr-His-Thr-Cys228 sequence, in which C222-D223 and H226-T227 were the major cleavage sites. The size variants of rhumAb1, namely dimer and fragments, have significantly reduced ADCC activity in comparison with the intact rhumAb1 drug product. This study provided insights into the stability profiling for rhumAb1 drug product. The study protocols presented here may be applicable to the analytical characterization of other monoclonal antibody-based therapeutic products.

BACKGROUNDRecombinant human parathyroid hormone (1-34) (rhPTH (1-34)) is the first agent in a unique class of anabolic therapies acting on the skeleton. The efficacy and safety of long-term administration of rhPTH (1-34) in Chinese postmenopausal women had not been evaluated. This study compared the clinical efficacy and safety of rhPTH (1-34) with elcatonin for treating postmenopausal women with osteoporosis in 11 urban areas of China.

METHODSA total of 453 postmenopausal women with osteoporosis were enrolled in an 18-month, multi-center, randomized, controlled study. They were randomized to receive either rhPTH (1-34) 20 µg (200 U) daily for 18 months, or elcatonin 20 U weekly for 12 months. Lumbar spine (L1-4) and femoral neck bone mineral density (BMD), fracture rate, back pain as well as biochemical markers of bone turnover were measured. Adverse events were recorded.

RESULTSrhPTH (1-34) increased lumbar BMD significantly more than did elcatonin after 6, 12, and 18 months of treatment (4.3% vs. 1.9%, 6.8% vs. 2.7%, 9.5% vs. 2.9%, P < 0.01). There was only a small but significant increase of femoral neck BMD after 18 months (2.6%, P < 0.01) in rhPTH groups. There were larger increases in bone turnover markers in the rhPTH (1-34) group than those in the elcatonin group after 6, 12, and 18 months (serum bone-specific alkaline phosphatase (BSAP) 93.7% vs. -3.6%; 117.8% vs. -4.1%; 49.2% vs. -5.8%, P < 0.01; urinary C-telopeptide/creatinine (CTX/Cr) 250.0% vs. -29.5%; 330.0% vs. -41.4%, 273.0% vs. -10.6%, P < 0.01). rhPTH (1-34) showed similar effect of pain relief as elcatonin. The incidence of clinical fractures was 5.36% (6/112) in elcatonin group and 3.2% (11/341) in rhPTH (1-34) group (P = 0.303). Both treatments were well tolerated. Hypercaluria (9.4%) and hypercalcemia (7.0%) in rhPTH (1-34) group were transient and caused no clinical symptoms. Pruritus (8.2% vs. 2.7%, P = 0.044) and redness of injection site (4.4% vs. 0, P = 0.024) were more frequent in rhPTH (1-34). Nausea/vomiting (16.1% vs. 6.2%, P = 0.001) and hot flushes (7.1% vs. 0.6%, P < 0.001) were more common in elcatonin group.

CONCLUSIONSrhPTH (1-34) was associated with greater increases in lumbar spine BMD and bone formation markers. It could increase femoral BMD after 18 months of treatment. rhPTH could improve back pain effectively. The results of the present study indicate that rhPTH (1-34) is an effective, safe agent in treating Chinese postmenopausal women with osteoporosis.

Aged ; Bone Density ; drug effects ; Calcitonin ; analogs & derivatives ; therapeutic use ; China ; Female ; Humans ; Middle Aged ; Osteoporosis, Postmenopausal ; drug therapy ; Parathyroid Hormone ; therapeutic use ; Treatment Outcome

BACKGROUNDBone marrow derived mesenchymal stem cells (BMdMSCs) can differentiate into cardiomyocyte-like cells induced by different inductors individually or collectively. In this study, by inducing BMdMSCs with p53 inhibitor (p-fifty three inhibitor-alpha, PFT-α), 5-azacytidine (5-AZA), angiotensin-II (Ang-II) and bone morphogenic protein-2 (BMP-2) we compared the influences of four inductors on the differentiation of rat BMdMSCs into caridomyocyte like-cells.

METHODSBMdMSCs were collected from the bone marrow of Sprague Dawley rats and after the fourth generation, the purified cells were divided into five groups: 5-AZA (10 µmol/L), Ang-II (0.1 µmol/L), PFT-α (20 µmol/L), BMP-2 (10 µg/L) and control. The purity of the BMdMSCs and the cardiac differentiation rates were obtained by flow cytometry. The expressions of cTnT in the BMdMSCs after four weeks of induction were detected by immunofluorescence and the expressions of cTnI and Cx43 detected by Western blotting. The green fluorescent levels reflecting intracellular calcium transient function were determined by laser scanning confocal microscopy. The total potassium current levels of cells were measured on patch clamp.

RESULTSAll inductors affected to a different degree the differentiation of BMdMSCs into cardiomyocyte-like cells and the expressions of cTnT, cTnI and Cx43 suggesting that the combination of inductors could be an improved method for cardiac regenerative medicine. In addition, the total potassium current level and calcium transient in PFT-α cardiomyocyte-like cells were higher than other groups.

CONCLUSIONSThe cardiac differentiation of BMdMSCs induced by PFT-α, 5-AZA, Ang-II and BMP-2 has been improved at different levels. PFT-α has an advantage of differentiation rate and electrophysiological function over other inductors.

Animals ; Blotting, Western ; Bone Marrow Cells ; cytology ; Cell Differentiation ; physiology ; Cells, Cultured ; Electrophysiology ; methods ; Male ; Mesenchymal Stromal Cells ; cytology ; Myocytes, Cardiac ; cytology ; Rats ; Rats, Sprague-Dawley