Mechanism and main active ingredients of Radix Et Rhizoma Tripterygii Wilfordii for breast cancer / 中国药理学通报

Aim To explore the main active ingredients of Tripterygium wilfordii and the mechanism in treat-ment of breast cancer based on network pharmacology.Methods The active components and targets of Tripterygii Wilfordii were searched by TCMSP.GeneCard database was used to screen the potential targets of Tripterygii Wilfordii in treatment of breast cancer.The two were matched to obtain the core components and targets of Tripterygii Wilfordii.Cytoscape3.6.0 and AutoDock Vina were used to draw the drug-target network diagram, and GO enrichment analysis, KEGG pathway enrichment analysis, and molecular docking between the core target and the components were carried out.CCK8 and qPCR were used to verify the effect of optimal core component tripterine on breast cancer cells.Results Seven kinds of active anti-breast cancer components and twenty-five core therapeutic targets of Tripterygii Wilfordii were obtained.Tripterine, which significantly inhibited the growth of breast cancer cells, was the most valuable component of Tripterygii Wilfordii for breast cancer.QPCR results showed that tripterine decreased the expression of core therapeutic targets.Conclusions The effectiveness of Tripterygii Wilfordii has multiple pathways, and tripterine may play an important role in treatment of breast cancer.

Clinical and genetic characteristics of different types of non-obstructive hypertrophic cardiomyopathy / 中华心血管病杂志

Objective: To analyze the clinical and genetic characteristics of clinical subtypes of non-obstructive hypertrophic cardiomyopathy (HCM). Methods: It was a cohort study. Patients with non-obstructive HCM admitted to Fuwai Hospital, Chinese Academy of Medical Sciences, from January 1999 to April 2019 were enrolled. According to the characteristics of cardiac morphology and function shown by echocardiography, the patients were divided into common type, dilated type, restricted type and reduced ejection fraction type. The clinical data of the patients were recorded, and 8 sarcomere pathogenic genes were screened by full exon sequencing or panel sequencing. Patienst were followed up and cardiovascular endpoint events were recorded. Results: A total of 815 patients with non-obstructive HCM were enrolled, including 27 (3.3%) restricted type, 51 (6.3%) dilated type, 30 (3.7%) reduced ejection fraction type and 707 (86.7%) common type. A total of 704 out of 815 patients underwent genetic testing. Among them, 299 (42.5%) patients carried at least 1 sarcomere gene mutation. MYBPC3 and MYH7 mutation accounted for 42.1% (126/299) and 35.8% (107/299) respectively. 66.7% (16/24) of the patients with restricted type carried sarcomere gene mutation, which was higher than that in patients with dilated type (36.4% (16/44)) and in common type (41.5% (250/602), P=0.015). Among the patients with reduced ejection fraction, 56.7% (17/30) patients carried sarcomere gene mutations, 23.3% (7/30) carried multiple sarcomere mutations, which was higher than that in restricted type (8.3% (2/24)), in dilated type (9.1% (4/44)) and in common type 4.2% ((24/577), P<0.001). MYH7 and MYBPC3 were the main mutation gene types of all clinical subtypes, and the genotypes were similar among groups (all P>0.05). Seven hundred and three out 815 patients were followed up for 2.9 (1.4, 4.0) years. There were 53(7.5%) cardiovascular death. Cardiovascular death occurred in 5.0% (29/578) patients with common type, 13.0% (3/23) patients with restricted type, 16.3% (7/43) patients with dilated type and 46.7% (14/30) patients with decreased ejection fraction. Univariate Cox proportional hazards model analysis showed that the risk of cardiovascular death in patients with restricted, dilated and reduced ejection fraction type was higher than that in patients with common type (P<0.001). After adjusting for gender, age of onset, body mass index, history of hypertension, coronary heart disease and diabetes, multivariate Cox proportional hazards model analysis showed that the HR of cardiovascular death in patients with restricted, dilated and reduced ejection fraction type were 5.454 (95%CI 1.137-26.157, P=0.034) and 6.597 (95%CI 1.632-26.667, P=0.008) and 9.028 (95%CI 2.201-37.039, P=0.002) respectively, as compared to patients with common type. Conclusions: Most of the patients with non-obstructive HCM are common type, featured by mild clinical manifestations and good prognosis. Although the proportion of restricted type and dilated type is relatively low, and cardiac systolic function is mostly preserved, the clinical phenotype and prognosis of these patients are similarly severe and poor as patients with reduced ejection fraction. The genotypes are similar in different clinical subtypes, but the proportion of patients with sarcomere gene mutation is higher in restricted type, and the proportion of patients with multiple sarcomere gene mutation is higher in decreased ejection fraction type.

Biosynthesis of (R)-2-hydroxy-3-phenylpropionic acid using whole recombinant Escherichia coli cells in an aqueous/n-octane biphasic system / 浙江大学学报（英文版）（B辑：生物医学和生物技术）

(R)-2-hydroxy-3-phenylpropionic acid (PLA) is an ideal antimicrobial compound with broad-spectrum activity against a wide range of Gram-positive bacteria, some Gram-negative bacteria, and fungi. We studied the bioconversion of phenylpyruvate (PPA) to PLA using whole recombinant Escherichia coli cells in a series of buffer/organic solvent systems. Octane was found to be the best organic solvent. The optimum volume ratio of the water phase to the n-octane phase, conversion temperature, substrate concentration, and cell concentration were 6:4, 40 °C, 12.5 g/L, and 30 g/L wet cells, respectively. Under the optimized conditions, the average PLA productivity in the aqueous/ n-octane system was 30.69% higher than that in the aqueous system, and 32.31 g/L PLA was obtained with the use of a stirred reactor (2-L scale). Taken together, our findings indicated that PLA biosynthesis was more efficient in an aqueous/n-octane biphasic system than in a monophasic aqueous system. The proposed biphasic system is an effective strategy for enhancing PLA yield and the biosynthesis of its analogues.

Protective effects of WR2721 on early bone marrow hematopoietic function in mice exposed to 6.5 Gy of (60)Co γ-rays / 中国实验血液学杂志

The aim of this study was to investigate the effect of WR2721(amifostine) against bone marrow hematopoietic damage of mice exposed to 6.5 Gy of (60)Co-γ ray. A total of 60 C57/BL6J mice was divided into 3 groups:normal group (mice were injected with physiological salt solution), irradiation group (mice were injected with physiologic salt solution before irradiation) and WR2721 group (mice were injected with WR2721 before irradiation). The WBC, neutrophil (Neut), Plt and RBC levels in peripheral blood of 3 group mice were counted within 60 days after irradiation; the bone marrow nuclear cells (BMNC) were counted at 2 and 24 hours after irradiation; the hematopoietic stem/progenitor cell (LK/LSK) level and colony formation capability were detected by flow cytometry at 2 and 24 hours after irradiation. The results indicated that the counts of WBC and neut at 4 and 18 days, Plt at 7-18 days and RBC at 10-30 day after irradiation in WR2721 group were higher than those in irradiation group (P < 0.05); the BMNC, LSK and LK levels obviously increased at 24 hours after irradiation (P < 0.05), the CFU-GEMM, CFU-GM, CFU-MK BFU-E and CFU-E all significantly increased at 2 and 24 hours after irradiation (P < 0.01), as compared with irradiation group. It is concluded that WR2721 can effectively alleviate early hematopoietic damage and promote the fast recovery of peripheral blood cells in mice exposed to γ-ray, suggesting that the WR2721 has significant radioprotective effect on hematopoietic system.

Study on growth of height among students during their adolescence in Zhongshan, Guangdong / 中华流行病学杂志

Objective To discuss characteristics of height growth such as Peak Height Velocity (PHV) and Age at Peak Height Velocity (PHA) during adolescence,and to compare the results with other research findings.Methods Primary and middle school students' annual physical examination data of Zhongshan in 2005-2010 was used.The height velocity by age,PHV,PHA,height velocity by PHA were calculated.Results The average peak height velocity boys was ( 10.03 ± 1.67 ) cm/yr.and that of the girls was ( 8.39 ± 1.05 ) cm/yr.Both findings were close to the results from previous similar findings.The average age at which peak height velocity reached 12.28± 1.30 years for boys and 10.78 ± 1.04 years for girls,both lower than the previous findings.The correlation coefficients,between height level and PHA were -0.357 (P＜0.001) for boys and -0.338 (P＜0.001) for girls.Conclusion The height levels were positively related to the height velocity before PHA.The Zhongshan students' PHA was lower than the Beijing,Shanghai and Shenyang students,also lower than American and Britain students',but their PHVs were similar.

Comparative analysis of polysomnography and micro-sensitive mattress-sleep monitor used for obstructive sleep apnea hypopnea syndrome / 中华耳鼻咽喉头颈外科杂志

<p><b>OBJECTIVE</b>To assess the efficiency of mattress-type micro sensitive monitor (MMSM) in sleep monitoring.</p><p><b>METHODS</b>Forty patients diagnosed as obstructive sleep apnea-hypopnea syndrome (OSAHS) by polysomnography (PSG) were randomly chosen, then received MMSM examination within 2 - 5 days. The results of both methods were compared, using the respiratory disturbance index, sleep efficiency, and obstructive factors as indicators.</p><p><b>RESULTS</b>All 40 patients were diagnosed as OSAHS, which were consistent with the results of PSG. There was no statistical difference when comparing the apnea hypopnea index (AHI, x(-) ± s, 35.6 ± 21.3 and 37.6 ± 18.8, respectively) and the ratio of rapid eyes movement (REM) stage (15.0 ± 4.5)% and (15.8 ± 6.3)%, respectively (t were 1.867 and 1.014, P > 0.01). Some statistical sense was found when patients'deep sleep, shallow sleep and sleep efficiency were compared (P < 0.01). According to the severity diagnosed by PSG, patients with mild, moderate and severe OSAHS were 11, 7 and 22 cases, respectively, Comparing by MMSM, 2, 19 and 19 cases, respectively. Among seventeen volunteers diagnosed by PSG as normal subjects, 2 of them were diagnosed as mild OSAHS. The sensitivity of MMSM was 100.0% and the specificity was 88.2%.</p><p><b>CONCLUSIONS</b>With regard to the diagnosis of OSAHS, MMSM is well consistent with PSG. The MMSM can be applied clinically as a monitor technique.</p>

Cloning, expression and functional analyses of human platelet-derived growth factor-B chain peptide for wound repair of cat corneal endothelial cells / 中华创伤杂志(英文版)

<p><b>OBJECTIVE</b>To investigate the biological function of platelet-derived growth factor B (PDGF-B) on the survival and proliferation of cat corneal endothelial cells so as to provide bases for further studies of its role in wound repair and its clinical application.</p><p><b>METHODS</b>Total RNA was extracted from the placenta tissues of healthy pregnant women undergoing hysterotokotomy and PDGF cDNA was obtained with reverse transcription-polymerase chain reaction (RT-PCR). The prokaryotic expression vector pET-PDGF-B was constructed and expressed the recombinant PDGF-B in Escherichia coli (E. coli) BL21 (DE3). After purification and refolding on Ni2+-chelation affinity chromatography (NTA) column, it was used to culture cat corneal endothelial cells. Cell proliferation was tested by modified tertrazolium salt (MTT) and flow cytometer. And the morphologic change and the ultrastructure were observed under an inverted phase contrast microscope, a scanning electron microscope and a transmission electon microscope, respectively.</p><p><b>RESULTS</b>PDGF-B chain peptide (PDGF-BB) gene was successfully inserted into the prokaryotic expression vector, pET-28a (+). The purified recombined protein pET-PDGF-B showed a single band on sodium dodecyl sulfate polyacrylamide gel electropheresis (SDS-PAGE) with the molecular weight of about 27 u, which was in agreement with the deduced value. MTT and flow cytometry showed that PDGF-BB promoted the survival and proliferation of cat corneal endothelial cells.</p><p><b>CONCLUSIONS</b>The construction of recombinant prokaryotic expression vector pET-PDGF-B and the preparation of PDGF-BB protein provide a foundation for further study of the function of PDGF-BB and producing biological PDGF-BB protein. The expressed PDGF-BB promotes the proliferation of cultured cat corneal endothelial cells.</p>

Expression and immunogenicity of recombinant Mycobacterium bovis Bacillus Calmette-Guérin strains secreting the antigen ESAT-6 from Mycobacterium tuberculosis in mice / 中华医学杂志(英文版)

<p><b>BACKGROUND</b>Tuberculosis remains the leading cause of human death. Currently, Bacillus Calmette-Guérin (BCG) is the only available vaccine against tuberculosis but its efficacy is highly variable. Thus, developing new tuberculosis vaccines becomes an urgent task. In this study, we evaluated in BALB/c mice the humoral and cellular immune responses of recombinant BCG expressing the antigen ESAT-6 from Mycobacterium tuberculosis.</p><p><b>METHODS</b>Escherichia coli-BCG shuttle plasmid named pDE22-esat-6 was constructed by inserting the BamHI/EcoRI digested esat-6 gene PCR product into the similarly digested parental plasmid pDE22. BCG cells were transformed with pDE22-esat-6, which was named recombinant BCG (rBCG). BALB/c mice were immunized subcutaneously on the back with 100 microl normal saline containing 10(6) CFU of BCG or rBCG. They were sacrificed after 4 weeks to detect their humoral and cellular responses.</p><p><b>RESULTS</b>There was no any significant differences in the growth characteristics between the conventional BCG and rBCG. In immunized mice, the IgG antibody titres of rBCG group were as high as 1:8000, which was significantly higher than that in BCG group (1:1400, P < 0.05). The elicited IFN-gamma level of rBCG group was (1993 +/- 106) pg/ml, which was also significantly higher than that in BCG group ((1463 +/- 105) pg/ml, P < 0.05). The splenocyte proliferation index of rBCG group reached 4.34 +/- 0.31, which was higher than that of BCG group (3.79 +/- 0.24, P < 0.05).</p><p><b>CONCLUSION</b>rBCG secreted expressing antigen ESAT-6 stimulated stronger humoral and cellular immune responses than BCG did, and, therefore may be the better vaccine against mycobacterium tuberculosis.</p>