Role of using two-route ulinastatin injection to alleviate intestinal injury in septic rats / 中华创伤杂志(英文版)

PURPOSE@#Early application of protease inhibitors through the intestinal lumen could increase survival following experimental shock by blocking the pancreatic digestive enzymes. Hence, it was hypothesized that two-route injection (intraintestinal + intravenous) of ulinastatin (UTI), a broad-spectrum protease inhibitor, could better alleviate intestinal injury than single-route injection (either intravenous or intraintestinal).@*METHODS@#A sepsis model induced by lipopolysaccharide on rats was established. The rats were randomly divided into five groups: sham, sepsis, UTI intravenous injection (Uiv), UTI intraintestinal injection (Uii), and UTI intraintestinal + intravenous injection (Uii + Uiv) groups. The mucosal barrier function, enzyme-blocking effect, levels of systemic inflammatory cytokines, and 5-day survival rate were compared among groups. The small intestinal villus height (VH), crypt depth (CD), and two components of mucosal barrier (E-cadherin and mucin-2) were measured to evaluate the mucosal barrier function. The levels of trypsin and neutrophil elastase (NE) in the intestine, serum, and vital organs were measured to determine the enzyme-blocking effect.@*RESULTS@#Compared with the single-route injection group (Uiv or Uii), the two-route injection (Uii + Uiv) group displayed: (1) significantly higher levels of VH, VH/CD, E-cadherin, and mucin-2; (2) decreased trypsin and NE levels in intestine, plasma, and vital organs; (3) reduced systemic inflammatory cytokine levels; and (4) improved survival of septic rats.@*CONCLUSION@#Two-route UTI injection was superior to single-route injection in terms of alleviating intestinal injury, which might be explained by extensive blockade of proteases through different ways.

Efeito do inibidor de proteinase de origem vegetal EcTI, sobre a inflamação pulmonar alérgica crônica em camundongos Balb/c / Effect of proteinase inhibitor of plant origin EcTI in an experimental model of chronic allergic pulmonary inflammation in Balb/c mice

A prevalência de asma tem crescido e a maioria dos pacientes com asma grave não obtém o controle total dos sintomas com as terapias disponíveis, fazendo-se necessária a busca por novas alternativas terapêuticas. Inibidores de proteinases têm sido estudados como tratamento de processos inflamatórios, dentre eles o Enterolobium contortisiliquum Tripsin Inhibitor (EcTI) OBJETIVO: Avaliar se o inibidor de proteinase EcTI modula a hiperresponsividade brônquica à metacolina, inflamação, remodelamento e estresse oxidativo nas vias aéreas e septos alveolares em um modelo experimental de inflamação pulmonar alérgica crônica. MÉTODOS: Vinte e quatro camundongos Balb/c machos, entre seis e sete semanas de vida, pesando em media 25 g foram divididos em quatro grupos: C (controle), OVA (sensibilizados com ovalbumina, 50 ug intraperironeal (i.p) nos dias 0 e 14 e desafiados nos dias 22, 24, 26, 28); C+EC (controle tratados com EcTI (2 mg/kg/i.p) nos dias 22 a 28); OVA+EC (sensibilizados e desafiados com ovalbumina e também tratados com EcTI (2 mg/kg -i.p) nos dias 22 a 28). No dia 29, foram realizadas realizadas: (i) hiperresponsividade à metacolina e obtidas as respostas máximas de resistência e elastância do sistema respiratório; (ii) análise histopatológica do pulmão para quantificação de eosinófilos, fibras colágenas e elásticas nas vias aéreas (VA) e nos septos alveolares (SA); e (iii) imunohistoquímica para quantificação de células positivas para IFN-y, IL-4, IL-5, IL-13, MMP-9, TIMP-1, TGF-beta, iNOS, NF-kB e fração de volume de isoprostano nas VA e nos SA. Uma semana após o dia 29 foi realizada a técnica de anafilaxia cutanea passiva(PCA) para quantificar IgE e IgG1. A significância foi considerada quando p < 0,05. RESULTADOS: Houve aumento de todos os parâmetros avaliados no grupo OVA em relação ao grupo controle (p < 0,05). Houve atenuação da resposta máxima de Rrs e Ers no grupo OVA+EC comparado as grupo OVA (p < 0,05). O tratamento...

The number of cases of asthma has grown in recent decades. People who have severe asthma are likely to have more attacks and are at greater risk of a fatal attack, which propose to keep up global attention and keep approaching for advances in asthma care. Proteinase inhibitors of vegetable origin have been studied as a modulator of inflammatory responses and diseases. Among these inhibitors is Enterolobium contortisiliquum Trypsin Inhibitor (EcTI). AIMS: To evaluate the effects of EcTI in pulmonary mechanical, eosinophilic recruitment, inflammatory cytokines, remodeling of extracellular matrix and oxidative stressin an experimental model of chronic allergic pulmonary inflammation. METHODS: Twenty-four young adult male pathogen-free mice BALB/c (6-7 weeks old, 25-30g) were divided into 4 groups: C (control), OVA (sensitized with ovalbumin, 50 ug intraperitoneal (i.p), on days 0 and 14 and challenged with ova 1%, on days 22, 24, 26, 28); C+EC (control treated with EcTI- 2 mg/kg/i.p. from days 22 to 28); OVA+EC (sensitized and challenged with ovalbumin and treated with EcTI (2 mg/kg/i.p) from days 22 to 28). At day 29, we performed: (i) Bronchial hyperresponsiveness to methacholine and obtained the maximum response of resistance (Rrs) and elastance (Ers) of the respiratory system; (ii) lung histopathological analysis by morphometry to quantify eosinophils, collagen and elastic fibers volume fraction in airways; and (iii) immunohistochemistry to quantify IFN-y, IL-4, IL-5, IL-13, MMP-9, TIMP-1, TGF-, iNOS, NF-kB positive cells and isoprostane volume fraction in airways. One week after the day 29 we performed PCA technique to quantify IgE and IgG1 antibodies. Significance was considered at p < 0.05. RESULTS: The EcTI treatment in the ovalbumin-sensitized animals attenuated the maximal response of resistance and elastance of respiratory system after methacholine, the number of eosinophils, IL-4, IL-5, IL-13, IFN-y, NF-kB and iNOS-positive cells,...

Dietary Triggers in Irritable Bowel Syndrome: Is There a Role for Gluten?

A tight link exists between dietary factors and irritable bowel syndrome (IBS), one of the most common functional syndromes, characterized by abdominal pain/discomfort, bloating and alternating bowel habits. Amongst the variety of foods potentially evoking "food sensitivity", gluten and other wheat proteins including amylase trypsin inhibitors represent the culprits that recently have drawn the attention of the scientific community. Therefore, a newly emerging condition termed non-celiac gluten sensitivity (NCGS) or non-celiac wheat sensitivity (NCWS) is now well established in the clinical practice. Notably, patients with NCGS/NCWS have symptoms that mimic those present in IBS. The mechanisms by which gluten or other wheat proteins trigger symptoms are poorly understood and the lack of specific biomarkers hampers diagnosis of this condition. The present review aimed at providing an update to physicians and scientists regarding the following main topics: the experimental and clinical evidence on the role of gluten/wheat in IBS; how to diagnose patients with functional symptoms attributable to gluten/wheat sensitivity; the importance of double-blind placebo controlled cross-over trials as confirmatory assays of gluten/wheat sensitivity; and finally, dietary measures for gluten/wheat sensitive patients. The analysis of current evidence proposes that gluten/wheat sensitivity can indeed represent a subset of the broad spectrum of patients with a clinical presentation of IBS.

Early effects of ulinastatin by aerosol inhalation on rabbits with lipopolysaccharide-induced acute lung injury / 中华烧伤杂志

<p><b>OBJECTIVE</b>To study the early effects of ulinastatin (UTI) by aerosol inhalation on rabbits with acute lung injury induced by LPS, and to observe the early diagnostic value of 320-slice CT.</p><p><b>METHODS</b>According to the random number table, 18 specific pathogen free New Zealand white rabbits were divided into normal control group, group LPS, and group UTI, with 6 rabbits in each group. Rabbits in group LPS and group UTI were given 15 mL lipopolysaccharide (0.16 mg/mL, in the dose of 0.8 mg/kg) to reproduce acute lung injury model. Rabbits in normal control group were given equal volume of normal saline. Rabbits in UTI group were treated with UTI by aerosol inhalation for 10 min from 30 min after injury, while those in the other two groups received normal saline by aerosol inhalation. Rabbits in group LPS and group UTI were scanned by 320-slice CT at post injury hour (PIH) 6 and 24. After anesthesia, heart blood of rabbits in group LPS and group UTI was collected for determination of serum levels of TNF-α, IL-1β, and IL-6 by ELISA at PBH 24. At PBH 24, lung tissue samples were harvested for gross observation and histomorphological observation, measurement of wet to dry weight ratio, and detection of mRNA expressions of TNF-α, IL-1β, and IL-6 with RT-PCR. Above-mentioned indexes were detected in rabbits of normal control group at the same time point. Data were processed with one-way analysis of variance and LSD test.</p><p><b>RESULTS</b>(1) CT perfusion (CTP) image. The difference in CTP image of rabbits in group LPS between PBH 6 and PBH 24 was obvious, while that of rabbits in group UTI and normal control group was slight and not obvious respectively. (2) There were statistically significant differences in the serum levels of TNF-α, IL-1β, and IL-6 of rabbits among the three groups (with F values from 843.896 to 2 564.336, P values below 0.001). The serum levels of TNF-α, IL-1β, and IL-6 in group UTI were respectively (225 ± 9), (190 ± 8), (227 ± 6) pg/mL, and they were significantly lower than those in group LPS [(710 ± 25), (306 ± 16), (422 ± 16) pg/mL, with P values below 0.001]. (3) Gross observation. In group UTI, the degrees of pulmonary edema and pneumorrhagia of rabbits were lower than those in group LSP. (4) Histological observation. The damage to alveolar wall in group UTI was milder, and alveolar space hemorrhage and inflammatory cell infiltration were significantly less intense as compared with those in group LPS. (5) Compared with that in normal control group, the wet to dry weight ratio of lung tissue was increased in group LPS (P < 0.001). The wet to dry weight ratio of lung tissue in group UTI was significantly higher than that in normal control group but lower than that in group LPS (P values below 0.001). (6) There were statistically significant differences in mRNA levels of TNF-α, IL-1β, and IL-6 in lung tissue of rabbits among three groups (with F values from 24.700 to 69.538, P values below 0.001). The mRNA levels of TNF-α, IL-1β, and IL-6 in lung tissue of rabbits in group UTI were respectively (31.4 ± 2.7), (21.2 ± 3.3), (13.9 ± 2.4) pg/mL, which were significantly lower than those in group LPS [ (58.5 ± 10.0) , (35.1 ± 5.1), (20.7 ± 3.2) pg/mL, P values below 0.001].</p><p><b>CONCLUSIONS</b>UTI by aerosol inhalation can mitigate pulmonary edema and hemorrhage and inhibit inflammatory response. 320-slice CT may be used for detection of early lung injury.</p>

Ulinastatin attenuates oxidation, inflammation and neural apoptosis in the cerebral cortex of adult rats with ventricular fibrillation after cardiopulmonary resuscitation

OBJECTIVE: The role of Ulinastatin in neuronal injury after cardiopulmonary resuscitation has not been elucidated. We aim to evaluate the effects of Ulinastatin on inflammation, oxidation, and neuronal injury in the cerebral cortex after cardiopulmonary resuscitation. METHODS: Ventricular fibrillation was induced in 76 adult male Wistar rats for 6 min, after which cardiopulmonary resuscitation was initiated. After spontaneous circulation returned, the rats were split into two groups: the Ulinastatin 100,000 unit/kg group or the PBS-treated control group. Blood and cerebral cortex samples were obtained and compared at 2, 4, and 8 h after return of spontaneous circulation. The protein levels of tumor necrosis factor alpha (TNF-α) and interleukin 6 (IL-6) were assayed using an enzyme-linked immunosorbent assay, and mRNA levels were quantified via real-time polymerase chain reaction. Myeloperoxidase and Malondialdehyde were measured by spectrophotometry. The translocation of nuclear factor-κB p65 was assayed by Western blot. The viable and apoptotic neurons were detected by Nissl and terminal deoxynucleotidyl transferase dUTP nick end labeling (TUNEL). RESULTS: Ulinastatin treatment decreased plasma levels of TNF-α and IL-6, expression of mRNA, and Myeloperoxidase and Malondialdehyde in the cerebral cortex. In addition, Ulinastatin attenuated the translocation of nuclear factor-κB p65 at 2, 4, and 8 hours after the return of spontaneous circulation. Ulinastatin increased the number of living neurons and decreased TUNEL-positive neuron numbers in the cortex at 72 h after the return of spontaneous circulation. CONCLUSIONS: Ulinastatin preserved neuronal survival and inhibited neuron apoptosis after the return of spontaneous circulation in Wistar rats via attenuation of the oxidative stress response and translocation of nuclear factor-κB p65 in the cortex. In addition, Ulinastatin decreased the production of TNF-α, ...

Presença de inibidores de proteases em amostras comerciais de “faseolaminas” utilizadas como bloqueadores de carboidratos e os riscos à saúde / Occurrence of proteases inhibitors in commercial samples of “phaseolamins” used as carbohydrate blockers and the health risks

Foi investigada a veiculação de inibidores de proteases, concomitante ao consumo de “faseolamina”, cuja ingestão diária e de maneira prolongada poderia estar associada ao risco no desenvolvimento de alterações morfológicas e metabólicas de pâncreas. Dez amostras foram obtidas em farmácias de manipulação no município de Uberaba – MG, as quais são comercializadas na forma de cápsulas como “faseolamina”e uma como “farinha de feijão branco”, além de amostra de farinha preparada a partir da trituração de feijões brancos (Phaseolus vulgaris) obtidos comercialmente, sem qualquer processamento. Estas amostras foram analisadas efetuando-se a determinação de atividade de inibidores de tripsina, a determinação de proteínas totais e de atividade de inibição de amilase. Todas as amostras estudadas apresentaram atividades de inibição de tripsina, porém com baixa ou mesmo inexistente inibição de amilase; e em algumas amostras foi detectada concentração de proteínas muito inferior ao esperado. Uma vez observada a presença de atividade de inibição de tripsina em todas as amostras estudadas, e pela inexistência de níveis seguros de consumo estabelecidos para o ser humano, e ainda baseando-se nos trabalhos sobre associação de ingestão prolongada destes inibidores com alterações de atividade pancreática, o consumo destes “bloqueadores de carboidratos” deveria ser melhor controlado.

This study aimed at verifying the risk in developing the metabolic and morphological changes inpancreas, owing to the use of daily and prolonged consumption of protease inhibitors in conjunctionwith “phaseolamine”. Ten samples were obtained from drugstores in the city of Uberaba – MG, soldas “phaseolamine” and one known as “white bean flour”, and also one flour sample produced fromcommercial white beans (Phaseolus vulgaris) without any processing. These samples were analyzedby determining the activity of trypsin inhibitors, the total protein and the amylase inhibition activity.Trypsin inhibition activity was found in all of analyzed samples; however, the amylase inhibition activitywas low, and in some samples the protein concentration was much lower than expected. Seeing that thetrypsin inhibitory activity was detected in all of analyzed samples, and considering that the prolongedingestion of these inhibitors might cause activity changes in pancreas, the consumption of these types of“carbohydrate blockers” should be deeply discussed, since the safe amounts of these compounds have notbeen established for humans consumption yet.

Construction of an engineered alpha 1-antitrypsin with inhibitory activity based on theoretical studies

Background: The elastase inhibitor alpha-1-antitrypsin (AAT), is a member of the serpin superfamily of protease inhibitors. AAT has a characteristic secondary structure of three-beta-sheets, nine-alpha-helices and a reactive central loop (RCL). This protein inhibits target proteases by forming a stable complex in which the cleaved RCL is inserted into beta-sheet-A of the serpin, leading to a conformational change in the AAT protein. Spontaneous polymerization and instability of AAT are challenges with regard to producing drugs against AAT-deficient diseases. Therefore, the purpose of many investigations currently is to produce drugs with lower degrees of polymerization and higher stabilities. In order to investigate the effect of the N-terminal segment (residues 1-43) on AAT structure, molecular dynamic (MD) simulation was used to study structural properties including Root-mean-square deviation (RMSD), internal motions, intramolecular non-bonded interactions and the total accessible surface area (ASA) of native and reduced AAT. These properties were compared in native and truncated AAT. Results: Theoretical studies showed no noticeable differences in the dynamic and structural properties of the two structures. These findings provided the basis for the experimental phase of the study in which sequences from the two AAT constructs were inserted into the expression vector pGAPZ and transformed into Pichia pastoris. Results showed no differences in the activities and polymerization of the two AAT constructs. Conclusions: As small-scale medicines are preferred by lung drug delivery systems, in this study AAT was designed and constructed by decreasing the number of amino acids at the N-terminal region.

Effects of ulinastatin on coagulation in children after cardiopulmonary bypass / 中国当代儿科杂志

<p><b>OBJECTIVE</b>To study the effects of ulinastatin on coagulation in children who underwent open-heart surgery with cardiopulmonary bypass (CPB).</p><p><b>METHODS</b>Fifty children who underwent open-heart surgery for ventricular septal defect were randomly divided into two groups: ulinastatin treatment and control. Before CPB, ulinastatin (1.0×10(4) U/kg) was added to CPB priming fluid only in the ulinastatin treatment group. Activated partial thromboplasin time (APTT), prothrombin time (PT), thrombin time (TT), fibrinogen and international normalized ratio (INR) were measured both before and at 1 hr, 6 hrs and 24 hrs after CPB.</p><p><b>RESULTS</b>The PT in the ulinastatin group was more prolonged than in the control group at 1 hr after CPB (18.7 ± 0.7 s vs 15.5 ± 0.5 s) and 6 hrs after CPB (17.5 ± 0.6 s vs 15.0 ± 0.6 s). The APTT in the ulinatatin group was also significantly more prolonged than in the control group at 6 hrs after CPB (38.7 ± 3.1 s vs 35.3 ± 3.1 s) and 24 hrs after CPB (34.2 ± 3.0 s vs 31.1 ± 2.6 s).</p><p><b>CONCLUSIONS</b>Ulinastatin may prolong PT and APTT after CPB, and thus affects coagulation in children.</p>

Urinary trypsin inhibitor attenuates liver enzyme elevation after liver resection / 대한마취과학회지

BACKGROUND: Urinary trypsin inhibitors (UTI) have been widely used for the treatment of diseases including disseminated intravascular coagulation, shock, and pancreatitis. Since UTI synthesis is likely to be reduced in patients who have undergone liver resection, the incidence of inflammatory reactions may be increasing accordingly. For such patients, the liver enzyme increases after the operation can reflect liver damage. The purpose of this study was to examine if ulinastatin can inhibit liver enzyme increases after liver resection. METHODS: After receiving Institutional Review Board approval, a retrospective chart review was performed on 201 patients who underwent hepatic resection from 2006 to 2010. We divided the records into the control (n = 69) and ulinastatin (n = 132) groups according to the use of intraoperative ulinastatin and compared the preoperative and postoperative laboratory test results. The number of patients who had > 400 U/L elevation of aspartate transaminase (AST) level after surgery was compared between the 2 groups. RESULTS: The mean AST, alanine transaminase (ALT), and total bilirubin levels after liver resection were significantly lower in the ulinastatin group than in the control group. The number of patients who showed an AST > 400 U/L after liver resection was significantly higher in the control group (odds ratio = 3.02). CONCLUSIONS: Ulinastatin attenuates the elevation of hepatic enzymes and bilirubin after liver resection.

Case-control study on the effect of ulinastatin on postoperative complications in elderly patients undergoing hip joint replacement / 中国骨伤

<p><b>OBJECTIVE</b>To evaluate the preventive effects of ulinastatin (Uti) on postoperative complications in elderly patients undergoing hip joint replacement.</p><p><b>METHODS</b>From Angust 2009 to June 2010, 160 elderly patients undergoing selective hip joint replacement with ASA I to II were assessed according to American Society of Anesthesiologists classification, including 81 males and 79 females ranging in age from 65 to 83 years (mean 73.9 years). All the patients were divided into 2 groups according to random number table (80 patients in each group): control group (group C) and ulinastatin group (group U). The patients in Group U received intravenous injection of ulinastatin with a dose of 10,000 U/kg before skin incision,and then with dose of 5000 U/kg respectively at 1, 2 and 3 days after operatio. The patients in Group C received the same volume of normal saline instead of ulinastatin. Blood samples were taken preoperatively,at the end of surgery and 1, 2, 3 days after operation for determination of ALT, AST, Scr, BUN and Plasma D-dimer. Deep vein thrombosis and postoperative cognitive dysfunction (POCD) were also examined through color Doppler ultrasonography and neuroeognirive assessment on the postoperative 3 days respectively.</p><p><b>RESULTS</b>Compared with the preoperative values, the contents of ALT, AST, Scr, BUN and plasma D-dimer in each group all increased. Compared with group C,the values of ALT, AST, Scr, BUN and plasma D-dimer decreased markedly (P < 0.05). The incidence rate of DVT and POCD was 0 and 3.75% in group U, which were lower than those of patients in the group C (40%, 27.5%) respectively.</p><p><b>CONCLUSION</b>Intravenous infusion of ulinastatin during operation can protect important organ function, correct blood hypercoagulability, lower the occurrence of DVT and POCD, and prevent the postoperative complications in some degree.</p>

Expression and characterization of Huwentoxin-XI (HWTX-XI) and its mutants / 生物工程学报

Huwentoxin-XI (HWTX-XI) is a protein isolated from the crude venom of spider Ornithoctonus huwena. It has 55 amino acid residues containing 6 cysteine residues forming 3 disulfide bonds. It shows potent inhibitory effect on trypsin and voltage-gated potassium channels in rat dorsal root ganglion cells. According to the structure-function relationship of HWTX-XI, we designed two mutants through mutation of potassium channel inhibition related amino acid residues (R5I, R10T,R25A and R5I,R25A) and then expressed them with high purity by using the vector pVT102U on Saccharamyces cerevisiae strain S78; The two mutants had the same trypsin inhibition activity as HWTX-XI, whereas their potassium channel inhibition activity and animal toxicity were much lower than those of HWTX-XI. This study is helpful for designing drugs of trypsin related diseases based on HWTX-XI.

Effect of protease in the lumen of rat intestine on inflammatory reaction during hemorrhagic shock / 南方医科大学学报

<p><b>OBJECTIVE</b>To investigate the effect of intraluminal administration of ulinastatin (a protease inhibitor) in the intestine on intestinal inflammation in rats with hemorrhagic shock.</p><p><b>METHODS</b>Twenty-eight Wistar rats were randomized into control group (A), intestinal saline perfusion group (B), ulinastatin intestinal perfusion group (C), and intravenous ulinastatin injection group (D) (n=7). The mean arterial blood pressure (MAP) and survival time of the rats were recorded. The changes in human polymorphonuclear cell (PMN) CD11b expression were detected by flow cytometry. The leukocyte count was recorded at different time points after the treatment, and the pathology of the intestinal mucosa was observed comparatively.</p><p><b>RESULTS</b>Groups C and D showed significantly slower reduction of the MAP than groups A and B after hemorrhagic shock (P<0.05). The survival time of the rats was the longest in group C (P<0.05). CD11b expression increased gradually during hemorrhagic shock in all the groups, but the expression level was the lowest in group C (P<0.05). Hemorrhagic shock caused a reduction in leukocyte counts, which remained the highest in group C (P<0.05). Group C also showed the least intestinal pathology among the 4 groups.</p><p><b>CONCLUSION</b>Intestinal perfusion of ulinastatin can lower the reduction rate of MAP, attenuate plasma activation and intestinal inflammation, and prolong the survival of rats with hemorrhagic shock. These results indicate an important role of protease in intestinal inflammation during hemorrhagic shock.</p>

Effect of urinary trypsin inhibitor on DNA genotyping in urine samples / 法医学杂志

OBJECTIVE@#To study the effect of urinary trypsin inhibitor (UTI) on STR genotyping with urinary samples.@*METHODS@#Midstream urine samples of 5 male and 5 female volunteers were collected respectively, sub-packaged, added with different concentration of UTI and stored at -80 degrees C. Genomic DNA was extracted from those urinary samples, of which STR profiles were genotyped with IdentifilerTM kit at 8 different time points. Results of genotyping in urinary samples were compared with those of the homogenous blood control samples and the successful rate of genotyping in different group of urinary samples treated with UTI was determined.@*RESULTS@#Fifteen STR loci included in Identifiler system were all detected in control blood samples and urinary samples stored for 1 day. STR locus loss was observed and all 15 STR loci disappeared in female urinary samples untreated with UTI while those storage periods prolonged to 3 and 9 days, respectively. However, all 15 STR loci could be detected in female urinary samples treated with UTI and stored for as long as 9 days. No STR loci could be detected in male urinary samples preserved without UTI for 7 days while 9 STR loci detected preserved with UTI for 9 days. There was no significant difference among the average detection ratios of STR loci in female urinary samples treated with UTI at concentrations of 0.2, 0.4 or 0.6 microg/mL and stored for 30 days, mean of which was as high as 0.8400 +/- 0.0423, statistically higher than that in male urinary samples (0.1600 +/- 0.0423).@*CONCLUSION@#Detection rate of STR loci in urinary samples preserved with UTI was increased significantly, which results in prolonging the storage periods of urinary samples for personal identification.

Effect of ulinastatin on thromboxane B₂ and deep vein thrombosis in elderly patients after hip joint replacement / 中南大学学报(医学版)

OBJECTIVE@#To determine the effect of ulinastatin on plasma thromboxane B(2) and deep vein thrombosis(DVT) in elderly patients after hip joint replacement.@*METHODS@#Eighty ASAI-IIpatients aged 65-81 years undergoing hip joint replacement were randomly divided into 4 groups (n=20): Group U1 (ulinastatin 5 000 U/kg);Group U2 (ulinastatin 10 000 U/kg); Group U3 (ulinastatin 20 000 U/kg); and Group C (the same volume of saline as control).The blood samples were collected at 5 time points: preoperation (T(1)), immediately after the operation (T(2)), 1 d (T(3)), 2 d (T(4)) and 3 d after the operation (T(5)), respectively. Thromboxane B(2) was detected, and DVT was also examined through color Doppler ultrasonography 3 d after the operation.@*RESULTS@#Compared with T(1), the level of thromboxane B(2) significantly increased in Group C at T(2)-5, in Group U1 at T(2-4), in Group U2 and U3 at T(2) (P0.05).@*CONCLUSION@#Ulinastatin can inhibit blood thromboxane B(2) level in dose dependent manner and prevent DVT in elderly patients after hip joint replacement.

Treatment of patients with severe sepsis using ulinastatin and thymosin alpha1: a prospective, randomized, controlled pilot study / 中华医学杂志(英文版)

<p><b>BACKGROUND</b>Tradition treatment of sepsis and new therapies, including high dose corticosteroids and non-steroidal anti-inflammatory drugs, have proven unsuccessful in improving survival. This study aimed to evaluate the potential efficacy of immunomodulating therapy using Ulinastatin (UTI) plus Thymosin alpha1 (Talpha1) for improving organ function and reducing mortality in patients with severe sepsis.</p><p><b>METHODS</b>A prospective study was carried out with randomized and controlled clinical analysis of 114 patients conforming to the enrollment standard. All patients had severe sepsis and received standard supportive care and antimicrobial therapy. Fifty-nine patients were also administered UTI plus Talpha1 (defined as Group A), 55 patients were given a placebo (defined as Group B). Clinical parameters were determined by evaluation with the Acute Physiology and Chronic Health Evaluation II (APACHE II), multiple organ failure (MOF) and the Glasgow Coma Scores (GCS) on entry and after therapy on the 3rd, 8th, and 28th day. By flow cytometery and ELISA lymphocyte subsets and cytokines were analyzed. Survival analysis was determined by the Kaplan-Meier method at 28, 60, and 90 days.</p><p><b>RESULTS</b>Based on comparison of the two groups, patients in Group A exhibited a better performance in organ failure scores which was noticeable soon after initiation of treatment. Patients in Group A also demonstrated a better resolution of pre-existing organ failures during the observation period. After initiation of treatment, significant improvements in the CD(4)(+)/CD(8)(+) ratio, a quicker balance between proinflammatory mediators such as tumor necrosis factor alpha, interleukin 6 and anti-inflammatory cytokines including interleukin 4 and interleukin 10 were found. This was followed by cumulative survival increases of 17.3% at 28 days, 28.9% at 60 days, and 31.4% at 90 days in Group A. The reduction in mortality was accompanied by a considerably shorter stay in the ICU and a shorter length of supportive ventilation, antimicrobial and dopamine therapy.</p><p><b>CONCLUSION</b>UTI plus Talpha(1) has a beneficial role in the treatment of severe sepsis.</p>

Expression of a shrimp Kunitz-type protease inhibitor in Pichia pastoris and activity analysis / 生物工程学报

SKPI (shrimp Kunitz-type protease inhibitor) from Marsupenaeus japonicus is a member of serine protease inhibitors which play an important role in the arthropod immunity. To fully understand its function in the innate immunity of shrimp, the skpi gene was cloned into a modified pPIC9K vector with a 6-His tag and expressed by Pichia pastoris GS115. The secretory SKPI was purified from the medium with high purity by using Ni Sepharose High Performance. This results also indicated that the purified SKPI could inhibit the activity of trypsin specifically.

Effects of ulinastatin on gut mucosal apoptosis and bacterial translocation in rats with sepsis / 南方医科大学学报

<p><b>OBJECTIVE</b>To investigate the effects of ulinastatin on gut mucosal apoptosis and bacterium translocation in a rat model of sepsis.</p><p><b>METHODS</b>Fifty rats were randomly assigned into 4 groups, namely the control (n=5, no operation or drugs), ulinastatin pretreatment (n=15, treated with 25,000 U/kg ulinastatin 2 h before operation), ulinastatin treatment (n=15, treated with 25,000 U/kg ulinastatin 2 h after operation) and sepsis model (n=15, without drug treatment) groups. The rats in the later 3 groups were subjected to cecal ligation and puncture (CLP). At 3, 6 and 12 h after CLP, the rats were sacrificed and the ileum was removed to examine the pathology and apoptosis of the mucosa. The DNA of Bacillus coli in the whole blood was detected using PCR.</p><p><b>RESULTS</b>Sepsis caused of epithelial cell loss in the ileal villi, ulceration and blebbing of the lamina propria. Ulinastatin treatment administered before and after the operation both significantly alleviated these morphological anomalies. The sepsis rats showed significantly increased intestinal mucosal apoptotic index as compared with the other 3 groups (P<0.05). Ulinastatin pretreatment, in comparison ulinastatin treatment 12 h after CLP, significantly increased the intestinal mucosal apoptotic index (P<0.05). Bacillus coli DNA was positive in sepsis and postoperative ulinastatin treatment groups but negative in the control and pretreated groups.</p><p><b>CONCLUSION</b>Increased intestinal musocal apoptosis and gut bacterial translocation occur in rats following sepsis, and ulinastatin can effectively decrease intestinal mucosal apoptosis and inhibit bacterial translocation.</p>

Experimental study on effect and mechanism of soybean protease inhibitor on endotoxin-induced acute lung injury / 中国中药杂志

<p><b>OBJECTIVE</b>To study the protective effect of soybean protease inhibitor on LPS-induced lung injury in rats.</p><p><b>METHOD</b>Fifty male SD rats were randomly divided in five groups, 10 rats in each group as sham-operation group, model control group, positive medicine group, and high, moderate SBTI groups. Except the sham-group, other groups were induced by intratracheal instillation of LPS with a dose of 6 mg x kg(-1). All rats were given drug throughout intraperitoneal injection except the model controlled group, the positive medicine group was given PMSF with a dose of 50 mg x kg(-1), the high dose group of SBTI was given SBTI with a dose of 100 mg x kg(-1), a dose of the moderate group is 50 mg x kg(-1). We examined all rats in seven days. Index exam: cell quantity, activity of neutrophilic granulocyte released elastic protease proteins in BALF, histopathological examination and so on.</p><p><b>RESULT</b>Soybean protease inhibitor can level down the level of total protein, cell quantity, PMN percent, activity of neutrophilic granulocyte in BALF. SBTI level down the content of NF-kappa B in nucleoprotein, while increase the content of I kappa B alpha in plasmoprotein.</p><p><b>CONCLUSION</b>SBTI is useful in protecting experimental pulmonary injury induced by LPS in rats.</p>

Effect of ulinastatin on inflammatory responses induced by oesophagectomy / 南方医科大学学报

<p><b>OBJECTIVE</b>To examine the effect of ulinastatin (UTI) on the inflammatory responses induced by oesophagectomy.</p><p><b>METHODS</b>Forty patients with esophageal cancer (without serious hypertension, heart disease, or respiratory function impairment, including 34 men and 6 women aged 46 to 70 years) scheduled for oesophagectomy via left thoracotomy were randomly divided into control group (n=20) and UTI group (n=20). Anesthesia induction and perioperative management followed the same protocols in the two groups, and in UTI group, patients received 5000 U/kg UTI while those in the control group were given the same volume of saline. Before operation (T(1)), 10 min after recovery of two-lung ventilation (T(2)), and 24 h (T(3)) and 48 h (T(4)) after operation, the venous blood sample was taken from the internal jugular vein and the plasma was separated and stored at -70 degrees C for later analysis of IL-6 and IL-8 with enzyme-linked immunosorbent assay (ELISA). The bronchoalveoar lavage fluid (BAFL) was also collected at T(1) and T(2) for IL-6 and IL-8 detection.</p><p><b>RESULTS</b>IL-6, IL-8 levels in the plasma and BALF collected at T(2)-T(4) increased significantly as compared with those in samples collected at T(1), and their peak concentration inplasma and BALF samples were similar. IL-6 and IL-8 levels in the UTI group were significantly lower than those in the control group during the time points of T(2)-T(4).</p><p><b>CONCLUSION</b>Inflammatory responses occur during and after oesophagectomy, which can be inhibited with UTI.</p>

Apoptosis of HL-60 cells induced by recombinant common Buckwheat trypsin inhibitor / 中国实验血液学杂志

The study was purposed to investigate the apoptosis of HL-60 cells induced by recombinant common buckwheat trypsin inhibitor (rBTI) and its mechanism. The inhibition rate of rBTI on HL-60 cells was detected by MTT (3-[4, 5-dimethylthiazol-2-yl]-2, 5-diphenyltetrazolium bromide); the morphology of HL-60 nuclei was observed by fluorescence microscopy; the apoptosis cells of HL-60 detected by agarose gel electrophoresis and the changes of apoptosis rate was assayed by flow cytometry (FCM), when the HL-60 cells were treated with different concentration of rBTI for 24 hours. The results showed that the growth of HL-60 cells was inhibited evidently after treatment with rBTI in a dose-dependent manner, but there were minimal effects on normal human peripheral blood mononuclear cells (PBMNCs). The nuclei of HL-60 cells showed the characteristics of apoptosis, the analysis by flow cytometry indicated that the apoptosis rate of HL-60 cells was 52% after treatment with rBTI (100 microg/ml), DNA analyzed by agarose gel electrophoresis showed "ladder" pattern. It is concluded that rBTI obviously inhibits growth of HL-60 and induces its apoptosis which provides a foundation for use of recombinant common buckwheat trypsin inhibitor to cure the acute myeloid leukemia.