Research Progress of Allogeneic Hematopoietic Stem Sell Trans-plantation in the Treatment of Adult Hemophagocytic Lympho-histiocytosis --Review / 中国实验血液学杂志

Hemophagocytic lymphohistiocytosis (HLH) is a life-threatening hyperinflammatory clinical syndrome of uncontrolled immune response which results in hypercytokinemia due to underlying primary or secondary immune defect. Allogeneic hematopoietic stem cell transplantation (allo-HSCT) remains the only cure therapy for primary HLH and recurrent/refractory hemophagocytic lymphohistiocytosis. Compared with children HLH, adult HLH is a much more heterogeneous syndrome requiring a more individualized protocol depending on the underlying trigger, disease severity and genetic background. At present, there remain controversies in various aspects including indications of haematopoietic cell transplantation (HCT), conditioning regimen, efficacy and prognosis. This article will review the recent advances of allo-HSCT in the treatment of adult HLH based on the above issues.

Predictive value of impedance of leadless pacemaker during implantation on trend changes of pacing threshold / 中华心血管病杂志

Objective: To explore the predictive value of the impedance measured during leadless pacemaker Micra implantation on the trend of changes of pacing threshold post implantation. Methods: This is a retrospective cross-sectional study. Patients who received implantation of leadless pacemaker Micra at the Second Xiangya Hospital of Central South University from December 2019 to August 2020 were enrolled. The clinical data and the intraoperative electrical parameters during leadless pacemaker implantation were collected. The impedance and pacing threshold data were analyzed at three time points: immediate release, 5-10 min after release, and after traction test. Receiver operating characteristic (ROC) curves and the area under the curve (AUC) were used to analyze the value of the impedance at immediate release on predicting the trend of changes of pacing threshold post implantation. Results: A total of 21 patients (mean age: (72.2±12.5) years, 12 males) were included. The impedance of 21 patients was (798.1±35.3) Ω immediately after implantation, (800.9±35.6) Ω after 5-10 minutes of release, and (883.6±31.7) Ω after traction test. Impedance was similar between the three time points (P>0.05). The threshold was (0.97±0.11) V/0.24 ms immediately after implantation, (0.95±0.12) V/0.24 ms at 5-10 min after the release, and (0.59±0.06) V/0.24 ms after the traction test. The threshold was significantly lower after the traction test than that immediately after release (P=0.003) and than that at 5-10 minutes after release (P=0.008), suggesting a decreased tendency of the threshold over time. According to the analysis of the ROC curve, the immediate impedance after the release ≥680 Ω could predict the ideal pacing threshold after the traction test (AUC=0.989, 95%CI 0.702-0.964, P<0.001), the prediction sensitivity was 87%, and the specificity was 100%. The pacing threshold would be not ideal with the immediate impedance ≤ 520 Ω (95%CI 0.893-1.000, P<0.001), the sensitivity was 100%, and the specificity was 80%. Conclusions: The impedance immediately after the release has predictive value for the changing trend of threshold post leadless pacemaker Micra implantation. Impedance ≥680 Ω immediately after release is often related with ideal pacing threshold after the traction test. In contrast, the impedance ≤ 520 Ω pacing is often related with unsatisfactory threshold after the traction test, therefore, it is recommended to find a new pacing site to achieve the impedance ≥680 Ω immediately after release during leadless pacemaker Micra implantation.

Clinical Effect of Jianpi Yangyin Guse Decoction on Podocin and Nephrin and Its Protection Against Podocyte Injury in Diabetic Nephropathy Patients with Qi and Yin Deficiency / 中国实验方剂学杂志

ObjectiveTo observe the clinical effect of Jianpi Yangyin Guse decoction on patients with diabetic nephropathy （DN），and to explore its protection against podocyte injury. MethodThe enrolled 120 DN patients at stages Ⅲ and Ⅳ and diagnosed with Qi and Yin deficiency from January 2017 to January 2020 were randomly divided into observation group and control group. During the same period，20 healthy volunteers were recruited as the normal group. In addition to the basic treatment in control group，patients in the observation group were given Jianpi Yangyin Guse decoction，and the course of treatment lasted for 3 months. The traditional Chinese medicine （TCM）syndrome score，24 h urine protein （24 h UP），urine albumin-to-creatinine ratio（UACR），liver and renal functions，D-dimer， hemoglobin A1c （HbA1c）， urine podocin and nephrin and α-smooth muscle actin （α-SMA） excretion of the two groups were observed before and after treatment，and the changes were statistically analyzed and compared with those in the normal group. ResultAfter treatment，the reduction of TCM syndrome score in the observation group was more significant than that in the control group（P<0.01）. The 24 h UP level，UACR and renal function in the observation group in the 2nd and 3rd months after treatment were lower than the conditions before treatment（P<0.05）， and those in the 3rd month after treatment were decreased compared with the conditions in the control group during the same period. The levels of podocin and nephrin in each month and the α-SMA excretion in the 3rd month after treatment in the observation group were down-regulated compared with the conditions before treatment and in the control group （P<0.05）， and the observation group had reduced α-SMA excretion in the 2nd month after treatment compared with before treatment. There were no marked changes in D-dimer and liver function of the two groups before and after treatment. The level of HbA1c in the observation group was higher than that in the control group after treatment（P<0.05）. ConclusionJianpi Yangyin Guse decoction has desirable clinical efficacy in DN patients，and its mechanism may be related to reducing podocin and nephrin and α-SMA excretion levels.

Research progress in structure and function of pectin methylesterase / 生物工程学报

Pectin methylesterase (PME) is an important pectinase that hydrolyzes methyl esters in pectin to release methanol and reduce the degree of methylation of pectin. At present, it has broad application prospects in food processing, tea beverage, paper making and other production processes. With the in-depth study of PME, the crystal structures with different sources have been reported. Analysis of these resolved crystal structures reveals that PME belongs to the right-hand parallel β-helix structure, and its catalytic residues are two aspartic acids and a glutamine, which play the role of general acid-base, nucleophile and stable intermediate, in the catalytic process. At the same time, the substrate specificity is analyzed to understand the recognition mechanism of the substrate and active sites. This paper systematically reviews these related aspects.

Characterization and structure of a novel thermostable glucoamylase from Talaromyces leycettanus JCM12802 / 生物工程学报

Glucoamylase is a critical ingredient for saccharification in the starch decomposition, and widely used in food, pharmaceutical and fermentation industries. Glucoamylases are usually thermostable and have peak activities at high temperature, as required for the industrial process of glucose production. In this study, a glucoamylase gene belonging to the glycoside hydrolase (GH) family 15, Tlga15A, was cloned from Talaromyces leycettanus JCM12802, and successfully expressed in Pichia pastoris GS115. Recombinant glucoamylase TlGA showed optimal activities at pH 4.5 and 75 °C. The result of thermostability analysis showed that TlGA retained above 70% activity after incubating for 1 h at 65 °C, and 43% residual activity after 30 min at 70 °C. Moreover, TlGA had high resistance to most metal ions and chemical reagents tested. Various starch substrates could be hydrolyzed by TlGA, including soluble starch (255.6±15.3) U/mg, amylopectin (342.3±24.7) U/mg, glycogen (185.4±12.5) U/mg, dextrin (423.3±29.3) U/mg and pullulan (65.7±8.1) U/mg. The primary, secondary and tertiary structures of glucoamylase were further analyzed. The low ratio of Gly in the primary structure and low exposed nonpolarity solvent accessible surface in the tertiary structure may be the main reasons for TlGA's thermostability. These results show that TlGA is great promising for potential use in the commercial production of glucose syrups. Moreover, this research will provide knowledge and innovating ideas for the improvement of glucoamylase thermostability.

A novel bifunctional xylanase/cellulase TcXyn10A from Thermoascus crustaceus JCM12803 / 生物工程学报

Efficient utilization of cellulose and xylan is of importance in the bioethanol industry. In this study, a novel bifunctional xylanase/cellulase gene, Tcxyn10a, was cloned from Thermoascus crustaceus JCM12803, and the gene product was successfully overexpressed in Pichia pastoris GS115. The recombinant protein was then purified and characterized. The pH and temperature optima of TcXyn10A were determined to be 5.0 and 65-70 °C, respectively. The enzyme retained stable under acid to alkaline conditions (pH 3.0-11.0) or after 1-h treatment at 60 °C. The specific activities of TcXyn10A towards beechwood xylan, wheat arabinoxylan, sodium carboxymethyl cellulose and lichenan were (1 480±26) U/mg, (2 055±28) U/mg, (7.4±0.2) U/mg and (10.9±0.4) U/mg, respectively. Homologous modeling and molecular docking analyses indicated that the bifunctional TcXyn10A has a single catalytic domain, in which the substrate xylan and cellulose shared the same binding cleft. This study provides a valuable material for the study of structure and function relationship of bifunctional enzymes.

Expression of MITOL in the cerebrospinal fluid of patients with postherpetic neuralgia and its clinical sig-nificance / 实用医学杂志

Objective To explore the expression of mitochondrial ubiquitin ligase(MITOL)in the cere-brospinal fluid from patients with postherpetic neuralgia(PHN). Methods A total of 45 patients who were diag-nosed with PHN in our hospital from August 2015 to December 2016 were enrolled in this study,and 38 gender-and age-matched patients with lumbar disc herniation were recruited as IDH group.The MITOL was measured by the ELISA and Western blot methods.The correlation between the expression of MITOL in cerebrospinal fluids and clinical characteristics of patients with PHN was evaluated.Results The expression of MITOL was significantly in-creased in cerebrospinal fluids of patients with PHN compared with IDH,and it was associated with age and the pain intensity(P<0.05).Logistic regression analysis showed age(OR,2.717)and the pain intensity(OR,3.042) were risk factors for PHN. Conclusions The expression of MITOL is significantly increased in the cerebrospinal fluid of PHN,which may be associated with age and pain intensity.

Impaired tumor angiogenesis and VEGF-induced pathway in endothelial CD146 knockout mice

CD146 is a newly identified endothelial biomarker that has been implicated in angiogenesis. Though in vitro angiogenic function of CD146 has been extensively reported, in vivo evidence is still lacking. To address this issue, we generated endothelial-specific CD146 knockout (CD146(EC-KO)) mice using the Tg(Tek-cre) system. Surprisingly, these mice did not exhibit any apparent morphological defects in the development of normal retinal vasculature. To evaluate the role of CD146 in pathological angiogenesis, a xenograft tumor model was used. We found that both tumor volume and vascular density were significantly lower in CD146(EC-KO) mice when compared to WT littermates. Additionally, the ability for sprouting, migration and tube formation in response to VEGF treatment was impaired in endothelial cells (ECs) of CD146(EC-KO) mice. Mechanistic studies further confirmed that VEGF-induced VEGFR-2 phosphorylation and AKT/p38 MAPKs/NF-κB activation were inhibited in these CD146-null ECs, which might present the underlying cause for the observed inhibition of tumor angiogenesis in CD146(EC-KO) mice. These results suggest that CD146 plays a redundant role in physiological angiogenic processes, but becomes essential during pathological angiogenesis as observed in tumorigenesis.

Effect of different polymerization methods on shear bond strength between polymethyl methacrylate and silicone soft liner / 华西口腔医学杂志

<p><b>OBJECTIVE</b>To compare shear bond strength (SBS) between two types of silicone soft liner and polymethyl methacrylate (PMMA) under the condition of heat curing and room temperature curing.</p><p><b>METHODS</b>A total of 48 PMMA specimens (50 mm x 10 mm x 3 mm) were made by water-bath heating method, and randomly divided into four groups. By using Ufi Gel P (UGP) as soft liner material, group A1 was prepared under heat curing, and group A2 was prepared under room temperature curing. To form the other two groups, Silagum-Comfort (SLC) as soft-liner material was used. Group B1 was prepared under heat curing, and group B2 was prepared under room temperature curing. Shear bond strength (SBS) was tested by using the electronic universal testing machine. The adhesives layer and surface of silastic and PMMA were observed by optical microscope and scanning electron microscopy (SEM).</p><p><b>RESULTS</b>The SBS of groups A1, A2, B1, B2 were (2.39 +/- 0.24), (1.74 +/- 0.27), (3.09 +/- 0.26), and (2.21 +/- 0.29) MPa, respectively. Significant differences were found between A1 and A2, B1 and B2, A1 and B1, and A2 and B2 (P < 0.05). Optical microscope showed numerous bubbles in the cured UGP, and no air bubbles in the SLC. The surface of PMMA was rough. SEM images showed that each group had continual consistent adhesive interface and a whisker hump on the adhesive layer of A2 and B2.</p><p><b>CONCLUSION</b>The SBS ofUGP, SLC, and PMMA achieved minimum clinical standard of 0.44 MPa. The SBS of UGP and PMMA were higher than that of SLC and PMMA. The polymerization method of heat curing was higher than room temperature curing.</p>

Treating influenza patients of wind-heat affecting Fei syndrome by jinhua qinggan granule: a double-blinded randomized control trial / 中国中西医结合杂志

<p><b>OBJECTIVE</b>To assess the effect and safety of Jinhua Qinggan Granule (JHG) in treating influenza patients of wind-heat affecting Fei syndrome (WHAFS).</p><p><b>METHODS</b>Totally 136 influenza patients of WHAFS were randomized by stratification into 3 groups, the high dose JHG group (44 cases, 10 g each time), the low dose JHG group (45 cases, 5 g JHG + 5 g placebo each time), and the placebo control group (47 cases, 10 g placebo each time). All medication was administered three times daily for 5 days. The fever disappearance time, the fever disappearance rate, efficacy of TCM syndrome, the disappearance rate of main symptoms and physical signs of flu, the negative rate of virus nucleic acid in the pharyngeal secretion, and safety indicators were assessed.</p><p><b>RESULTS</b>The median fever disappearance time was 32.8 h (95% CI: 22.5-41.0 h) in the high dose JHG group, 26.0 h (95% CI: 14.5-36.5 h) in the low dose JHG group, 39.5 h (95% CI: 29.0-46.0 h) in the placebo control group. There was statistical difference in the median fever disappearance time between the low dose JHG group and the placebo control group (P = 0.011). Three days after treatment, the markedly effective rate of TCM symptoms in the low dose JHG group was 66.7%, higher than that of the placebo control group (38.3%), and its effective rate was superior to that of the high dose JHG group (P = 0.043). Five days after treatment, the recovery rate of the low dose JHG group (42.2%) was higher than that of the high dose JHG group (25.0%, P = 0.026) and that of the placebo control group (14.9%, P = 0.002). The markedly effective rate of the low dose JHG group (86.7%) was higher than that of the placebo control group (55.3%, P = 0.001). Similar effects were obtained in the low dose JHG group and the high dose JHG group, but slightly poor in partial indicators of the high dose JHG group. There was no statistical difference in adverse reaction among these three groups (P > 0.05).</p><p><b>CONCLUSIONS</b>JHG was effective and safe in treating influenza patients of WHAFS. Routinely low dose was the optimal dosage of JHG.</p>

STUDY ON THE PROTECTIVE IMMUNITY ACTIVATED BY ANTIGENS OF ADULT WORMS, NEWBORN LARVAE AND MUSCLE LARVAE OF TRICHINELLA SPRIALIS / 中国人兽共患病学报

AimTo compare the protective immunity against challenge infection in mice immunized by crude antigen preparations derived from adult worms, newborn larvae and musele larvae of T richinella spiralis. MethodIntestinal adult worms, muscle larvae and blood absolute eosinophil level were counted; the level of serum IgG to antigens of T. spiralis muscle larvae was detected by ELISA. ResultsAdults reduimg rate was 82.19 %, 72.31% and 42.88 % in the adult, newborn larvae and muscle larvae antigen groups respectively. Muscle larvae were reduced 68.83%. 78.19% and 51.96% respectively. The serum IgG titer in all immunized groups increased significantly, the GMRT values of adult, newborn larvae and mudscle larval antigen groups were 7.46, 5.28and 4.92times higher than that in control group respectively. Periphery blood absolute eosinophil level enhanced significantly. ConclusionThe data demonstrate that all of the adult, newborn larvae and muscle larvae antigens of T. spiralis can activate specific humoral and cellular immunity which induce protection to challenge infection in mice. Among these antigens, adult and newborn larvae antigens show better immunogenicity and it may be possible that adult antigen will provide a potential vaccine for trichinosis.