The complex jujube genome provides insights into fruit tree biology.

The jujube (Ziziphus jujuba Mill.), a member of family Rhamnaceae, is a major dry fruit and a traditional herbal medicine for more than one billion people. Here we present a high-quality sequence for the complex jujube genome, the first genome sequence of Rhamnaceae, using an integrated strategy. The final assembly spans 437.65 Mb (98.6% of the estimated) with 321.45 Mb anchored to the 12 pseudo-chromosomes and contains 32,808 genes. The jujube genome has undergone frequent inter-chromosome fusions and segmental duplications, but no recent whole-genome duplication. Further analyses of the jujube-specific genes and transcriptome data from 15 tissues reveal the molecular mechanisms underlying some specific properties of the jujube. Its high vitamin C content can be attributed to a unique high level expression of genes involved in both biosynthesis and regeneration. Our study provides insights into jujube-specific biology and valuable genomic resources for the improvement of Rhamnaceae plants and other fruit trees.

Pharmacokinetics of moxifloxacin in critically ill patients with impaired renal function undergoing pulse high-volume haemofiltration.

Moxifloxacin is an 8-methoxy quinolone with a broad spectrum of activity against clinically important pathogens. The aim of this study was to investigate the pharmacokinetics of intravenous (i.v.) moxifloxacin in critically ill patients with impaired renal function undergoing pulse high-volume haemofiltration (PHVHF) (n=8) to provide a reference for clinical rational moxifloxacin use in these patients. Blood and ultrafiltrate samples were obtained following i.v. infusion of a single 400 mg moxifloxacin dose. Concentrations of moxifloxacin in serum and ultrafiltrate were determined by HPLC analysis with fluorometric detection. Pharmacokinetics of moxifloxacin in plasma and ultrafiltrate were best described by a two-compartment model. Peak and trough serum moxifloxacin concentrations were 4.84 ± 1.85 mg/L and 1.17 ± 0.73 mg/L, respectively, at the arterial port after a single i.v. 400 mg dose. The mean elimination half-life was 4.82 ± 2.13 h, the volume of distribution was 82.63 ± 24.69 L and the calculated AUC(0-12) was 26.91 ± 10.96 mgh/L. Total clearance was 14.36 ± 8.44 L/h and the clearance of haemofiltration was 1.67 ± 0.95 L/h.C(max)/MIC(90) ratios and predicted AUC(0-24)/MIC(90) ratios were above the cut-off points for common pathogens that indicate clinical success. A single 400 mg i.v. dose of moxifloxacin is safe and efficacious in the treatment of critically ill patients infected with clinically common pathogens and impaired renal function undergoing PHVHF. It also should be kept in mind that the standard dose is not sufficient for this population infected with pathogens with a higher MIC(90) (0.5 mg/L).

[Effect of "Xuebijing injection" on expression of high mobility group box-1 protein and acute liver injury in rats with scald injury].

OBJECTIVE: To investigate the effect of "Xuebijing injection" (Xuebijing in brief) on expression of hepatic high mobility group box-1 protein (HMGB1) and acute liver injury in rats with scald injury. METHODS: Seventy-eight rats were divided into sham scald group (n = 18), scald group (n = 30), and Xuebijing treatment group (n = 30). Rats in the latter 2 groups were subjected to 30% full-thickness scald injury followed with delayed resuscitation. These rats were sacrificed at 8th, 24th, and 72nd post-injury hour (PIH) to collect specimens. The hepatic pathological changes were observed. Serum levels of ALT and AST were detected. HMGB1 mRNA level in hepatic tissue was detected by the reverse transcription polymerase chain reaction. Protein relative expression quantity of HMGB1 in hepatic tissue was determined with Western blot and immunohistochemistry. Outcomes were denoted in integral absorbance ratio and absorbance value respectively. RESULTS: Massive infiltration of inflammatory cells in hepatic tissues was observed in scald group under light microscope, especially at 24th PIH, and it was decreased in quantity in Xuebijing treatment group. Compared with those of sham scald group, both mRNA and protein expressions of HMGB1 in hepatic tissue of scald group were significantly enhanced during 8-72 PIH (P < 0.05 or P < 0.01), along with markedly increased serum levels of ALT and AST (P < 0.05 or P < 0.01). Compared with those in scald group at 24h and 72nd PIH, hepatic HMGB1 mRNA expressions (0.75 +/- 0.12 vs. 0.60 +/- 0.15 and 0.78 +/- 0.11 vs. 0.55 +/- 0.07, respectively) and protein values (200 +/- 13 vs. 163 +/- 13 and 175 +/- 14 vs. 160 +/- 16, respectively) in Xuebijing treatment group were markedly down-regulated (P < 0.05 or P < 0.01), and serum levels of ALT and AST decreased in different degrees (P < 0.05 or P < 0.01). CONCLUSIONS: HMGB1, the delay-appearing inflammatory mediator, is involved in the pathogenesis of inflammatory response in hepatic tissue in severely scalded rats. Treatment with Xuebijing can markedly down-regulate hepatic HMGB1 expression and protect liver against acute injury induced by delayed resuscitation.

[Effect of ethyl pyruvate on renal high mobility group box-1 protein expression and acute kidney injury in rats with delayed resuscitation after thermal injury].

OBJECTIVE: To investigate the effect of ethyl pyruvate (EP) on high mobility group box-1 protein (HMGB1) expression in renal tissue and acute kidney injury in rats with delayed resuscitation after thermal injury. METHODS: Seventy-eight Wistar rats subjected to 30% total body surface area full-thickness thermal injury followed with delayed resuscitation were divided into 3 groups: sham group (n = 18), injury group (n = 30) and EP group (n = 30). Renal tissue and blood samples were harvested to determine HMGB1 mRNA as well as its protein expression and renal function parameter at the 8, 24, 72 h post the "injury". HMGB1 mRNA was semi-quantitatively measured by reverse transcription polymerase chain reaction taking GAPDH as an internal standard, and HMGB1 protein expression was determined by Western blot and immunohistochemistry. Blood urea nitrogen (BUN) levels were measured with automatic biochemistry analyzer. The pathological changes of renal tissues were examined using HE staining. RESULTS: Compared with sham controls, both mRNA and protein expressions of HMGB1 in injury group were significantly enhanced in kidneys at 8 - 72 h after thermal injury (P < 0.05), meanwhile serum BUN levels were markedly increased (P < 0.05). Compared with injury group, the renal HMGB1 mRNA and protein expressions were markedly down-regulated in EP group at 8 h, 24 h and 72 h post injury (P < 0.05), respectively, and meanwhile serum BUN levels were reduced significantly (P < 0.05). Inflammatory cell infiltration was found in renal tissues following injury, and kidney injury was markedly alleviated after treatment with EP. CONCLUSIONS: It indicated that HMGB1 appears to be involved in the pathogenesis of post-burn acute kidney injury. Treatment with EP reduces renal HMGB1 expression, and protects against acute kidney injury secondary to delayed resuscitation after major burns.

[Effect of Xuebijing injection on renal high mobility group box-1 protein expression and acute kidney injury in rats after scald injury].

OBJECTIVE: To investigate the change in renal high mobility group box-1 protein (HMGB1) levels, and the effect of Chinese traditional medicine-Xuebijing injection on HMGB1 expression as well as acute kidney injury in rats after scald injury. METHODS: Wistar rats were subjected to 30% full-thickness scald injury followed with delayed resuscitation. Totally 78 animals were divided into sham scald group (n=18), scald injury group (n=30), and Xuebijing injection treatment group (n=30). All animals were sacrificed at 8, 24, and 72 hours postburn. Renal tissue and blood samples were harvested to determine HMGB1 mRNA as well as protein expression and organ functional parameters. HMGB1 mRNA level was semi-quantitatively measured by the reverse transcription polymerase chain reaction taking GAPDH as an internal standard, and protein expressions of HMGB1 were detected by both Western blot and immunohistochemistry. Serum creatinine (Cr) contents were measured by automatic biochemistry analyzer. In addition, pathological lesions in kidney were observed under light microscope using HE staining. RESULTS: Compared with sham scald group, both mRNA and protein expressions of HMGB1 were significantly enhanced in the kidney at 8, 24, and 72 hours after scald injury (P<0.05, P<0.01), meanwhile serum Cr contents were markedly increased following acute insults (P<0.05, P<0.01). Treatment with Xuebijing injection could markedly down-regulated renal HMGB1 mRNA expression and protein release at 24 hours and 72 hours (P<0.05, P<0.01), and significantly reduced serum Cr content following scald injury (P<0.05). Many inflammatory cells in renal tissues were observed using light microscope following scald. The histological morphology of kidney lesions was a-HMGB1, a late mediator, appears to be inmeliorated after treatment with Xuebijing injection. CONCLUSIONS: volved in the pathogenesis of excessive inflammatory response and acute kidney damage. Treatment with Xuebijing injection can inhibit HMGB1 synthesis and release in renal tissues, and may prevent the development of acute kidney injury induced by serious scald injury.

[Effect of treatment with ethyl pyruvate on multiple organ dysfunction and mortality following delayed resuscitation after burn injury in rat].

OBJECTIVE: To observe the effects of ethyl pyruvate (EP) treatment on multiple organ dysfunction and mortality following delayed resuscitation after burn injury in rat, and investigate the mechanisms of its protective effect. METHODS: Male Wistar rats were subjected to 30% full-thickness scald injury followed with delayed resuscitation (6 hours postburn). (1) One hundred and thirty male Wistar rats were randomly divided into sham scald group (n=10), scald group (n=60) and EP-treatment group (n=60). In the scald group, 40 ml/kg normal saline was injected intraperitoneally 6 hours after scald injury for resuscitation, and it was repeated periodically. Following delayed resuscitation after burn injury, EP was injected at a dose of 40 mg/kg every 12 hours in EP-treatment group for 3 days. According to the interventional time points, rats of scald and EP-treatment groups were respectively divided in three subgroups: 2 hours prior to scald (n=20), 2 hours after scald (n=20), and 12 hours after scald (n=20). The mortality of animals was observed with 7 days as the cut point. (2) Seventy male rats were randomly divided into sham scald group (n=10), scald group (n=30), and EP-treatment group (n=30). In EP-treatment group, 40 mg/kg EP was injected intraperitoneally 2 hours after scald. Animals were sacrificed at 12, 24, and 72 hours postburn, and serum samples were collected to determine the organ functional parameters, and lung tissue was obtained for measurement of myeloperoxidase (MPO) activity. RESULT: The 7-day mortality in scald and EP-treatment groups (EP given 12 hours postburn) was 75.0% and 35.0% respectively (P<0.05). Compared with scald group, serum alanine aminotransferase (ALT), aspartate aminotransferase (AST), blood urea nitrogen (BUN), creatinine (Cr) and creatine kinase (CK) levels were markedly decreased in EP-treatment group at 12 to 24 hours postburn (P<0.05 or P<0.01), and pulmonary MPO activities were also significantly declined at 12 to 72 hours following burns (P<0.05 or P<0.01). CONCLUSION: EP can obviously improve the outcome in rats with delayed resuscitation after burn injury, and prevent the development of multiple organ dysfunction secondary to major burns.