Biochemical and functional properties of a lectin purified from korean large black soybeans--a cultivar of glycine max

Lectins, a class of proteins that reversibly and non-enzymatically bind specific sugars, have been purified from different kinds of legumes. In this study, a 48-kDa lectin (KBL) was purified from Korean large black soybeans using liquid chromatography. The specific hemagglutinating activity of the KBL was 4096 titer/mg. EDTA-induced loss of hemagglutinating activity of KBL could be recovered by addition of Fe(3+) ions and some divalent cations as Ca(2+), Mn(2+), Fe(2+), Cu(2+), Zn(2+), and Pb(2+). Sugars such as D-(+)-galactose, D-(+)-raffinose, L-(+)-arabinose, alpha-D-(+)-melibiose, and alpha-lactose could inhibit the hemagglutinating activity of the lectin. Furthermore, the protein showed high thermal stability as well as stability over a wide range of pH values. KBL inhibited HIV-1 reverse transcriptase activity with an IC(50) of 1.38 microM. However, it was destitute of cytokine releasing, mitogenic, ribonuclease and antifungal activities. In addition, inhibitory activity toward nasopharyngeal cell lines was undetectable in KBL at concentrations up to 20 microM.

Brassiparin, an antifungal peptide from Brassica parachinensis seeds

Aims:  To isolate and characterize an antifungal peptide from the seeds of Brassica parachinensis L.H.Bailey.

Methods and Results:  An antifungal peptide designated as brassiparin was isolated. It exhibited a molecular mass of 5716 Da. It potently inhibited mycelial growth in a number of fungal species including Fusarium oxysporum, Helminthosporium maydis, Mycosphaerella arachidicola and Valsa mali. The antifungal activity of brassiparin toward M. arachidicola exhibited pronounced thermostability and pH stability. It inhibited proliferation of hepatoma (HepG2) and breast cancer (MCF7) cells and the activity of HIV‐1 reverse transcriptase. Its N‐terminal sequence differed from those of antifungal proteins which have been reported to date.

Conclusions:  Brassiparin can be purified by using a protocol involving ion exchange chromatography, affinity chromatography and gel filtration. It manifests potent, thermostable and pH‐stable antifungal activity. It demonstrates antiproliferative activity toward tumour cells, and inhibitory activity toward HIV‐1 reverse transcriptase. Thus, brassiparin is a defense protein.

Significance and Impact of the Study:  Brassiparin represents one of the few antifungal proteins reported to date from Brassica species. Its antifungal activity has pronounced pH stability and thermostability. Brassiparin exhibits other exploitable activities such as antiproliferative activity toward hepatoma and breast cancer cells and inhibitory activity toward HIV‐reverse transcriptase.

Outcome of elderly patients with oesophageal squamous cell carcinoma after surgery

Background

Oesophagectomy may have morbidity and mortality rates that severely compromise long-term survival in elderly patients. The aim of this study was to compare clinical outcomes in elderly patients with oesophageal squamous cell carcinoma (SCC) with those of younger controls.

Methods

Elderly patients at least 70 years old with oesophageal SCC were matched 1 : 1 with controls aged less than 70 years according to sex, tumour stage, tumour location, histological grade, surgical approach, completeness of resection and surgical period. Co-morbidities, surgical complications, surgical mortality and long-term survival were compared.

Results

One hundred and thirty-six patients were included in each group. Surgical mortality was greater in the elderly group (5·9 versus 0·7 per cent; P = 0·036). Overall and disease-specific 5-year survival rates were worse among patients aged at least 70 years (30·0 versus 41·8 per cent, and 31·5 versus 44·7 per cent respectively), as were 10-year rates (13·7 versus 26·4 per cent, and 20·2 versus 29·0 per cent). Disease-free survival rates after 5 years (24·0 versus 35·5 per cent) and 10 years (12·3 versus 24·3 per cent) were not statistically significant (P = 0·076).

Conclusion

Poor functional status may account for higher morbidity and mortality rates in elderly patients with oesophageal SCC. Acceptable perioperative mortality rates and substantial long-term survival can still be achieved. Elderly patients should not be denied oesophagectomy.

Minimal Important Differences in the Migraine-Specific Quality of Life Questionnaire (MSQ) Version 2.1

To propose minimal important differences (MID) for the Migraine-Specific Quality of Life Questionnaire version 2.1 (MSQ v2.1). To our knowledge (to date), no published MID values exist for the MSQ v2.1 in any population. Analyses were performed on data from two pivotal clinical trials of topiramate for migraine prevention ( n = 916), as well as from the QualityMetric National Headache Survey ( n = 1016). Analyses included both distribution- and anchor- based MID techniques as well as group- and individual-level MID values. Group-level anchor-based MID values ranged from 3.2 [Role Restrictive domain (RR)] to 7.5 [Emotional Functioning domain (EF)], setting the minimum level of appropriate MID (which can also aid with power analysis). Individual-level distribution-based MID values resulted in highly similar estimates from two large databases: median MID of 8.5 for RR, 9.2 for Role Preventive (RP) and 12.0 for EF. Finally, individual-level anchor-based MID values ranged from 5.0 (RR and RP domains) to 10.6 (EF). For group-level purposes of calculating power for future studies, an MID of 3.2, 4.6 and 7.5 for RR, RP and EF is recommended. For within-group analyses for analysing clinical trial efficacy of each patient's change with responder analyses, 5 points is necessary for RR. For RP and EF, ranges are recommended: 5.0 to 7.9 for RP and 8.0 to 10.6 for EF. These latter two domains tend to have more error in the MID, and thus a sensitivity analysis with both ends of the range should be used to confirm significant differences in responder analyses.

Evaluation of stem cell differentiation in diabetic rats transplanted with bone marrow mesenchymal stem cells

OBJECTIVE

Bone marrow mesenchymal stem cell (BM-MSC) transplantation has generated a great deal of excitement as a promising therapeutic strategy for diabetes mellitus. However, the exact mechanisms of reversing hyperglycemia remain elusive. Our objective was to investigate whether stem cell differentiation determined therapeutic efficacy.

MATERIALS AND METHODS

Wistar rats were rendered diabetic by an intraperitoneal injection of streptozotocin. BM-MSCs isolated from diabetic Wistar rats were analyzed for phenotype characteristics. Subsequently, BM-MSCs were transplanted into diabetic rats, followed by intravenous injection of recombinant lentiviruses encoding 2 different small hairpin RNAs (shRNAs) for specific interference with neurogenin 3 (Ngn3). We measured blood glucose levels and insulin and performed histological analysis of the pancreas.

RESULTS

BM-MSCs lowered blood glucose by increasing beta-cell mass compared with sham-operated controls, but this effect was inhibited by interference with the Ngn3 gene.

CONCLUSION

Differentiation of stem cells, including BM-MSCs and endogenous pancreatic stem cells, plays a major role in the process of reversing hyperglycemia.

Identification of immune responsible fibrinogen beta chain in the liver of large yellow croaker using a modified annealing control primer system

In this article, we used a modified ACP system (mACP) developed in our laboratory to analyze differentially expressed genes in the liver of large yellow croaker, Pseudosciaena crocea (Richardson). By using 20 pairs of mACPs, 7 differentially expressed genes were obtained. One of the genes we identified encodes for a fibrinogen beta chain (FGB). The full-length cDNA of FGB was 1645 bp, including 5 bp of 5' untranslated region (5'-UTR), 1479 bp of open reading frame (ORF), and 161 bp of 3'-UTR. The ORF was capable of encoding 492 amino acids with an estimated molecular mass of 55.6 kDa, giving it a predicted pI of 5.94. The deduced amino acid sequence included an FGB profile (V(238)-Y(488)) and an FGB family signature (WWYNRCHSANPNG). Multiple sequence alignments indicated that the large yellow croaker FGB showed homology with FGB sequences of other species (45-77% identity). Real time PCR analysis demonstrated that the expression of FGB in the liver of large yellow croaker injected with Vibrio parahaemolyticus was significantly (P < 0.05) lower than that of the control group at 8 d, which confirmed the expression patterns of the results of mACP differential display.

A phase II study of gemcitabine-based chemoradiotherapy (CCRT) after triplet induction chemotherapy (ICT) for locally advanced pancreatic cancer (LAPC): A Taiwan Cooperative Oncology Group (TCOG) study

e15562

The optimal management of LAPC remains controversial. The efficacy of CCRT is hampered by early systemic dissemination. To treat undetectable metastases and to select patients who are likely to benefit from CCRT, ICT followed by CCRT has recently been extensively evaluated in LAPC. Recently, we showed that triplet chemotherapy consisting of gemcitabine 800 mg/m2 (10 mg/m2/min) followed by oxaliplatin 85 mg/m2 and 48-hour infusion of 5-FU/LV 3,000 and 150 mg/m2 Q 2 weeks, the GOFL regimen, is feasible and active for pts with APC. Chemo-naïve pts with histo- /cytologically proven unresectable LAPC, and bi-dimensionally measurable diseases were eligible. Patients who did not experience disease progression (PD) after 6 cycles of GOFL would had CCRT consisting of weekly gemcitabine 400mg/m2 plus 50.4Gy/28 fractions of radiation 4–6 weeks later. After CCRT, pts were re-evaluated for surgical intervention and those with unresectable disease would continue GOFL until PD, unacceptable toxicity, patient's refusal or death. Among the 50 enrolled pts (24F/26M, median age 58.5 years), 48 had definitively unresectable diseases. After induction GOFL, 16 (32%) pts were off-studied because of PD in 12 (24%) and ICT-related toxicity in 4 (8%, PD/UE group). Among the 34 (68%) with objective response or stable disease after 6 cycles of ICT, 27 (54%) who completed the assigned multimodality treatment are categorized as CCRT group; whiles 7 (14%) who either declined CCRT (in 5) or still on ICT (in 2) are categorized as non-CCRT group. The median PFS and OS for the ITT population were 9.1 and 14.5 months, respectively. The median PFS for PD/UE, non-CCRT and CCRT groups were 2.1, 8.2 and 12.8 months, respectively; whiles the OS were 8.5, 15.0 and 18.3 months, respectively. The most common grade 3–4 toxicities were neutropenia (40%), anemia (14%), infection (16%), nausea (26%), vomiting (20%). Grade 2–3 peripheral neuropathy was observed in 7 of 29 who received post-CCRT GOFL. Conclusion: Three months of triplet ICT followed by gemcitabine-based CCRT is feasible and likely to prolong the survival of selected LAPC pts. Prospective, randomization study is warranted to validate the findings.

No significant financial relationships to disclose.

High prevalence of risk behaviour concurrent with links to other high-risk populations: a potentially explosive HIV epidemic among men who have sex with men in Guangzhou, China

OBJECTIVES

HIV disproportionately affects men who have sex with men (MSM), but HIV prevalence among MSM in Guangzhou has not shown the rapid increasing trend as it has elsewhere in China. The aim of this study is to detect the epidemic and to determine the characteristics of MSM in Guangzhou susceptible to HIV.

METHODS

A cross-sectional survey with serological testing for HIV, syphilis, HBV and HCV through long-chain referral sampling strategy to help control the bias generated from non-statistic sampling.

RESULTS

The most important features of MSM in Guangzhou are being young and mobile, and of comparable education and income level to that of the general population. The HIV prevalence was 1.3% (95% CI 0.3 to 2.7%) in 2006. Many HIV risk factors were identified: low awareness of HIV risk perception and prevention, high prevalence of diverse, multiple partners and versatile sexual role, more than half of them actively having sex with women, low persistent condom use with both male and female partners, commercial sex and one out of 27 practising needle or syringe sharing during illicit drug use.

CONCLUSION

HIV has been introduced into MSM in Guangzhou. Demographic and behavioural risk factors and overlapping risk populations contribute to a potentially rapidly rising epidemic among MSM and the potential for a bridge to female partners in Guangzhou if timely and effective interventions are not implemented.