Efficient lipid production with Trichosporon fermentans and its use for biodiesel preparation

Effects of medium components and culture conditions on biomass and lipid production of Trichosporon fermentans were studied. The optimal nitrogen source, carbon source and C/N molar ratio were peptone, glucose and 163, respectively. The favorable initial pH of the medium and temperature were 6.5 and 25 degrees C. Under the optimized conditions, a biomass of 28.1 g/l and a lipid content of 62.4% could be achieved after culture for 7 days, which were much higher than the original values (19.4 g/l and 50.8%) and the results reported by other groups. T. fermentans could grow well in pretreated waste molasses and a lipid yield of 12.8 g/l could be achieved with waste molasses of 15% total sugar concentration (w/v) at pH 6.0, representing the best result with oleaginous microorganisms on agro-industrial residues. Addition of various sugars to the pretreated molasses could efficiently enhance the accumulation of lipid and the lipid content reached as high as above 50%. Similar to vegetable oils, the lipid mainly contains palmitic acid, stearic acid, oleic acid and linoleic acid and the unsaturated fatty acids amount to about 64% of the total fatty acids. The microbial oil with an acid value of 5.6 mg KOH/g was transesterified to biodiesel by base catalysis after removal of free fatty acids and a high methyl ester yield of 92% was obtained.

Highly Effective and Low-Cost MicroRNA Detection with CRISPR-Cas9

MicroRNAs have been reported as related to multiple diseases and have potential applications in diagnosis and therapeutics. However, detection of miRNAs remains improvable, given their complexity, high cost, and low sensitivity as of currently. In this study, we attempt to build a novel platform that detects miRNAs at low cost and high efficacy. This detection system contains isothermal amplification, detecting and reporting process based on rolling circle amplification, CRISPR-Cas9, and split-horseradish peroxidase techniques. It is able to detect trace amount of miRNAs from samples with mere single-base specificity. Moreover, we demonstrated that such scheme can effectively detect target miRNAs in clinical serum samples and significantly distinguish patients of non-small cell lung cancer from healthy volunteers by detecting the previously reported biomarker: circulating let-7a. As the first to use CRISPR-Cas9 in miRNA detection, this method is a promising approach capable of being applied in screening, diagnosing, and prognosticating of multiple diseases.

Pathophysiology of peripheral arterial disease in diabetes mellitus

Peripheral arterial disease (PAD) increases the risk of lower extremity amputation. It is also an independent predictor of cardiovascular and cerebrovascular ischemic events, affecting both the quality and expectancy of life. Many studies have demonstrated that the prevalence of PAD in patients with diabetes mellitus (DM) is higher than in non-diabetic patients. In diabetic patients, PAD occurs early with rapid progression, and is frequently asymptomatic. Multiple metabolic aberrations in DM, such as advanced glycation end-products, low-density lipoprotein cholesterol, and abnormal oxidative stress, have been shown to worsen PAD. However, the role of DM in PAD is not completely understood. The purpose of the present article is to review and discuss the pathophysiology of PAD in DM.

Roles of volume-activated Cl- currents and regulatory volume decrease in the cell cycle and proliferation in nasopharyngeal carcinoma cells

OBJECTIVES

Previously it has been shown, that the volume-activated plasma membrane chloride channel is associated with regulatory volume decrease (RVD) of cells and may play an important role in control of cell proliferation. We have demonstrated that both expression of the channel and RVD capacity are actively regulated in the cell cycle. In this study, we aimed to further study the role of the volume-activated chloride current and RVD in cell cycle progression and overall in cell proliferation.

MATERIALS AND METHODS

Whole-cell currents, RVD, cell cycle distribution, cell proliferation and cell viability were measured or detected with the patch-clamp technique, the cell image analysis technique, flow cytometry, the MTT assay and the trypan blue assay respectively, in nasopharyngeal carcinoma cells (CNE-2Z cells).

RESULTS

The Cl- channel blockers, 5-nitro-2-(3-phenylpropylamino) benzoic acid (NPPB) and tamoxifen, inhibit the volume-activated chloride current, RVD and proliferation of CNE-2Z cells in a dose-dependent manner. Analysis of relationships between the current, RVD and cell proliferation showed that both the current and RVD were positively correlated with cell proliferation. NPPB (100 microM) and tamoxifen (20 microM) did not significantly induce cell death, but inhibited cell proliferation, implying that the blockers may inhibit cell proliferation by affecting cell cycle progression. This was verified by the observation that tamoxifen (20 microM) and NPPB (100 microM) inhibited cell cycle progress and arrested cells at the G0/G1 phase boundary.

CONCLUSIONS

Activity of the volume-activated chloride channel is one of the important factors that regulate the passage of cells through the G1 restriction point and that the Cl- current associated with RVD plays an important role in cell proliferation.

Enhancement of antibacterial activity of tilmicosin against Staphylococcus aureus by solid lipid nanoparticles in vitro and in vivo

This study aimed to enhance the antibacterial activity of tilmicosin by solid lipid nanoparticles (SLN). Tilmicosin-loaded hydrogenated castor oil (HCO)-SLN was prepared using a hot homogenisation and ultrasonication method. The physicochemical characteristics of SLN were investigated by scanning electron microscopy (SEM) and photon correlation spectroscopy (PCS). The antibacterial activity of tilmicosin-SLN against Staphylococcus aureus was evaluated by growth inhibition and colony-counting method. A therapeutic study of tilmicosin-SLN was conducted by subcutaneous injection in a mouse mastitis model infected with S. aureus by teat canal infusion. Therapeutic efficacy was assessed by physical appearance of the mammary gland and measurement of colony-forming units (CFU) per gland. The results showed that the diameter, polydispersivity index, zeta potential, encapsulation efficiency and loading capacity of the nanoparticles were 343±26 nm, 0.33±0.08, -7.9±0.4 mV, 60.4±3.3% and 11.2±0.47%, respectively. Tilmicosin-SLN showed a sustained-release effect and sustained and enhanced antibacterial activity in vitro. SLN significantly enhanced the therapeutic efficacy of tilmicosin determined by lower CFU counts and a decreased degree of inflammation. These results demonstrated that the HCO-SLN is an effective carrier to enhance the antibacterial activity of tilmicosin.

Synthesis and antimalarial activity of 2-aziridinyl- and 2,3-bis(aziridinyl)-1,4-naphthoquinonyl sulfonate and acylate derivatives

A series of 2-aziridinyl- and 2,3-bis(aziridinyl)-1,4-naphthoquinonyl sulfonate and acylate derivatives has been synthesized and evaluated for antimalarial activity in vitro against the human malaria parasite, Plasmodium falciparum (Vietnam Smith strain, chloroquine-resistant at the R3 level). The most active compounds, 2-aziridinyl-1,4-naphthoquinon-5-yl p-ethylbenzenesulfonate (13), 2-aziridinyl-1,4-naphthoquinon-5-yl p-tert-butylbenzenesulfonate (48), and 2-aziridinyl-5-hydroxy-1,4-naphthoquinone (5) produced 50% inhibition of the growth of P. falciparum at 9.6 x 10(-8), 2.4 x 10(-8), and 8.8 x 10(-8) M, respectively.

Characterization of surface phenotypic molecules of teleost dendritic cells

Dendritic cells (DCs) are among the most important professional antigen-presenting cells (APCs) that participate in various biological activities in mammals. However, evidence of the existence of DCs in teleost fish and other lower vertebrates remains limited. In this study, phenotypic and functional characteristics of teleost DCs were described in a zebrafish model. An improved method to efficiently enrich DCs was established. Immunofluorescence staining revealed that the surface phenotypic hallmarks of mammalian DCs, including MHC-II, CD80/86, CD83, and CD209, were distributed on the surfaces of zebrafish DCs (DrDCs). Functional analysis results showed that DrDCs could initiate antigen-specific CD4(+) T cell activation, in which MHC-II, CD80/86, CD83, and CD209 are implicated. Hence, teleost DCs exhibit conserved immunophenotypes and functions similar to those of their mammalian counterparts. Our findings contributed to the current understanding of the evolutionary history of DCs and the DC-regulatory mechanisms of adaptive immunity.

Safety and efficacy of non-steroidal anti-inflammatory drugs to reduce ileus after colorectal surgery

BACKGROUND

Ileus is common after elective colorectal surgery, and is associated with increased adverse events and prolonged hospital stay. The aim was to assess the role of non-steroidal anti-inflammatory drugs (NSAIDs) for reducing ileus after surgery.

METHODS

A prospective multicentre cohort study was delivered by an international, student- and trainee-led collaborative group. Adult patients undergoing elective colorectal resection between January and April 2018 were included. The primary outcome was time to gastrointestinal recovery, measured using a composite measure of bowel function and tolerance to oral intake. The impact of NSAIDs was explored using Cox regression analyses, including the results of a centre-specific survey of compliance to enhanced recovery principles. Secondary safety outcomes included anastomotic leak rate and acute kidney injury.

RESULTS

A total of 4164 patients were included, with a median age of 68 (i.q.r. 57-75) years (54·9 per cent men). Some 1153 (27·7 per cent) received NSAIDs on postoperative days 1-3, of whom 1061 (92·0 per cent) received non-selective cyclo-oxygenase inhibitors. After adjustment for baseline differences, the mean time to gastrointestinal recovery did not differ significantly between patients who received NSAIDs and those who did not (4·6 versus 4·8 days; hazard ratio 1·04, 95 per cent c.i. 0·96 to 1·12; P = 0·360). There were no significant differences in anastomotic leak rate (5·4 versus 4·6 per cent; P = 0·349) or acute kidney injury (14·3 versus 13·8 per cent; P = 0·666) between the groups. Significantly fewer patients receiving NSAIDs required strong opioid analgesia (35·3 versus 56·7 per cent; P < 0·001).

CONCLUSION

NSAIDs did not reduce the time for gastrointestinal recovery after colorectal surgery, but they were safe and associated with reduced postoperative opioid requirement.

Double-balloon catheter versus prostaglandin E2 for cervical ripening and labour induction: a systematic review and meta-analysis of randomised controlled trials

BACKGROUND

Induction of labour has become an increasingly common procedure. Ripening methods, including mechanical devices and pharmacological agents, improve the success rate of labour induction.

OBJECTIVE

To compare the efficacy and safety of the double-balloon catheter with prostaglandin E2 agents used for labour induction.

SEARCH STRATEGY

We searched electronic sources from MEDLINE, Embase and Web of Science, the Cochrane Library Database of Systematic Reviews, and ClinicalTrials.gov website.

SELECTION CRITERIA

Only randomised controlled trials comparing the PGE2 agents with the double-balloon catheter for cervical ripening and labour induction in women with unfavourable cervices were included in the analysis.

DATA COLLECTION AND ANALYSIS

The main outcomes included the vaginal delivery rate within 24 hours and risk of caesarean section. We calculated relative risks and mean differences using fixed- and random-effects models.

MAIN RESULTS

Nine studies (1866 patients) were included in this systematic review. Both the double-balloon catheter and PGE2 agents were comparable with regard to rate of caesarean section (RR 0.92; 95% CI 0.79, 1.07), vaginal delivery within 24 hours (RR 0.95; 95% CI 0.78, 1.16) and maternal adverse events, but the risk of excessive uterine activity (RR 10.02; 95% CI 3.99, 25.17) and need for neonatal intensive care unit admissions (RR 1.31; 95% CI 1.01, 1.69) were significantly increased in women who received PGE2 agents.

CONCLUSIONS

The double-balloon catheter demonstrated greater safety and cost-effectiveness than PGE2 agents for cervical ripening and labour induction. The efficacy profiles of both methods were similar.

TWEETABLE ABSTRACT

Double-balloon catheter versus prostaglandin E2 for cervical ripening and labour induction.

Negative pressure wound therapy is associated with up-regulation of bFGF and ERK1/2 in human diabetic foot wounds

Chronic foot wounds are a leading cause of morbidity and hospitalization for patients with diabetes. Negative pressure wound therapy (NPWT) is known to promote healing of diabetic foot wounds, but the underlying molecular mechanisms remain elusive. We propose to gain molecular insights into the wound healing promoting signals underlying the effects of NPWT on diabetic foot wounds in humans. We assessed 30 patients with diabetic foot ulcers. Of these cases, 15 were treated with NPWT, while 15 patients were treated with traditional gauze therapy. Granulated tissue was harvested before and after treatment in both patient groups and histologically analyzed with hematoxylin & eosin as well as Masson's trichrome staining methods. Immunohistochemistry and Western blot analysis was performed to evaluate expression of basic fibroblast growth factor (bFGF) and extracellular signal-regulated kinase (ERK)1/2, previously associated with promoting cellular growth and/or wound healing. Unlike controls, the wounds in the NPWT-treated diabetic patients developed characteristic features of granulated tissue with increased collagen deposition. Immunohistochemical analysis also revealed an increase in bFGF levels in NPWT-treated patients. Western blot analysis further showed a significant up-regulation of bFGF and phosphorylated ERK1/2 protein levels in the NPWT-treated diabetic patients vs. controls. Our studies reveal that NPWT is associated with an up-regulation of bFGF and ERK1/2 signaling, which may be involved in promoting the NPWT-mediated wound healing response.

Reduced circulating CD4+CD25+ cell populations in haemorrhagic fever with renal syndrome

Immunopathological mechanisms are speculated to underlie haemorrhagic fever with renal syndrome (HFRS) caused by Hantaviruses. CD4+CD25+ T regulatory cells (T(regs)), a subset of CD4+ T cells, expressed high levels of CD25 and the forkhead box transcription factor P3 (FoxP3), plays an important role in the down-regulation of various immune responses. Therefore, we hypothesized that in patients with HFRS the immunopathology could be, at least in part, the result of an inefficient control of pathogenic effector T cells by T(regs). The number of T(regs) was determined by flow cytometry according to their characteristic CD4+CD25(high) membrane phenotype. The functional characterization of T(regs) was analysed by suppression of proliferation and secretion of cytokines by co-cultured effector CD4+CD25(-) T cells. FoxP3 mRNA level was assessed by quantitative real-time polymerase chain reaction. We observed that CD4+CD25(high) cells of patients with HFRS showed a conventional phenotype. Furthermore, acute-stage patients with HFRS exhibited significantly reduced numbers of peripheral T(regs) compared with healthy donors, and marked improvement was observed in convalescent-phase patients. The frequency of T(regs) was correlated positively with platelet count, and was correlated negatively with blood urea nitrogen, serum creatinine and serum aspartate aminotransferase. On the other hand, T(regs) from both healthy individuals and patients with HFRS exhibited equal FoxP3 expression of mRNA, and their ability to suppress the proliferation and cytokine secretion of CD4+ effector T cells was unimpaired in HFRS patients.

Synthesis of 2,3-diaziridinyl-1,4-naphthoquinone sulfonate derivatives as potential antineoplastic agents

A new class of 2,3-diaziridinyl-1,4-naphthoquinone sulfonates (27 compounds) has been synthesized and evaluated as potential antineoplastic agents. The most active compounds, benzenesulfonate 4, p-toluenesulfonate 5, p-methoxybenzenesulfonate 7,8-quinolinesulfonate 17, and 2-thiophenesulfonate 20, in the aromatic sulfonate series, at their optimum daily dosage level of 25 mg/kg X 6, produced 100%, 90%, 75%, 80%, and 100% 50-day survivors, respectively, of L1210 tumor-bearing mice. At a lower optimum daily dosage level of 20 mg/kg X 6, treatments with p-fluorobenzenesulfonate 11 and p-nitrobenzenesulfonate 15 resulted in 100% and 80% 50-day survivors. In the aliphatic sulfonate series, methanesulfonate 21 produced 80% 50-day survivors at a 10 mg/kg daily dosage level X 6. Benzenesulfonate 4, p-fluorobenzenesulfonate 11, 8-quinolinesulfonate 17, and 2-thiophenesulfonate 20 derivatives were also tested in mice bearing the B16 melanoma; these agents gave T/C X 100 values of 180, 182, 219, and 161, respectively, in this neoplastic cell system. Structure-activity relationships of compounds of this class are discussed.

Measurement of muon antineutrino quasielastic scattering on a hydrocarbon target at Eν ~ 3.5 GeV

We have isolated ν(μ) charged-current quasielastic (QE) interactions occurring in the segmented scintillator tracking region of the MINERvA detector running in the NuMI neutrino beam at Fermilab. We measure the flux-averaged differential cross section, dσ/dQ², and compare to several theoretical models of QE scattering. Good agreement is obtained with a model where the nucleon axial mass, M(A), is set to 0.99 GeV/c² but the nucleon vector form factors are modified to account for the observed enhancement, relative to the free nucleon case, of the cross section for the exchange of transversely polarized photons in electron-nucleus scattering. Our data at higher Q² favor this interpretation over an alternative in which the axial mass is increased.

Safety of hospital discharge before return of bowel function after elective colorectal surgery

BACKGROUND

Ileus is common after colorectal surgery and is associated with an increased risk of postoperative complications. Identifying features of normal bowel recovery and the appropriateness for hospital discharge is challenging. This study explored the safety of hospital discharge before the return of bowel function.

METHODS

A prospective, multicentre cohort study was undertaken across an international collaborative network. Adult patients undergoing elective colorectal resection between January and April 2018 were included. The main outcome of interest was readmission to hospital within 30 days of surgery. The impact of discharge timing according to the return of bowel function was explored using multivariable regression analysis. Other outcomes were postoperative complications within 30 days of surgery, measured using the Clavien-Dindo classification system.

RESULTS

A total of 3288 patients were included in the analysis, of whom 301 (9·2 per cent) were discharged before the return of bowel function. The median duration of hospital stay for patients discharged before and after return of bowel function was 5 (i.q.r. 4-7) and 7 (6-8) days respectively (P < 0·001). There were no significant differences in rates of readmission between these groups (6·6 versus 8·0 per cent; P = 0·499), and this remained the case after multivariable adjustment for baseline differences (odds ratio 0·90, 95 per cent c.i. 0·55 to 1·46; P = 0·659). Rates of postoperative complications were also similar in those discharged before versus after return of bowel function (minor: 34·7 versus 39·5 per cent; major 3·3 versus 3·4 per cent; P = 0·110).

CONCLUSION

Discharge before return of bowel function after elective colorectal surgery appears to be safe in appropriately selected patients.

Spatial organization of enzymes to enhance synthetic pathways in microbial chassis: a systematic review

For years, microbes have been widely applied as chassis in the construction of synthetic metabolic pathways. However, the lack of in vivo enzyme clustering of heterologous metabolic pathways in these organisms often results in low local concentrations of enzymes and substrates, leading to a low productive efficacy. In recent years, multiple methods have been applied to the construction of small metabolic clusters by spatial organization of heterologous metabolic enzymes. These methods mainly focused on using engineered molecules to bring the enzymes into close proximity via different interaction mechanisms among proteins and nucleotides and have been applied in various heterologous pathways with different degrees of success while facing numerous challenges. In this paper, we mainly reviewed some of those notable advances in designing and creating approaches to achieve spatial organization using different intermolecular interactions. Current challenges and future aspects in the further application of such approaches are also discussed in this paper.

Measurement of muon neutrino quasielastic scattering on a hydrocarbon target at Eν ~ 3.5 GeV

We report a study of ν(μ) charged-current quasielastic events in the segmented scintillator inner tracker of the MINERvA experiment running in the NuMI neutrino beam at Fermilab. The events were selected by requiring a μ- and low calorimetric recoil energy separated from the interaction vertex. We measure the flux-averaged differential cross section, dσ/dQ², and study the low energy particle content of the final state. Deviations are found between the measured dσ/dQ² and the expectations of a model of independent nucleons in a relativistic Fermi gas. We also observe an excess of energy near the vertex consistent with multiple protons in the final state.

Measurement of angular distributions of Drell-Yan dimuons in p+d interactions at 800 GeV/c

We report a measurement of the angular distributions of Drell-Yan dimuons produced using an 800 GeV/c proton beam on a deuterium target. The muon angular distributions in the dilepton rest frame have been measured over the kinematic range 4.5<m{mu mu}<15 GeV/c{2}, 0<p{T}<4 GeV/c, and 0<x{F}<0.8. No significant cos2phi dependence is found in these proton-induced Drell-Yan data, in contrast with the situation for pion-induced Drell-Yan data. The data are compared with expectations from models which attribute the cos2phi distribution to a QCD vacuum effect or to the presence of the transverse-momentum-dependent Boer-Mulders structure function h{1}{perpendicular}. Constraints on the magnitude of the sea-quark h{1}{perpendicular} structure functions are obtained.

Measurement of angular distributions of Drell-Yan dimuons in p+p interactions at 800 GeV/c

We report a measurement of the angular distributions of Drell-Yan dimuons produced using an 800 GeV/c proton beam on a hydrogen target. The polar and azimuthal angular distribution parameters have been extracted over the kinematic range 4.5<m micromicro<15 GeV/c2 (excluding the Upsilon resonance region), 0<p T <4 GeV/c, and 0<x F<0.8. The p+p angular distributions are similar to those of p+d, and both data sets are compared with models which attribute the cos2varphi distribution either to the presence of the transverse-momentum-dependent Boer-Mulders structure function h1 perpendicular to 1 or to QCD effects. The data indicate the need to include QCD effects before reliable information on the Boer-Mulders function can be extracted. The validity of the Lam-Tung relation in p+p Drell-Yan data is also tested.

Characteristics of Neoplasm Occurrence and the Therapeutic Effect of Sirolimus in South Chinese Kidney Transplant Recipients

Kidney transplantation (KTx) recipients are at a higher risk of oncogenesis when compared to the general population. Sirolimus (SRL), a potent immunosuppressant, has shown promising antineoplastic effects in vitro and in vivo. This study retrospectively analyzed the neoplasm occurrence and the efficiency of SRL on unresectable malignancies in South Chinese KTx recipients. Thirty-three (1.64%) of 2017 patients who received KTx from January 1984 to December 2004 developed neoplasms at 4 to 117 months posttransplant, mostly in digestive organs (33.3%), the hematologic system (15.2%), or the skin (12.1%). The most common type was liver cancer (24.2%), followed by skin cancer, lymphoma, and thyroid cancer (9.1%). The median survival times were 41.5 and 6.0 months for those who did (n = 10) receive radical surgery or did not (n = 23), respectively. The 20-month survival rates were 70.0% versus 13.0% (P < .01). For unresectable patients, the median survival time of those treated with SRL (n = 8) was 14.5 months compared to 3.0 months for those who did not (n = 15). The survival rates at 12(th) and 20(th) months were 75.0% and 37.5% in the SRL group and 6.7% and 0% in the non-SRL group (P < .05). In conclusion, when compared with Western studies, a lower incidence and unique location pattern (liver cancer-dominant) are characteristics of de novo posttransplant neoplasms in South Chinese KTx recipients. Early diagnosis and feasible radical surgery are favorable for prognosis, and SRL is a treatment of choice for KTx recipients with neoplasms.

Discovery of an unusual alternative splicing pathway of the immunoglobulin heavy chain in a teleost fish, Danio rerio

In present study, we identified a novel membrane immunoglobulin M isotype from zebrafish (Danio rerio), which was designated as mIgM-2, adding a new member to the Immunoglobulin family in teleost fish. The full length of cloned mIgM-2 cDNA was 611 bp, encoding 150 amino acids. The putative mIgM-2 protein sequence consists of one constant region and a trans-membrane region. Phylogenetic analysis showed that mIgM-2 grouped with the known zebrafish IgM sequences. The mIgM-2 mRNA was widely expressed in immune-related tissues including intestine, kidney and skin. In vivo stimulation with LPS significantly up-regulates the expression of mIgM-2. Our results will add new insight into the immunoglobulin class diversity of teleost fish, and to better understand the evolutionary history of adaptive immunity from fish to mammals as a whole.

RNF8 depletion attenuates hepatocellular carcinoma progression by inhibiting epithelial-mesenchymal transition and enhancing drug sensitivity

Despite substantial advances that have been made in understanding the etiology of hepatocellular carcinoma (HCC), the early-stage diagnosis and treatment of advanced-stage HCC remain a major challenge. RNF8, an E3 ligase important for the DNA damage response, has been proven to facilitate the progression of breast and lung cancer, but its role in HCC remains unclear. In this study, we find that the expression of RNF8 is up-regulated in HCC tissues and positively correlated with poor prognosis of HCC. Furthermore, silencing RNF8 by siRNAs attenuates the migration of HCC cells and inhibits epithelial-mesenchymal transition (EMT) by regulating the expressions of proteins including N-cadherin, β-catenin, snail, and ZO-1. Moreover, Kaplan‒Meier survival analysis shows that high RNF8 expression predicts poor survival benefits from sorafenib. Finally, cell viability assay demonstrates that RNF8 depletion enhances the sensitivity of HCC cells to sorafenib and lenvatinib treatment. We hypothesize that the inhibitory role of RNF8 in EMT and its enhancing effects on anti-cancer drugs orchestrate the protective effects of RNF8 deficiency in HCC, which indicates its potential in clinical application.

Proteome analysis of differential protein expression in brain of rats with type 1 diabetes mellitus

AIM OF THE STUDY

Proteomic approach was applied to identify differential protein expressed in brain of rats with type 1 diabetes mellitus (T1DM) in order to search for potential biomarkers for pathological changes of brain with T1DM.

METHODS

Proteins were extracted from brain tissues of T1DM rats and healthy control rats, separated by 2-DE and identified by MALDI-TOF-MS. The results were validated by Western blot analysis and immunohistochemistry (IHC).

RESULTS

A total of 8 proteins from the 24 differentially expressed spots were identified by MALDI-TOF-MS. The proteins identified were vitamin D-dependent calcium-binding protein, creatine kinase B-type (B-CK), myosin light chain kinase (MLCK), HSP60 and HSP71, ATP synthase, cyclin-G, pantothenate kinase-1 (PANK1), respectively. 3 proteins were up-regulated and 5 proteins were down-regulated from the T1DM rats. Of the 8 proteins identified, MLCK was confirmed by Western blot and IHC.

CONCLUSION

This work demonstrates that a comprehensive strategy of proteomic identification should be a useful tool for understanding of diabetic encephalopathy mechanism. And the differential proteins such as MLCK may be give clues about the pathogenesis of diabetic encephalopathy.

Measurement of Upsilon production for p + p and p + d interactions at 800 GeV/c

We report a high statistics measurement of Upsilon production with an 800 GeV/c proton beam on hydrogen and deuterium targets. The dominance of the gluon-gluon fusion process for Upsilon production at this energy implies that the cross section ratio, sigma(p+d-->Upsilon)/2sigma(p+p-->Upsilon), is sensitive to the gluon content in the neutron relative to that in the proton. Over the kinematic region 0<x(F)<0.6, this ratio is found to be consistent with unity, in striking contrast to the behavior of the Drell-Yan cross section ratio sigma(p+d)(DY)/2sigma(p+p)(DY). This result shows that the gluon distributions in the proton and neutron are very similar. The Upsilon production cross sections are also compared with the p+d and p+Cu cross sections from earlier measurements.

[Correlation analysis between prostate imaging report and data system score and pathological results of prostate cancer]

Objective: To explore the correlation between prostate imaging report and data system (PI-RADS) score and international society of uological pathology (ISUP) grade of prostate cancer (PCa) and the role of PI-RADS score in predicting the pathological features of clinically significant PCa (csPCa), positive surgical margin and pathological upgrade. Methods: The pathologically positive patients with multi-parameter magnetic resonance image (mpMRI) were included in this study. The patients with prostate specific antigen (PSA)<100 μg/L were divided into two groups: biopsy group (n=523) and RP group (n=215). The correlation between PI-RADS score and ISUP grade and the accuracy of predicting csPCa in the two groups were evaluated. In the RP group, the correlation between PI-RADS score and postoperative pathological grade or degradation and positive incisal margin was further discussed. The patients with PSA≥100 μg/L (171cases in biopsy group and 6 cases in RP group) were not included in the statistical analysis, and the results were simply described. Results: The age, prostate volume, and PSA level of biopsy group and RP group was (72±8) years vs (68±7) years, 48.3 (32-57) cm(3) vs 47.2 (32-54) cm(3), and 26.3(10.2-34.2)μg/L vs 21.7 (9.24-23.95)μg/L, respectively. The PI-RADS scores ≤ 3,4, and 5 in the biopsy group were 109,97, and 317 respectively, and those in the RP group were 61,55, and 99 respectively. There were significant differences in the composition of ISUP grades of different PI-RADS scores between the two groups (P<0.001), and there was a positive correlation between the two groups (r=0.493 in the biopsy group, r=0.671 in the RP group, both P<0.001). Using PI-RADS score to predict csPCa, biopsy group (AUC=0.764, P<0.001, 95%CI:0.710-0.819) and RP group (AUC=0.807, P<0.001, 95%CI:0.735-0.879) had certain accuracy. The PI-RADS score combined with PSA could improve the accuracy of csPCa prediction in the biopsy group (AUC=0.795,P<0.001, 95% CI:0.746-0.843) and the RP group (AUC=0.852, P<0.001, 95%CI:0.789-0.915). Compared with the pathological results of biopsy in the RP group, 52.6% of the patients showed upgrade and degrade of ISUP, and there was insignificant difference in the composition of PI-RADS scores between upgraded and degraded patients (P>0.05). However, 41.7%(27/65) of the patients with ISUP grade 1 biopsies had pathological upgrades that the patients with PI-RADS ≤ 3 accounted for 33.3%, while the patients with PI-RADS>3 accounted for 66.7%, and there was significant difference between the two groups (P<0.05). After RP, 43.3% of the patients had positive surgical margins, and the patients with PI-RADS score ≤ 3, 4 and 5 were 13 (14%), 24 (25.8%) and 56 (60.2%), respectively, while the PI-RADS scores of patients with negative surgical margin were 48 (39.3%), 31(25.4%) and 43(35.2%), respectively. There was significant difference between the two groups (P<0.001). The higher the PI-RADS score, the greater the possibility of the positive surgical margin. For the patients with PSA ≥ 100 μg/L, 98.8% (169/171) patients in the biopsy group had a PI-RADS score 5. The pathological results of all patients were csPCa, of which 85.4% (146/171) had ISUP grade ≥ 4. Among them, 6 cases underwent RP, 5 cases had ISUP grade ≥ 4, all surgical margin were positive, 5 cases had seminal vesicle invasion, 3 cases had capsule invasion and 3 cases had positive pelvic lymph nodes. Conclusion: ThePI-RADS score is correlated with the ISUP grade of PCa. Combined with PSA can accurately predict csPCa. At the same time, the higher PI-RADS score, the more likely the patients with positive incisal margin after RP and Gleason score of 3+3=6 at the time of puncture will be upgraded pathologically.

Photosynthetic Conversion of CO2 Into Pinene Using Engineered Synechococcus sp. PCC 7002

Metabolic engineering of cyanobacteria has received much attention as a sustainable strategy to convert CO₂ to various longer carbon chain fuels. Pinene has become increasingly attractive since pinene dimers contain high volumetric energy and have been proposed to act as potential aircraft fuels. However, cyanobacteria cannot directly convert geranyl pyrophosphate into pinene due to the lack of endogenous pinene synthase. Herein, we integrated the gene encoding Abies grandis pinene synthase into the model cyanobacterium Synechococcus sp. PCC 7002 through homologous recombination. The genetically modified cyanobacteria achieved a pinene titer of 1.525 ± 0.l45 mg L^-1 in the lab-scale tube photobioreactor with CO₂ aeration. Specifically, the results showed a mixture of α- and β-pinene (∼33:67 ratio). The ratio of β-pinene in the product was significantly increased compared with that previously reported in the engineered Escherichia coli. Furthermore, we investigated the photoautotrophic growth performances of Synechococcus overlaid with different concentrations of dodecane. The work demonstrates that the engineered Synechococcus is a suitable potential platform for β-pinene production.