Simulation of the Interactions of Arginine with Wild-Type GALT Enzyme and the Classic Galactosemia-Related Mutant p.Q188R by a Computational Approach

Classic galactosemia is an inborn error of metabolism associated with mutations that impair the activity and the stability of galactose-1-phosphate uridylyltransferase (GALT), catalyzing the third step in galactose metabolism. To date, no treatments (including dietary galactose deprivation) are able to prevent or alleviate the long-term complications affecting galactosemic patients. Evidence that arginine is able to improve the activity of the human enzyme expressed in a prokaryotic model of classic galactosemia has induced researchers to suppose that this amino acid could act as a pharmacochaperone, but no effects were detected in four galactosemic patients treated with this amino acid. Given that no molecular characterizations of the possible effects of arginine on GALT have been performed, and given that the samples of patients treated with arginine are extremely limited for drawing definitive conclusions at the clinical level, we performed computational simulations in order to predict the interactions (if any) between this amino acid and the enzyme. Our results do not support the possibility that arginine could function as a pharmacochaperone for GALT, but information obtained by this study could be useful for identifying, in the future, possible pharmacochaperones for this enzyme.     

血液病与微量元素关系的研究

研究了血液病与微量元素的关系,发现再生障碍性贫血患者治疗前血清Ｃｕ升高（Ｐ〈０．０５）,缓解后Ｃｕ恢复正常。骨髓增生异常综合征（ＭＤＳ）中ＲＡ＋ＲＡＳ组Ｃｕ及Ｃｕ／Ｚｎ比值高,Ｚｎ值降低不明显;ＲＡＥＢ＋ＲＡＥＢ－Ｔ组Ｃｕ及Ｃｕ／Ｚｎ高,Ｚｎ值明显降低（Ｐ〈０．０５）。急性白血病、淋巴瘤、多发性骨髓瘤及慢粒患者血清Ｃｕ、Ｚｎ及Ｃｕ／Ｚｎ比值与对照组比较均呈显著差异（Ｐ〈０．０５￣０．０１）,而缓解     

Paradoxical vocal fold motion: Presentation and treatment options

Paradoxical vocal fold motion is a rare disorder in which adduction of the folds occurs on inspiration. The disorder presents with signs of airway obstruction and often airway distress, so proper diagnosis by the otorhinolaryngologist is critical to subsequent management. We present a retrospective review of 10 patients with the diagnosis of paradoxical vocal fold motion seen over a 6-year period. Eight patients were females, and 6 required an acute airway intervention at presentation; 3 patients eventually underwent tracheotomy for respiratory decompensation. Six patients had a prior diagnosis of asthma, and this was determined to contribute to their respiratory status. Five patients were treated with botulinum toxin and 2 with flexible nasolaryngoscopic biofeedback, which improved the outcome. A review of the literature confirms a female predominance of patients presenting with paradoxical adduction and airway distress, often with a history of asthma and psychopathology. Our experience with botulinum toxin and biofeedback suggests that these procedures are viable treatment options in the management of patients with this disorder.     

蛋氨酸亚砜/蛋氨酸亚砜还原酶荧光检测研究进展

蛋白质蛋氨酸亚砜化是一种重要的氧化还原依赖的蛋白质翻译后修饰,不仅是氧化应激的重要标志物之一,也是一种蛋白质功能调控开关可影响活性氧信号转导,与一系列疾病尤其是神经退行性疾病的发生发展密切相关。 在许多生物体中,蛋氨酸亚砜还原酶是目前已经发现的唯一能将蛋白质蛋氨酸亚砜还原为蛋氨酸的物质,可以修复氧化损伤蛋白,恢复蛋白质功能,调控细胞氧还平衡,对相关疾病的治疗具有非常重要的意义。 本文重点介绍蛋氨酸亚砜和蛋氨酸亚砜还原酶的结构和催化机理,综述蛋氨酸亚砜和蛋氨酸亚砜还原酶荧光探针的部分研究进展,对该领域的研究前景进行展望。     

农作物冠层光谱信息检测技术及方法综述

相比传统的化学方法及主观视觉测定植物生理信息指标,通过光谱辐射仪对农作物冠层信息的评估更简单、快速和精确。本文结合近年来农作物群体信息的获取方法,综述了不同类型光谱仪尤其以国际上应用最广泛的Cropscan多光谱辐射仪在农作物群体叶面积指数、生物量、氮素及叶绿素的预测,病虫害的监测及产量预测中的应用。总结了不同类型的的植被指数(VIs)、冠层光谱的获取及光谱分析方法,比较了不同农作物建立相关模型的回归系数。总体上建立的数学模型的相关系数较高,能实现对农作物各种生理信息等的检测。此外,将多光谱辐射仪与多种传感器相结合所得到的综合信息对于全面评价农作物生长情况具有重要指导价值。     

防治心脑血管疾病药物——灯盏细辛酚的研究与开发

灯盏细辛是著名的传统中药,全草用于治疗脑血管病中风及其后遗症偏瘫有良好疗效的中药材。自20世纪80年代,已开发了两种制剂（片剂和注射剂）在临床上用于治疗脑栓塞、脑血栓形成、脑血栓引起的瘫痪、冠心病、心绞痛、急性肾功能衰退以及肾变病综合症等。在临床上有很好疗效。为此,灯盏细辛已收载于2005年版《中华人民共和国药典》一部。自1992年始,我们再次对灯盏细辛的化学和活性成分进行了深入研究,发现了一系列二咖啡酰基奎宁酸酯类化合物同样为其主要活性成分,这些酚性成分为：1,5-,3,5-和4,5-二咖啡酰基奎宁酸和飞蓬酯乙等。为此,我们研发了包括灯盏乙素和上述系列酚类化合物为有效部位的、名"灯盏细辛酚"的注射液。已于2007年7月完成III期临床研究,正在申请新药证书。经临床研究表明,与同类药物相比是起效快、对重症病人疗效尤为显著、总有效率达98%以上的,有效成分清楚,质量可控,疗效确切的新一代制剂。     

Fluorescent Immunoassays for Detection and Quantification of Cardiac Troponin I: A Short Review

Cardiovascular diseases are considered one of the major causes of human death globally. Myocardial infarction (MI), characterized by a diminished flow of blood to the heart, presents the highest rate of morbidity and mortality among all other cardiovascular diseases. These fatal effects have triggered the need for early diagnosis of appropriate biomarkers so that countermeasures can be taken. Cardiac troponin, the central key element of muscle regulation and contraction, is the most specific biomarker for cardiac injury and is considered the “gold standard”. Due to its high specificity, the measurement of cardiac troponin levels has become the predominant indicator of MI. Various forms of diagnostic methods have been developed so far, including chemiluminescence, fluorescence immunoassay, enzyme-linked immunosorbent assay, surface plasmon resonance, electrical detection, and colorimetric protein assays. However, fluorescence-based immunoassays are considered fast, accurate and most sensitive of all in the determination of cardiac troponins post-MI. This review represents the strategies, methods and levels of detection involved in the reported fluorescence-based immunoassays for the detection of cardiac troponin I.     

Outcome of laryngeal and velopharyngeal biofeedback treatment in children and young adults: A pilot study

A relatively new management strategy for the treatment of voice disorders is the use of laryngeal (LB) and velopharyngeal biofeedback (VB). The main purpose of the present pilot study is to document the outcome of vocal and velopharyngeal performances after a well-defined LB and VB treatment. Four subjects were studied pretreatment (1 week before LB or VB treatment) and posttreatment (1 week after the LB or VB treatment). To measure and compare the effect of LB and VB, objective and subjective assessment techniques were used. Perceptual voice assessment included a perceptual rating of the voice using the GRBAS scale. Furthermore, the vocal quality in this population is modeled by means of the Dysphonia Severity Index. For the objective assessment of nasal resonance, the Nasometer and the Glatzel test were used. A perceptual evaluation of speech, the Gutzmann test, and the tests from Bzoch were used as subjective assessment techniques. Both patients selected for LB and VB treatment showed improvement of their performances. The resulting improvement, as measured by means of an objective approach, is in agreement with the perceived (auditory) improvement of voice and resonance. The use of LB and VB treatment in patients, especially in some subjects who are not responding to traditional voice or velopharyngeal therapy, must be encouraged.