Taura 综合征病毒主要结构蛋白的表达与纯化

根据Taura综合征病毒(TSV)基因组,设计特异性引物,从感染病毒组织中提取组织总RNA后扩增,分别将3个主要结构蛋白基因VP1、VP2和VP3克隆到pGEM TEasyVector.与表达载体连接后,导入大肠杆菌中诱导表达,并纯化目的蛋白.诱导表达的融合蛋白分子量分别为54.2×103、43×103和57.1×103,在变性条件下过柱纯化VP1和VP2,一次可以纯化10mg以上纯度较高的蛋白.     

治疗小儿厌食症中药强壮灵冲剂微量元素测定及其与疗效关系探讨

已证明小儿厌食症除与缺乏微量元素锌关系密切外,还与其他多种微量元素和宏量元素的缺乏或低下也有关。本院以自行研制的中药强壮灵冲剂治疗小儿厌食症疗效显著。其于浸膏粉经２０余种微量元素测定表明含有锌、铁、钴、铜、镍、锰、铬、锗、锶、铝、钡、硒、硅、钛等多种人体必需且品种齐全,含量适度的微量元素。上述元素又恰是患儿体内所缺乏和低下的品种,无疑对患儿全面适度的补充大有裨益．中药强壮灵与西药硫酸锌临床对比研究表明,无论比发锌回升数值以及从厌食等全面疗效统计,中药组均明显优于西药组,并且发现疗效与药物的补锌量不成正相关。说明中药的调理脾胃功能及综合整体治疗作用是其突出优点,值得推广．     

Virtual Screening of Artemisia annua Phytochemicals as Potential Inhibitors of SARS-CoV-2 Main Protease Enzyme

Severe acute respiratory syndrome coronavirus 2 (SARS-CoV-2) is a human coronaviruses that emerged in China at Wuhan city, Hubei province during December 2019. Subsequently, SARS-CoV-2 has spread worldwide and caused millions of deaths around the globe. Several compounds and vaccines have been proposed to tackle this crisis. Novel recommended in silico approaches have been commonly used to screen for specific SARS-CoV-2 inhibitors of different types. Herein, the phytochemicals of Pakistani medicinal plants (especially Artemisia annua) were virtually screened to identify potential inhibitors of the SARS-CoV-2 main protease enzyme. The X-ray crystal structure of the main protease of SARS-CoV-2 with an N3 inhibitor was obtained from the protein data bank while A. annua phytochemicals were retrieved from different drug databases. The docking technique was carried out to assess the binding efficacy of the retrieved phytochemicals; the docking results revealed that several phytochemicals have potential to inhibit the SARS-CoV-2 main protease enzyme. Among the total docked compounds, the top-10 docked complexes were considered for further study and evaluated for their physiochemical and pharmacokinetic properties. The top-3 docked complexes with the best binding energies were as follows: the top-1 docked complex with a −7 kcal/mol binding energy score, the top-2 docked complex with a −6.9 kcal/mol binding energy score, and the top-3 docked complex with a −6.8 kcal/mol binding energy score. These complexes were subjected to a molecular dynamic simulation analysis for further validation to check the dynamic behavior of the selected top-complexes. During the whole simulation time, no major changes were observed in the docked complexes, which indicated complex stability. Additionally, the free binding energies for the selected docked complexes were also estimated via the MM-GB/PBSA approach, and the results revealed that the total delta energies of MMGBSA were −24.23 kcal/mol, −26.38 kcal/mol, and −25 kcal/mol for top-1, top-2, and top-3, respectively. MMPBSA calculated the delta total energy as −17.23 kcal/mol (top-1 complex), −24.75 kcal/mol (top-2 complex), and −24.86 kcal/mol (top-3 complex). This study explored in silico screened phytochemicals against the main protease of the SARS-CoV-2 virus; however, the findings require an experimentally based study to further validate the obtained results.     

In Silico Analysis of PORD Mutations on the 3D Structure of P450 Oxidoreductase

Cytochrome P450 oxidoreductase (POR) is a membrane-bound flavoprotein that helps in transferring electrons from its NADPH domain to all cytochrome P450 (CYP450) enzymes. Mutations in the POR gene could severely affect the metabolism of steroid hormones and the development of skeletal muscles, a condition known as Cytochrome P450 oxidoreductase deficiency (PORD). PORD is associated with clinical presentations of disorders of sex development, Antley and Bixler’s syndrome (ABS), as well as an abnormal steroid hormone profile. We have performed an in silico analysis of POR 3D X-ray protein crystal structure to study the effects of reported mutations on the POR enzyme structure. A total of 32 missense mutations were identified, from 170 PORD patients, and mapped on the 3D crystal structure of the POR enzyme. In addition, five of the missense mutations (R457H, A287P, D210G, Y181D and Y607C) were further selected for an in-depth in silico analysis to correlate the observed changes in POR protein structure with the clinical phenotypes observed in PORD patients. Overall, missense mutations found in the binding sites of POR cofactors could lead to a severe form of PORD, emphasizing the importance of POR cofactor binding domains in transferring electrons to the CYP450 enzyme family.     

Protective Effects of Ferulic Acid on Metabolic Syndrome: A Comprehensive Review

Metabolic syndrome (MetS) is a complex disease in which protein, fat, carbohydrates and other substances are metabolized in a disorderly way. Ferulic acid (FA) is a phenolic acid found in many vegetables, fruits, cereals and Chinese herbs that has a strong effect on ameliorating MetS. However, no review has summarized the mechanisms of FA in treating MetS. This review collected articles related to the effects of FA on ameliorating the common symptoms of MetS, such as diabetes, hyperlipidemia, hypertension and obesity, from different sources involving Web of Science, PubMed and Google Scholar, etc. This review summarizes the potential mechanisms of FA in improving various metabolic disorders according to the collected articles. FA ameliorates diabetes via the inhibition of the expressions of PEPCK, G6Pase and GP, the upregulation of the expressions of GK and GS, and the activation of the PI3K/Akt/GLUT4 signaling pathway. The decrease of blood pressure is related to the endothelial function of the aortas and RAAS. The improvement of the lipid spectrum is mediated via the suppression of the HMG-Co A reductase, by promoting the ACSL1 expression and by the regulation of the factors associated with lipid metabolism. Furthermore, FA inhibits obesity by upregulating the MEK/ERK pathway, the MAPK pathway and the AMPK signaling pathway and by inhibiting SREBP-1 expression. This review can be helpful for the development of FA as an appreciable agent for MetS treatment.     

Biomolecules from Plant Wastes Potentially Relevant in the Management of Irritable Bowel Syndrome and Co-Occurring Symptomatology

During and following the processing of a plant’s raw material, considerable amounts are wasted, composted, or redistributed in non-alimentary sectors for further use (for example, some forms of plant waste contribute to biofuel, bioethanol, or biomass production). However, many of these forms of waste still consist of critical bioactive compounds used in the food industry or medicine. Irritable bowel syndrome (IBS) is one of the most common functional gastrointestinal disorders. The primary treatment is based on symptomatology alleviation and controlled dietary management. Thus, this review aimed to describe the possible relevance of molecules residing in plant waste that can be used to manage IBS and co-occurring symptoms. Significant evidence was found that many forms of fruit, vegetable, and medicinal plant waste could be the source of some molecules that could be used to treat or prevent stool consistency and frequency impairments and abdominal pain, these being the main IBS symptoms. While many of these molecules could be recovered from plant waste during or following primary processing, the studies suggested that enriched food could offer efficient valorization and prevent further changes in properties or stability. In this way, root, stem, straw, leaf, fruit, and vegetable pomaces were found to consist of biomolecules that could modulate intestinal permeability, pain perception, and overall gastrointestinal digestive processes.     

MRI相关定量参数在肩峰下撞击综合征诊断中的价值及与肩关节功能、治疗效果的关系

为分析MRI相关定量参数对肩峰下撞击综合征(SIS)的诊断价值,本研究将56例SIS患者设为SIS组,同期56例健康体检者设为对照组,对比了两组对象的一般资料、肩关节功能评分(Constant评分)及MRI相关定量参数水平,探讨了 MRI定量参数与Constant评分、SIS发病相关影响因素、治疗效果的关系及对SIS的...     

Intra-abdominal fat area is a predictor for new onset of individual components of metabolic syndrome: MEtabolic syndRome and abdominaL ObesiTy (MERLOT study)

Objective: To investigate the significance of intra-abdominal fat area (IAFA) on new onset of individual components of the metabolic syndrome: high blood pressure, dyslipidemia, or hyperglycemia. Methods: We conducted a longitudinal study using checkup data of a hospital from 1994 to 2010. Of 25,255 subjects, we examined 1,380 Japanese, who underwent computed tomography to measure IAFA and had no metabolic syndrome components at baseline. Results: During 3.6 years of the mean follow-up period, one of metabolic syndrome components occurred in 752 subjects. Of three components, high blood pressure was more prevalent. The multiple Cox regression analysis disclosed that IAFA is significantly associated with onset of metabolic syndrome components (HR: 1.05 per 10 cm², 95%CI: 1.03–1.07). This finding was independent of BMI, and significant even in non-obese individuals with body mass index <25 kg/m². Conclusions: MERLOT study demonstrates that IAFA is an independent predictor for new onset of individual components of the metabolic syndrome, even in non-obese healthy Japanese.     

Separation and Analysis of o.p'-DDD and its Lipophilic Metabolite,O.P'-DDE,in Tissue,Faeces and Plasma

Abstract

An analytical procedure based on electron capture gas chromatography for the determination of o,p′-DDD, a drug used for the treatment of Cushing′s syndrome, is presented. Detection of a metabolite, identified as o,p′-DDE, is also described.     

钙蛋白酶-10 基因SNP-19 与多囊卵巢综合征相关性研究

目的 探讨钙蛋白酶-10 基因（CAPN-10）单核苷酸多态性-19（SNP-19）与多囊卵巢综合征（PCOS）的相关性。 方法 采用聚合酶链反应- 限制性片段长度多态性（PCR-RFLP）技术,对107 例PCOS患者（PCOS 组）及111 例健康体检者（对照组）的CAPN-10 SNP-19 进行分析,并测定其性激素和生化指标。PCOS组再根据BMI与胰岛素抵抗（IR）稳态模型指数（HOMA-IR）分为肥胖组与非肥胖组、IR 组与非IR 组,分析CAPN-10 SNP-19 与其关系。结果 与对照组相比,PCOS 组BMI、空腹血糖（FPG）、TG、TC、LDL、黄体生成素（LH）、黄体生成素/ 卵泡刺激素（LH/FSH）、睾酮（T）均升高（均P＜0.01）。PCOS 组CAPN-10 SNP-19 1等位基因及1/2基因型频率均高于对照组（均P＜0.05）;且CAPN-10 SNP-19 1/2基因型PCOS 发病风险较1/1、2/2 基因型增加约2倍（OR=1.9,95％CI=1.1~3.3,P＜0.05）。CAPN-10 SNP-19 1、2等位基因频率PCOS 肥胖组与非肥胖组、IR 组与非IR组比较均无统 计学差异（均P＞0.05）;PCOS 肥胖组和IR组CAPN-10 SNP-19 1/2基因型频率分别高于非肥胖组和非IR 组,但差异均无统计学意义（均P＞0.05）。结论 CAPN-10 SNP-19 与PCOS 遗传易感性有关,可能与PCOS 肥胖及IR 无关。