Predicting the Risk of Melanoma Metastasis Using an Immune Risk Score in the Melanoma Cohort.

Melanoma is a highly aggressive cancer, attracting increasing attention worldwide. The 5-year survival rate of patients with metastatic melanoma is low. Therefore, it is critical to identify potential effective biomarkers for diagnosis of melanoma metastasis. In the present study, the melanoma cohort and immune genes were obtained from the Cancer Genome Atlas (TCGA) database and the ImmPort database, respectively. Then, we constructed the immune risk score (IRS) using univariate and multivariate logistic analysis. The area under the curve (AUC) of IRS in sequencing samples and the initial diagnosis patients was 0.90 and 0.80, respectively. Besides, IRS could add benefits for metastasis diagnosis. For sequencing samples, IRS (OR = 16.35, 95% CI = 8.74-30.59) increased the odds for melanoma metastasis. Similar results were obtained in the initial diagnosis patients (OR = 8.93, 95% CI = 3.53-22.61). A composite nomogram was built based on IRS and clinical information with well-fitted calibration curves. We further used other independent melanoma cohorts from Gene Expression Omnibus (GEO) databases to confirm the reliability and validity of the IRS (AUC > 0.75, OR > 1.04, and P value < 0.01 in all cohorts). In conclusion, IRS is significantly associated with melanoma metastasis and can be a novel effective signature for predicting the metastasis risk.

Impact of the fermentation broth of Ganoderma lucidum on the quality of Chinese steamed bread.

The potential of fermentation broth of Ganoderma lucidum (FBG) in improving the quality of Chinese steamed bread (CSB) was firstly evaluated. The sensory quality scores of CSB treated by FBG are significantly higher than that of CSB in the control, and texture profile analysis also indicates the increase of CSB hardness and chewiness caused by FBG. Observation on micro-structure of CSB shows that formation of larger pores and expansion of starch granules are the important reasons for the improvement of CSB specific volume (volS), and granule expansion is due to that gluten network distributed in CSB is destroyed as a result of cross-linkage of flour proteins catalyzed by laccase, which makes starch granules releasing from the network easily contact with steam or other enzymes during the proofing and steaming of dough. Moreover, FBG contains amylases which not only convert amylopectin to amylose, but also degrade starch to glucose, maltose and polysaccharides, correspondingly resulting in changes of amylose/amylopectin (Ae/An) ratio of flour and CSB volS, and the latter is because more CO2 produced by the yeast during CSB making leads to the larger pore area in crumb. Both hardness and chewiness are determined by the comprehensive effect of protein cross-linkage, Ae/An ratio and volS change, and this viewpoint gives a logical explanation for the effects of 0.025-0.10 ml/g of FBG on hardness and chewiness of CSB.

Overproduction of laccase from a newly isolated Ganoderma lucidum using the municipal food waste as main carbon and nitrogen supplement.

A strain of Ganoderma lucidum was separated and identified according to its morphological characteristics and phylogenetic data. The fungus is a laccase producer and it can secrete laccase using the municipal food waste (FW) as carbon and nitrogen supplement. After the statistic optimization, a laccase activity of 42,000 ± 600 U/l was obtained at 500 ml flask level and the activity is 12,000 U/l higher than that obtained by fermenting glucose and peptone, indicating that the use of FW to produce laccase not only reduces production cost, but also improves laccase activity. In 15 l bioreactor, FW is also suitable for laccase production and the maximum laccase activity reached 54,000 U/l. Moreover, some details of laccase overproduction using FW were investigated. The G. lucidum consumes FW by secreting a series of hydrolases and proteases and the improvement of laccase activity is because FW induces over-expression of three isoenzymes by polyacrylamide gel electrophoresis analysis.

The glucose metabolic frame of conditions induce the overproduction of a co-culture pigment: induction mechanism of the pigment and development of a specific eutrophic-oligotrophic transition cultivation system.

Induction mechanism of a potential red pigment (RPc) was investigated in the present paper. A typical competition relationship exists between Penicillium sp. HSD07B and Candida tropicalis during co-culture, and C. tropicalis converts glucose into glycerol, organic acids and other substances, resulting in a stricter glucose limitation and the secretion of RPc. Moreover, a novel eutrophic-oligotrophic transition cultivation system (E-OTCS) was developed to produce red pigment during monoculture of Penicillium sp. HSD07B. However, the monoculture pigment (RPm) is different from RPc in components, and RP3 and RP4 only occur in RPm when glycerol is supplied. In addition, the additions of glycerol and organic acids to glucose exhaustion medium can significantly improve the pigment yield. These facts not only prove the feasibility of producing RPm using E-OTCS, but also reveal that, besides glucose exhaustion, the accumulation of metabolites of glucose including glycerol and organic acids is also an important factor influencing the production of RPc.

Overproduction of a potential red pigment by a specific self-immobilization biomembrane-surface liquid culture of Penicillium novae-zeelandiae.

A specific self-immobilization biomembrane-surface liquid culture (SIBSLC) was developed to overproduce a potential penicillium red pigment. Statistic analysis shows that both glucose concentration and membrane diameter are important factors influencing the yield of red pigment. After the optimization using central composite experimental design, the maximum yield of red pigment in shake flask reaches 4.25 g/l. The growth of strain HSD07B consists of three phases, and the pigment secreted in the decelerated phase, is originated from the interior of biomembrane where glucose exhaustion occurs. In addition, the batch and continuous SIBSLC were conducted for production of the pigment, and the latter was more competitive in consideration of the fact that it not only increased 61.5 % of pigment productivity, but also simplified the production process. Moreover, the pigment produced by SIBSLC is potentially acceptable for food applications although it is distinguished from the co-cultured red pigment we reported previously in components.

Is CCR7 a potential target for biologic therapy in psoriasis? Increased expression of CCR7 in psoriasis vulgaris.

BACKGROUND: Activated T cells present in psoriatic plaques play a key role in the pathogenesis of psoriasis. CCR7 on T cells plays a crucial role in native immune response and formation of secondary lymphoid organ. AIMS: To determine whether differential expression and functions of the CCR7 occur in psoriasis patients in China, we examined CCR7 on T cells from normal and psoriasis subjects. METHODS: Skin specimens and T cells from 33 patients and 22 healthy controls were analyzed by immunohistology, flow cytometry, and RT-PCR. RESULTS: Patients with psoriasis had a skewed distribution of T lymphocytes, with an increased level of CCR7+ T lymphocytes compared to healthy controls (P<0.01) By flow cytometry, it was found that CCR7 was selectively, frequently, and functionally expressed on CD4+ (20.5+/-6.8%)but not on CD8+ (9.5+/-3.4%) T cells from patients with psoriasis, whereas this phenomenon was not seen in normal subjects. Through RT-PCR it was also found that CCR7 was highly expressed on T cells in patients with psoriasis than in healthy controls in the level of gene. CONCLUSIONS: Patients with psoriasis had a skewed distribution of T lymphocytes, with an increased level of CCR7+ T lymphocytes compared to healthy controls. CD4+ CCR7+ T cells had abnormal expression, which might induce protraction and persistence of psoriasis.

The simulation of intracranial pressure dynamics.

Intracranial pressure (ICP) research has significant importance in clinic. There are many internal or external factors which cause the vibration of ICP, including heart beat, breath, neural regulation, and so on. A lumped parameter mathematical model of ICP dynamics is established based on animal (dogs) experiments, which includes cerebrovascular bed, cerebrospinal fluid (CSF) formation and absorption, brain compliance, lumbar cerebrospinal fluid, and interactions between these factors. An exponential volume-pressure relationship is employed in this simulation to describe cerebrovascular compliance. The model well simulates intracranial pressure dynamics and the vibration of ICP when compared to animal experiments; the changes of parameters in simulation are consistent with animal experiments. It offers certain values for clinical ICP ward and diagnosis.