Surufatinib combined with transarterial embolization versus surufatinib monotherapy in patients with liver metastatic neuroendocrine tumors: Study protocol for a prospective, randomized, controlled trial.

BACKGROUND: More than half of neuroendocrine tumor (NET) patients will experience liver metastasis, and interventional therapy represented by transarterial embolization (TAE) is the main local treatment method. Surufatinib is recommended as a standard systemic treatment for advanced NETs. The efficacy and safety of surufatinib combined with TAE in the treatment of liver metastasis are undetermined. This study was conducted to compare the clinical outcome of surufatinib combined with TAE versus surufatinib monotherapy in liver metastatic NETs. METHODS: This is a prospective, multicenter, open-label, and randomized controlled trial. Patients diagnosed with liver metastatic NETs will be enrolled. Participants are randomly assigned in a 1:1 ratio to either the experimental group or the control group. Patients will be treated with surufatinib plus TAE in the experimental group, while patients in the control group will receive surufatinib monotherapy. The primary endpoint is progression-free survival (PFS) assessed by a blinded independent image review committee (BIIRC). The secondary endpoints are investigator-assessed PFS, liver-specific objective response rate (ORR), objective response rate (ORR), disease control rate (DCR), overall survival (OS), and incidence of adverse events. DISCUSSION: This is the first prospective study to investigate the efficacy of surufatinib combined with TAE. We expect this trial to propose a new and effective treatment strategy for liver metastatic NETs.

Emerging role of exosome-shuttled noncoding RNAs in gastrointestinal cancers: From intercellular crosstalk to clinical utility.

Gastrointestinal cancer remains a significant global health burden. The pursuit of advancing the comprehension of tumorigenesis, along with the identification of reliable biomarkers and the development of precise therapeutic strategies, represents imperative objectives in this field. Exosomes, small membranous vesicles released by most cells, commonly carry functional biomolecules, including noncoding RNAs (ncRNAs), which are specifically sorted and encapsulated by exosomes. Exosome-mediated communication involves the release of exosomes from tumor or stromal cells and the uptake by nearby or remote recipient cells. The bioactive cargoes contained within these exosomes exert profound effects on the recipient cells, resulting in significant modifications in the tumor microenvironment (TME) and distinct alterations in gastrointestinal tumor behaviors. Due to the feasibility of isolating exosomes from various bodily fluids, exosomal ncRNAs have shown great potential as liquid biopsy-based indicators for different gastrointestinal cancers, using blood, ascites, saliva, or bile samples. Moreover, exosomes are increasingly recognized as natural delivery vehicles for ncRNA-based therapeutic interventions. In this review, we elucidate the processes of ncRNA-enriched exosome biogenesis and uptake, examine the regulatory and functional roles of exosomal ncRNA-mediated intercellular crosstalk in gastrointestinal TME and tumor behaviors, and explore their potential clinical utility in diagnostics, prognostics, and therapeutics.

The emerging role of adopting protamine for reducing the risk of bleeding complications during the percutaneous coronary intervention: A meta-analysis.

BACKGROUND: The safety and the benefits of reducing the risk of bleeding complications via protamine administration during the percutaneous coronary intervention (PCI) remains unclear. This study aimed to systematically assessed the efficacy and safety of using protamine in PCI. METHOD: Potential academic studies were identified from PubMed, Cochrane Library, EMBASE, and Web of Science. The time range we retrieved from was that from the inception of electronic databases to March 31, 2022. Gray studies were identified from the references of included literature reports. Stata version 12.0 statistical software (StataCorp LP) was used to analyze the pooled data. RESULTS: A total of seven studies were involved in our study. The overall participants of the protamine group were 4983, whereas it was 1953 in the nonprotamine group. This meta-analysis indicated that protamine was preferable for PCI as its lower value of major bleeding (odds ratio [OR] = 0.489, 95% confidence interval [CI]: 0.362-0.661, p < .001) and minor bleeding (OR = 0.281, 95% CI: 0.123-0.643, p = .003). Additionally, the protamine did not tend to be related a higher incidence of mortality (p = .143), myocardial infarction (p = .990), and stent thrombosis (p = .698). CONCLUSIONS: Based on available evidence, use of protamine may reduce the risk of bleeding complications without increasing the risk of mortality, myocardial infarction, and stent thrombosis. Given the relevant possible biases in our study, adequately powered and better-designed studies with long-term follow-up are required to reach a firmer conclusion.

Pulmonary adverse events associated with hypertension in non-small cell lung cancer patients receiving PD-1/PD-L1 inhibitors.

Introduction: Non-small cell lung cancer patients have gained therapeutic benefits from immune checkpoint inhibitors, although immune-related adverse events (irAEs) could be inevitable. Whether irAEs are associated with chronic diseases is still unclear, our study aims to clarify the distinct adverse events in NSCLC patients with concomitant hypertension. Methods: Adverse event cases were searched and collected in the Food and Drug Administration (FDA) Adverse Event Reporting System (FAERS) database from January 2015 to December 2021. We performed disproportionality analysis to detect safety signals by calculating reporting odds ratios (ROR) and corresponding 95% confidence intervals (95% CIs), information component (IC), and the lower bound of the information component 95% credibility interval (IC025). Results: Among 17,163 NSCLC patients under treatment with single-agent anti-programmed death-1/programmed death ligand-1 (PD-1/PD-L1) inhibitor (nivolumab, pembrolizumab, cemiplimab, durvalumab, atezolizumab, and avelumab), 497 patients had hypertension while 16,666 patients had no hypertension. 4,283 pulmonary AEs were reported, including 166 patients with hypertension and 4,117 patients without hypertension. Compared with patients without hypertension, patients with hypertension were positively associated with increased reporting of interstitial lung disease (ROR = 3.62, 95%CI 2.68-4.89, IC = 1.54, IC025 = 0.57) among patients receiving anti-PD-1 treatment. The median duration of onset from the time of initiation of anti-PD-1 administration was 28 days (IQR, 12.00-84.25). Conclusion: Our pharmacovigilance analysis showed the profile of pulmonary toxicities in NSCLC patients with hypertension caused by anti-PD-1/PD-L1 inhibitors. Interstitial lung disease was the statistically significant reporting adverse event in patients with hypertension receiving anti-PD-1 treatment.

Overview of all-trans-retinoic acid (ATRA) and its analogues: Structures, activities, and mechanisms in acute promyelocytic leukaemia.

All-trans-retinoic acid (ATRA) is effective for preventing cancer and treating skin diseases and acute promyelocytic leukaemia (APL). These pharmacological effects of ATRA are mainly mediated by retinoid X receptors (RXRs) and retinoic acid receptors (RARs). This article provides a comprehensive overview of the clinical progress on and the molecular mechanisms of ATRA in the treatment of APL. ATRA can promote the transcriptional activation of differentiation-related genes and regulate autophagy by inhibiting mTOR, which results in anti-APL effects. In detail, the structures, pharmacological effects, and clinical studies of 68 types of ATRA analogues are described. These compounds have excellent antitumour therapeutic potential and could be used as lead compounds for further development and research.

Insights into forsythia honeysuckle (Lianhuaqingwen) capsules: A Chinese herbal medicine repurposed for COVID-19 pandemic.

Background: In December 2019, a novel coronavirus, SARS-CoV-2 caused a series of acute atypical respiratory diseases worldwide. However, there is still a lack of drugs with clear curative effects, and the clinical trial research of vaccines has not been completely finished. Purpose: LH capsules are approved TCM patent medicine that are widely used for the treatment of respiratory tract infectious diseases caused by colds and flu. On April 12, 2020, LH capsules and granules were officially repurposed by the China Food and Drug Administration (CFDA) for patients with mild COVID-19 based on their safety and efficacy demonstrated through multicentre, randomized, controlled clinical trials. We hope to conduct a comprehensive review of it through modern pharmacy methods, and try to explain its possible mechanism. Methods: Using the full names of LH capsules Lianhuaqingwen, Lianhua Qingwen andSARS-COV-2, COVID-19 as the keywords of the search terms, systemically search for existing related papers in various databases such as Web of Science and PubMed. And completed the collection of clinical data in ClinicalTrials.gov and Chinese Clinical Trial Registry. Last but not least, we have sorted out the anti-inflammatory and antiviral mechanisms of LH capsules through literature and Selleck. Results: This review systematically sorted out the active ingredients in LH capsules. Furthermore, the related pharmacological and clinical trials of LH capsule on SARS-CoV-2, IAV and IBV were discussed in detail. Moreover, the present review provides the first summary of the potential molecular mechanism of specific substances in LH capsules involved in resistance to SARS-COV-2 infection and the inhibition of cytokine storm syndrome (CSS) caused by IL-6. Conclusion: This review summarizes the available reports and evidence that support the use of LH capsules as potential drug candidates for the prevention and treatment of COVID-19. However, TCM exerts its effects through multiple targets and multiple pathways, and LH capsules are not an exception. Therefore, the relevant mechanisms need to be further improved and experimentally verified.

Esculin and ferric citrate-incorporated sturgeon skin gelatine as an antioxidant film for food packaging to prevent Enterococcus faecalis contamination.

Herein, a sturgeon skin gelatine film combined with esculin and ferric citrate was developed as an edible food packaging material to prevent Enterococcus faecalis (E. faecalis) contamination. E. faecalis is able to hydrolyse esculin in the film, and then the hydrolysed product, esculetin, combines with ferric citrate to form a brown-black phenol iron complex. This phenomenon can be observed easily after 48 h of contamination under visible light, and it can be determined under 365 nm ultraviolet light with high sensitivity. With the addition of esculin and ferric citrate, the film showed better mechanical properties and water vapour permeability than those of the unmodified gelatine. When an increased amount of esculin was added, an increase in thermal stability, antioxidant activity, and antioxidant stability of the film was observed. These physicochemical characteristics are beneficial for developing a packaging material for food storage that mitigates foodborne illness caused by E. faecalis.

The development of Coronavirus 3C-Like protease (3CLpro) inhibitors from 2010 to 2020.

This review fully describes the coronavirus 3CLpro peptidomimetic inhibitors and nonpeptidic small molecule inhibitors developed from 2010 to 2020. Specifically, the structural characteristics, binding modes and SARs of these 3CLpro inhibitors are expounded in detail by division into two categories: peptidomimetic inhibitors mainly utilize electrophilic warhead groups to covalently bind the 3CLpro Cys145 residue and thereby achieve irreversible inhibition effects, whereas nonpeptidic small molecule inhibitors mainly interact with residues in the S1', S1, S2 and S4 pockets via hydrogen bonds, hydrophobic bonds and van der Waals forces. Based on the emerging PROTAC technology and the existing 3CLpro inhibitors, 3CLpro PROTAC degraders are hypothesised to be next-generation anti-coronavirus drugs.

Secoisolariciresinol Diglucoside Exerts Anti-Inflammatory and Antiapoptotic Effects through Inhibiting the Akt/IκB/NF-κB Pathway on Human Umbilical Vein Endothelial Cells.

Inflammation is a key regulator in the progression of atherosclerosis (AS) which extremely affects people's health. Secoisolariciresinol diglucoside (SDG), a plant lignan, is relevant to angiogenesis and cardioprotection against ischemia-reperfusion injury and improves vascular disorders. However, the effect of SDG on cardiovascular disorder is not clear. In the present study, we aimed to investigate the effects of SDG on lipopolysaccharide- (LPS-) stimulated Human Umbilical Vein Endothelial Cells (HUVECs) and elucidate the underlying mechanism. The LPS-stimulated HUVEC cellular model was established. The cell viability, the cell tube formation activity, the nitric oxide (NO) release, the levels of inflammatory cytokine interleukin-1ß (IL-1ß), interleukin-6 (IL-6), tumor necrosis factor-α (TNF-α), the activation of nuclear factor kappa-B (NF-κB) pathway, and the expression of protein kinase B (Akt) were determined using Cell Counting Kit-8, cell tube-formation assay, western blotting, and enzyme-linked immunosorbent assay. Our results revealed that SDG reduces the angiogenic capacity of HUVECs and inhibited LPS-mediated HUVEC injury and apoptosis. In addition, SDG increased NO release and decreased the levels of IL-1ß, IL-6, and TNF-α in LPS-treated HUVECs. Meanwhile, SDG inhibited the NF-κB pathway and downregulated Akt expression in LPS-induced HUVECs. Our results indicated that SDG relieves LPS-mediated HUVEC injury by inhibiting the NF-κB pathway which is partly dependent on the disruption of Akt activation. Therefore, SDG exerts its cytoprotective effects in the context of LPS-treated HUVECs via regulation of the Akt/IκB/NF-κB pathway and may be a potential treatment drug for cardiovascular disease.

A promising antiviral candidate drug for the COVID-19 pandemic: A mini-review of remdesivir.

Remdesivir (GS-5734), a viral RNA-dependent RNA polymerase (RdRP) inhibitor that can be used to treat a variety of RNA virus infections, is expected to be an effective treatment for severe acute respiratory syndrome coronavirus 2 (SARS-CoV-2) infection. On May 1, 2020, The U.S. Food and Drug Administration (FDA) has granted Emergency Use Authorization (EUA) for remdesivir to treat COVID-19 patients. In light of the COVID-19 pandemic, this review presents comprehensive information on remdesivir, including information regarding the milestones, intellectual properties, anti-coronavirus mechanisms, preclinical research and clinical trials, and in particular, the chemical synthesis, pharmacology, toxicology, pharmacodynamics and pharmacokinetics of remdesivir. Furthermore, perspectives regarding the use of remdesivir for the treatment of COVID-19 are also discussed.

Removal of chloramphenicol in aqueous solutions by modified humic acid loaded with nanoscale zero-valent iron particles.

As a natural organic carbon skeleton, humic acid (HA) was loaded with nanoscale zero-valent iron (nZVI) Particles to remove chloramphenicol (CAP) from aqueous solution. The pore morphology and structure, the type, the distribution and valence state of element, and the class of functional groups on the surface of the material were shown by SEM/EDS, XPS, BET and FTIR. When the load ratio of nZVI on HA was 1:30, the iron content in the material was minimized, the specific gravity of the economic material-HA was increased, and the removal efficiency of CAP was 80.0% or higher. In addition, the mass ratio of nZVI on HA, the dosage of nZVI/HA-30, the initial pH and CAP concentration of the solution, these four general factors, played an important role in the efficiency and equilibrium time of the CAP removal. The removal efficiency of CAP by nZVI/HA-30 was 84.2% when the dosage was 1.0 g (100 mL)-1, the initial concentration of CAP was 30 mg L-1 and the pH was 3. The reaction pathway and removal mechanism of ZVI/HA-30 were studied by the concentration of total and ferrous iron ions in the solution, UV-Vis and MS. The CAP was continuously denitrified and dechlorinated, decomposed into easily degradable substances by nZVI particles supported on HA, which was consistent with the first-order kinetic model within 5 min. This newly synthesized material was economical and efficient, easy to store, effectively prevented agglomeration and passivation of nZVI, and had a good application prospect for removing contaminants from water.

Review of the molecular mechanisms of Ganoderma lucidum triterpenoids: Ganoderic acids A, C2, D, F, DM, X and Y.

Ganoderma lucidum is a multi-purpose plant medicine that is homologous to functional food. The most attractive properties of G. lucidum are its immunomodulatory and antitumour activities, which are mainly attributed to the following two major active components: G. lucidum polysaccharides and G. lucidum triterpenoids (GLTs). GLTs are effective as supplemental therapies and improve health when combined with other medications to treat hepatitis, fatigue syndrome, and prostate cancer. However, research investigating the mechanism and application of G. lucidum or GLTs in the treatment of diseases remains preliminary in terms of both the utilization efficacy and product type. This review offers comprehensive insight into the pharmacological activities of GLTs and their potential applications in the development of functional foods and nutraceuticals. Specifically, 83 GLTs were selected, and their molecular structures and chemical formulas were described. We also describe 7 ganoderic acids that are currently at different stages of clinical trials (ganoderic acids A, C2, D, F, DM, X and Y). The related pharmacodynamic mechanisms and targeted signalling proteins were further analysed. Notably, the specific relationship between autophagy and apoptosis induced by ganoderic acid DM is summarized here for the first time.

Protective Role of Selenium Compounds on the Proliferation, Apoptosis, and Angiogenesis of a Canine Breast Cancer Cell Line.

We herein examined the effects of different doses, forms, and compatibilities of selenium on a canine mammary gland tumor cell line, CTM1211, and explored the related mechanisms. Three selenium compounds, sodium selenite (SSE), methylseleninic acid (MSA), and methylselenocysteine (MSC), were selected for these experiments, and cyclophosphamide (CTX) served as a positive control. In the cell viability assay, the cell viability of each group at 48/72 h decreased significantly compared with the control group (p < 0.05), and the cell viability of the CTX + MSA group was lower than that of CTX and MSA groups (p < 0.05). Moreover, the inhibitory effect of selenium on cell proliferation was time-dependent but not concentration-dependent. In the cell apoptosis assay, the apoptosis values of each group increased significantly compared with the control group, and the apoptosis values of the CTX + MSA group increased the most significantly (p < 0.01). The protein and mRNA expression levels of vascular endothelial growth factor-alpha (VEGF-alpha), angiopoietin-2 (Ang-2), and hypoxia inducible factor-1 alpha (HIF-1 alpha) were downregulated in each group, while that of phosphatase and tensin homolog (PTEN) were upregulated (p < 0.05). In conclusion, these three selenium compounds, especially MSA, could significantly inhibit the viability and growth of the CTM1211 cell line, which is partly due to the induction of apoptosis and regulation of tumor angiogenesis.

Ceramide participates in lysosome-mediated cell death induced by type II anti-CD20 monoclonal antibodies.

Considering the variable and often modest therapeutic efficacy of rituximab for a substantial proportion of patients suffering from non-Hodgkin lymphomas (NHLs), various type II anti-CD20 monoclonal antibodies (mAbs) with excellent ability in inducing programmed cell death (PCD) are currently being developed for their enhanced therapeutic index. Although homotypic adhesion (HA) and lysosome leakage are proven to be of vital importance in type II mAb-induced PCD in NHL cells, the detailed relationship between them remains unclear. Herein, for the first time we discovered that improved intracellular ceramide level is an important mediator between HA and lysosome leakage in tositumomab-induced cell death. Further experimental results revealed that the generation of intracellular ceramide acts as the outcome of HA and major cause of lysosome leakage. The clarification of ceramide involvement in type II anti-CD20 mAb-induced PCD may provide new ideas on CD20-based immunotherapy against NHLs.

[Association of anemia with cognition among senior female in China].

OBJECTIVE: To explore the relationship between anemia and cognitive function among senior female aged 90 years old and above in longevity regions in China. METHODS: 383 senior female in 5 longevity areas from the Chinese Longitudinal Healthy Longevity Survey (CLHLS) 2008 - 2009 were included in the study. The cognitive function was assessed by mini mental state examination (MMSE) scale. All subjects were administered the physical examinations and biochemical testing of blood, including the hemoglobin. The difference of cognitive function between those with and without anemia was analyzed. Logistic regression was used to analyze the relationship between anemia and cognitive function. RESULTS: The 383 subjects were divided into two groups, 141 in anemia group and 242 in group without anemia. The total score of cognitive function was 9.65 ± 9.32 in anemia group, and 13.06 ± 10.25 in group without anemia (χ(2) = 5.59, P < 0.05). The percentage of cognition impairment was 84.4% (119/141) in anemia group, and 72.3% (175/242) in group without anemia (χ(2) = 8.08, P < 0.05). In the multivariable logistic regressions, after adjustment for age, education, marital status, smoking and alcohol drinking, the risk for cognition impairment in anemia group was about twice of that in group without anemia (OR = 2.016, 95%CI: 1.185 - 3.431, P = 0.010). CONCLUSION: Anemia increases the risk of cognition impairment among senior female in Chinese longevity areas.

Effects of FOXO genotypes on longevity: a biodemographic analysis.

Based on data from 760 centenarians and 1060 middle-age controls (all Han Chinese), this article contributes biodemographic insights and syntheses concerning the magnitude of effects of the FOXO genotypes on longevity. We also estimate independent and joint effects of the genotypes of FOXO1A and FOXO3A genes on long-term survival, considering carrying or not-carrying the minor allele of the single-nucleotide polymorphism of another relevant gene. We found substantial gender differences in the independent effects; positive effects of FOXO3A and negative effects of FOXO1A largely compensate each other if one carries both, although FOXO3A has a stronger impact. Ten-year follow-up cohort analysis shows that at very advanced ages 92-110, adjusted for various confounders, positive effects of FOXO3A on survival remain statistically significant, but no significant effects of FOXO1A alone; G × G interactions between FOXO1A-209 and FOXO3A-310 or FOXO3A-292 decrease survival likelihood by 32%-36% (p < .05); G × E interactions between FOXO1A-209 and regular exercise increase survival likelihood by 31%-32% (p < .05).

[A study on chronic diseases and other related health indicators of centenarians in longevity areas in China].

OBJECTIVE: To describe chronic diseases and other related health indicators of centenarians, compare these health indicators with other age groups in longevity areas in China. METHODS: Residents who participated in the project of Chinese Longitudinal Healthy Longevity Survey (CLHLS) conducted in 2008 - 2009 were selected from 7 Longevity Areas.2029 people aged 40 and over attended the study from March to June, 2009, including 469 aged 40 and over, 436 aged 60 and over, 346 aged 80 and over, 380 aged 90 and over, 398 centenarians. Information, including socio-demographic, were collected by self-designed questionnaire. Calibrated instruments were used by the clinical personnel who had worked over 3 years to manually check subjects' health. Venous blood and urine samples were collected for blood and urine routine test, plasma macro and trace elements test, plasma biological test, using standard methods such as instrument analysis, atomic absorption spectrometry. Data analysis was conducted using descriptive statistical methods. RESULTS: In the groups aged 40 and over, 60 and over, 80 and over, 90 and over, 100 and over, the body mass index (BMI) were (23.2 +/- 4.6), (22.1 +/- 3.7), (20.2 +/- 3.4), (20.2 +/- 3.9) and (19.1 +/- 5.0) kg/m(2) in males (F = 22.78, P < 0.01) and (23.3 +/- 4.0), (21.6 +/- 3.5), (19.7 +/- 3.9), (19.0 +/- 4.8), (18.4 +/- 3.8) kg/m(2) in females (F = 51.84, P < 0.01); the prevalence of hypertension were 38.3% (80/209), 60.8% (166/273), 63.5% (106/167), 61.8% (68/110), 54.8% (34/62) in males (chi(2) = 34.26, P < 0.01) and 32.3% (84/260), 60.1% (98/163), 69.8% (125/179), 61.5% (166/270), 58.9% (198/336) in females (chi(2) = 78.45, P < 0.01); the prevalence of diabetes were 10.5% (22/209), 12.5% (34/273), 9.0% (15/167), 18.2% (20/110), 12.9% (8/62) in males (chi(2) = 5.92, P = 0.20) and 4.2% (11/260), 15.3% (25/163), 10.1% (18/179), 12.2% (33/270), 7.4% (25/336) in females (chi(2) = 19.25, P < 0.01). In groups aged 40 and over, 90 and over, 100 and over, the superoxide dismutase (SOD) activity were (29.03 +/- 5.79), (30.93 +/- 5.39), (31.63 +/- 5.92) U/ml in males (F = 4.40, P < 0.05) and (28.27 +/- 6.25), (30.86 +/- 5.72), (31.55 +/- 5.25) U/ml in females (F = 13.13, P < 0.05); levels of plasma calcium were (3.63 +/- 1.08), (3.09 +/- 0.91), (3.34 +/- 1.07) mmol/L in males (F = 5.71, P < 0.01) and (3.84 +/- 1.02), (3.19 +/- 1.16), (3.38 +/- 1.16) mmol/L in females (F = 11.61, P < 0.01); levels of selenium were (1.44 +/- 0.86), (1.28 +/- 0.60), (1.75 +/- 0.57)micromol/L in males (F = 3.79, P < 0.05) and (1.44 +/- 0.80), (1.48 +/- 0.81), (1.78 +/- 0.80) micromol/L in females (F = 8.69, P < 0.01); levels of iron were (63.25 +/- 49.05), (71.86 +/- 54.16), (138.36 +/- 77.60) micromol/L in males (F = 22.78, P < 0.01) and (64.86 +/- 57.72), (74.56 +/- 56.93), (106.56 +/- 74.08) micromol/L in females (F = 17.88, P < 0.01); levels of copper were (23.49 +/- 12.85), (17.96 +/- 7.57), (22.33 +/- 6.89) micromol/L in males (F = 5.18, P < 0.01) and (21.52 +/- 10.63), (19.60 +/- 9.57), (22.99 +/- 8.71) micromol/L in females (F = 5.68, P < 0.01); positive rates of high-sensitivity c-reactive protein (hsCRP) were 5.5% (8/146), 24.0% (18/75), 31.3% (10/32) in males (chi(2) = 22.62, P < 0.01) and 9.8% (12/122), 19.6% (40/204), 25.1% (49/195) in females (chi(2) = 11.24, P < 0.01). CONCLUSION: The results indicate that the centenarians have lower chronic diseases risks and higher anti-oxidants activity compared with other age groups, and have a high level of nutritional elements compared with those aged 90 and over. However, it is more common for them suffering from inflammation.

[Level and effect factors of superoxide dismutase and malondialchehyche of the old people aged 90 and over in longevity regions, China].

OBJECTIVE: To explore the level and effect factors of superoxide dismutase (SOD) and malondialchelyche (MDA) of the people aged 90 years old and above in longevity regions in China. METHODS: From Xiayi county (Henan province), Zhongxiang county (Hubei province), Mayang county (Hunan province), Foshan county Sanshui district (Guangdong province) and Yongfu county (Guangxi province), the people of hundred-year were selected and numbered. The old people aged 90 - 99 according to the age and sex were appointed by the centenarians' code and 496 people were selected in total. Questionnaire investigation was conducted on nationality, education, nutrition, smoking, alcohol drinking, tea drinking and physical activities.436 blood sampling (4 ml Per sampling) were conducted and the level of triglyceride (TG), SOD, MDA, Ca, Mg, and some microelements were determined. Non-conditional logistic regression analysis was conducted to explore the effect factors of SOD and MDA in plasma. RESULTS: Analysis showed that the activity of plasma SOD was (31.19 +/- 5.51) U/ml, and the content of MDA was (4.68 +/- 1.98) micromol/L. The SOD level of minority people of 90 years old and over was (27.55 +/- 4.97) U/ml, lower than that of Han nationality ((31.73 +/- 5.39) U/ml; t = 5.85, P < 0.01); the MDA level of minority people of 90 years old and over was (5.58 +/- 1.95) micromol/L, higher than that of Han nationality ((4.54 +/- 1.95) micromol/L; t = -3.94, P < 0.01). logistic regression showed, comparing with the Han nationality, the minority had lower level of SOD (OR = 0.493), and higher level of MDA (OR = 5.412, P < 0.05). Beside nationality, the factors significantly affecting the activity of SOD included the intake frequency of meat, intake frequency of eggs and plasma concentration of Se (OR values were 0.388, 2.260 and 1.906, P < 0.05). The factors significantly affecting the level of MDA included the intake frequency of milk, physical activity and the level of TG (OR values were 0.435, 1.850 and 1.647, P < 0.05). CONCLUSION: The level of SOD of the oldest-old people aged 90 years old and over is relatively higher than the younger ones, and the level of MDA is relatively lower in longevity region, China. The effect factors of SOD are nationality, meat intake frequency, eggs intake frequency and the level of Se in plasma. The effect factors of MDA are nationality, milk intake frequency, physical activity and the level of TG in plasma.

Purification of a novel antibacterial short peptide in earthworm Eisenia foetida.

A novel antimicrobial short peptide was purified from earthworm (Eisenia foetida) by a five-step protocol including ammonium sulfate precipitation, ultrafiltration, DE-52 ion exchange chromatography, Sephadex G-10 column chromatography, and C-18 reversed-phase HPLC techniques. The purified peptide was applied to the MALDI-TOP MS to determine the molecular mass and was also subjected to TOF MS-MS analysis to determine the amino acid sequence. As a result, a novel antibacterial peptide, named OEP3121, was obtained, with the molecular mass of 510.8 Da and the sequence being "ACSAG".