Effects of rice peptide YGEGSSEEG on improving endothelial cell injury induced by tumor necrosis factor / 中国药理学通报

Aim To investigate the peptides and its protection for vascular endothelial cells, derived from the absorbed components of rice α-globulin,which was shown to be effective in anti-atherosclerosis. Methods The amino acid sequence was purified by gel chro-matography and RP-HPLC, and determined by ESI/MS. Then the peptide was chemically synthesized. Hu-man umbilical vein endothelial cell injury model was induced by tumor necrosis factor-α. The cell viability was measured by cell counting kit to screen the appro-priate peptide intervention concentration. The apoptotic rate was detected by flow cytometry. Bcl-2, Bax, p-p38, vascular cell adhesion molecule and the protein expression level of NF-κB signaling pathway were de-tected by Western blot and immunofluorescent stai-ning. Results Apoptosis of HUVECs induced by TNF-α was significantly increased by YGEGSSEEG, which also regulated expression of Bcl-2/Bax proteins and inhibited phosphorylation of p38 protein. Besides, the peptide suppressed the production of VCAM-1, ICAM-1 and activation of NF-κB pathway. While it did not significantly improve the oxidative stress response in HUVECs. Conclusion Peptide YGEGSSEEG pro-tects vascular endothelial cells through suppressing ap-optosis and expression of adhesion molecules.

Study on molecular identification and pre-harvest sprouting characteristic of the transgenic anti-trxs-gene wheat line 00T89 / 生物工程学报

Pre-harvest sprouting of wheat is caused by a series of enzymes, in which alpha-amylase plays a key role. Thioredoxin (trx) is an important protein capable of reducing S-S to -SH. The authors transferred the anti-trxs gene into wheat ( Triticum aestivum L.) cultivar Wanmai 48 in 2000 in order to obtain a transgenic line with low activities of trx and alpha-amylase in wheat seeds to enhance their resistance to pre-harvest sprouting. In this work, a pair of specific anti-trxs primers were used in PCR test to validate the transgenic plants in T4 lines. A pair of primers of a wheat actin gene cDNA and a pair of trxs gene primers were used in the reverse transcription PCR test to measure the relative content of trx mRNA in the transgenic positive lines. The experiments of pre-harvest sprouting were carried out to test the resistance to pre-harvest sprouting. The results showed that there were 13 positive lines with the anti-trxs gene among 18 transgenic lines. In the maturity stage, the 8 relative contents of the trx mRNA in the 13 positive lines were reduced evidently (P < 0.01). The trx mRNA was correlated with the sprouting parameters significantly (r = 0.7181) . 6 lines with low trx mRNA showed stronger resistance to pre-harvest sprouting during the period from 30 days after anthesis to 10 days after maturity. Compared with non-transgenic plant (Wanmai 48, CK), the average sprouting time of these lines was postponed by 2.7 days (P < 0.01), the sprouting ratio of seeds on spikes and the spike sprouting degree were reduced by 35.5% (P < 0.01) and 47.5% (P < 0.01), respectively. However, 25 days after maturity, the sprouting capacity of the positive lines recovered gradually, and no significant differences were found between them (P > 0.05) . Thus, it can be concluded that the wheat pre-sprouting was controlled effectively in some 00T89 transgenic lines as a result of the expression of anti-trxs gene.

One stage thyroidectomy and bilateral neck dissection for well-differentiated thyroid carcinoma / 中华肿瘤杂志

<p><b>OBJECTIVE</b>To investigate the indications, safety and difficulties of one stage thyroidectomy and bilateral neck lymph node dissection for well-differentiated thyroid carcinoma.</p><p><b>METHODS</b>A retrospective review was carried out in 36 well-differentiated thyroid carcinoma patients so treated from 1990 to 2004. Various incisions including H, L and modified Kocher types were selected according to the location of primary tumor and status of cervical lymph node metastasis. Either total thyroidectomy or sub-total thyroidectomy combined with bilateral neck lymph node dissection according to the principles of modified radical neck lymph node dissection: preserving the internal jugular vein, spinal accessory nerve and sternocleidomastoid muscles.</p><p><b>RESULTS</b>There was no operative death in this group. Postoperative complications included: 2 wound bleeding, 3 recurrent laryngeal nerve resection due to tumor involvement, 1 recurrent laryngeal nerve injury, 2 unilateral internal branch of superior laryngeal nerve injury, 9 unilateral external branch of superior laryngeal nerve injury, 3 unilateral accessory nerve injury, 5 unilateral sympathetic nerve injury, 2 unilateral phrenic nerve injury, 6 chylus fistula, 13 temporary hypoparathyroidism, 2 permanent hypoparathyroidism. The dissected lymph nodes were found to be positive from 0 to 21 in each patient with a mean of 8.3. Of the 36 patients: 31 had bilateral positive lymph nodes; 3 unilateral positive; 2 bilateral negative lymph nodes. The follow up period ranged from 1 to 13 years, Three patients died of distant metastasis, 1 died of cerebral vascular accident. 7 patients lost in follow-up. Totally, 25 patients are still alive, 3 patients had local relapse and were surgically treated again.</p><p><b>CONCLUSION</b>The procedure of one-stage thyroidectomy and bilateral neck lymph node dissection for well-differentiated thyroid carcinoma is safe, as it is mandatory that at least one unilateral internal jugular vein should be preserved; one unilateral recurrent laryngeal nerves and accessory nerves should not be injured. Well-differentiated thyroid carcinoma patients whose bilateral cervical lymph nodes are clinically suspected to be positive (obviously enlarged, hard, purplish grapelike lymph node) or are confirmed pathologically to be positive are indications for one-stage thyroidectomy and bilateral neck lymph node dissection. Total or sub-total thyroidectomy should be undertaken with emphasis that at least one parathyroid with blood supply should be preserved. It is of utmost importance that not only the cancer be completely resected but the function of the organs be preserved.</p>