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italic>O-methyltransferases (OMTs) are one of the key tailoring enzymes in the biosynthesis of many natural products, O-methylation can not only reduce the reactivity of natural products, but also alter their solubility, stability and biological activities. Based on the transcriptome data of Ardisia japonica, a full-length cDNA sequence of candidate OMT (termed as AjOMT1) was cloned by reverse transcription-polymerase chain reaction (RT-PCR) and expressed in Escherichia coli (E. coli) for the first time. In vitro enzyme catalytic activity assay showed that the recombinant AjOMT1 could effectively catalyze quercetin to form O-methylated products. Most importantly, AjOMT1 showed unprecedented substrate promiscuity towards structurally various compounds including flavonoids, stilbenes, coumarins, alkaloids and phenylpropanoids, especially preferring to the compounds with adjacent phenolic hydroxyl groups, and showed regio-selectivity. These results suggested that AjOMT1 could be used as the tool enzyme to conduct O-methylation of different types of compounds to produce diverse active methylated products, and provide a new method for drug discovery, even universal part for synthetic biology of natural products.
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Objective: To analyze the difference of application methods and effects of local flap in small and medium-sized defects of different aesthetic subunits of nose, in order to provide reference for clinical work. Methods: A retrospective analysis was made on 59 patients with external nasal masses and scars who underwent surgical treatment in the Department of Aesthetic Plastic Surgery of the Affiliated Hospital of Qingdao University from July 1, 2021 to January 30, 2022, including 27 females and 32 males, aged 15 to 69 years. Using Likert scale, the repair methods and effects of local flap for nasal soft tissue defects were evaluated and summarized from three aspects of texture, flatness and scar concealment. GraphPad Prism 5.0 software was used for data statistics and analysis. Results: The use of skin flaps to repair small and medium-sized areas of the nose could achieve satisfactory results. For patients with different subunits, in terms of skin flatness and scar concealment degree in the operation area, patients' satisfaction with the dorsal and lateral nasal areas was higher than that of the alar and tip areas, respectively (F=6.40, P=0.001; F=10.57, P<0.001). For patients with different skin flap repair methods, the satisfaction of patients with Z-plasty and Dufourmentel skin flap was higher than that of other skin flap repair methods (F=4.38, P=0.002), and the satisfaction of patients with Dufourmentel skin flap was the highest in the degree of scar concealment (F=2.57, P=0.038). Conclusions: In the small and medium-sized defects of the nose, the use of multiple local flaps can achieve good cosmetic effects and functional recovery. The operator should select the appropriate flap repair method according to the characteristics of different aesthetic subunits of the nose.
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Objective: In order to obtain new glycosyltransferases with highly efficient catalysis, the glycosyltransferases from Carthamus tinctorius which contains diverse types of glycosides were mined. Methods: A new glycosyltransferase gene (UGT88B2) with full length was obtained by PCR and further transformed into Escherichia coli for heterologous expression. The catalytic activity of recombinant UGT88B2 was determined by HPLC-MSn. The structures of representative catalytic products were elucidated by MS and NMR. Results: UGT88B2 exhibited catalytic promiscuity and various patterns in glycosylation of flavonoids with high efficiency. Conclusion: A new glycosyltransferase named UGT88B2 was successfully mined and can be employed as enzymatic tools in glycosylation of flavonoids.
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<p><b>OBJECTIVE</b>To evaluate the method, safety and short-term efficacy of ultrasound-guided percutaneous laser ablation (PLA) for benign solid thyroid nodule (BSTN).</p><p><b>METHODS</b>The treatment group consisting of 12 patients with single BSTN were treated with ultrasound-guided PLA. After treatment, the size and blood flow signals in conventional ultrasonography, the ablation extent of lesions in contrast-enhanced ultrasonography (CEUS), and the related complications and thyroid function were assessed in comparison with the the baseline. A control group including 12 untreated patients with single BSTN was followed-up in the same manner as in the treatment group.</p><p><b>RESULTS</b>In the treatment group, all the 12 patients completed the treatment successfully. During the follow-up, the volume of the nodules was reduced gradually (P<0.05), and blood flow signals in the nodules disappeared. Eleven nodules were non-enhanced in CEUS immediately after the treatment, and the complete ablation rate was 91.7%. During the operation, 3 patients complained of intolerable pain, which was ameliorated or totally relieved after appropriate treatment. The thyroid function showed no significant changes after the treatment (P>0.05). The control group followed up for 6 months showed no significant changes in the nodule volume or thyroid function in comparison with the baseline (P>0.05).</p><p><b>CONCLUSION</b>Ultrasound-guided PLA is a safe and effective minimally invasive treatment of BSTN without obvious adverse effect on thyroid function.</p>
Subject(s)
Adult , Female , Humans , Male , Middle Aged , Follow-Up Studies , Laser Therapy , Methods , Neck Pain , Pilot Projects , Thyroid Gland , Diagnostic Imaging , Pathology , General Surgery , Thyroid Nodule , Diagnostic Imaging , Pathology , General Surgery , Treatment Outcome , Ultrasonography, Doppler, Color , Ultrasonography, InterventionalABSTRACT
Objective To explore the effects of a microbubble agent (SonoVue) on radiofrequency ablation(RFA).Methods Twenty rabbits underwent RFA with or without SonoVue on two areas per rabbit liver.SonoVue were injected in bolus intravenously in 0.1 ml/kg.The morphology of hyperechogenic area were observed by conventional ultrasonography.The size of RFA lesions and ablation time were measured.The correlation was analyzed between hyperechogenic area and ablation size.Results Microbubbles didn't change the size of RFA lesions.However,with the addition of SonoVue to ablation,the morphology of hyperechogenic area was showed more regular and stable,and hyperechogenic area and ablation size were well correlated (r =0.849,P =0.000).Besides,the ablation time was much shorter (P ＜ 0.05).Conclusions The addition of SonoVue to ablation improve the prediction of ablated areas and reduce the ablation time,therefore it might be useful to prevent the unfavorable ablation of adjacent organs and vessels.
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<p><b>OBJECTIVE</b>To explore the appropriate acoustic parameters for augmenting the permeability of tumor cells using microbubble-enhanced ultrasound.</p><p><b>METHODS</b>Ninety intramuscular VX2 tumors grown in New Zealand white rabbits were randomly divided into 4 parts by 4 factors, namely sound intensity, pulse width, insonation time and microbubble dose, each at different levels. Therapeutic ultrasound was delivered directly to the tumor surface during intravenous infusion of microbubbles. The tumor was excised after the treatment and sliced to investigate the change in tumor cell permeability using lanthanum nitrate electron microscopy. The appropriate acoustic parameters of the 4 factors were investigated.</p><p><b>RESULTS</b>Sonoporation induced by microbubble-enhanced ultrasound augmented the permeability of the tumor cells, and the appropriate sound intensity, pulse width, insonation time and microbubble dose were 0.43 W/cm(2), 2.42 ms, 10 min, and 0.50 ml/kg, respectively.</p><p><b>CONCLUSION</b>Sonoporation induced by microbubble-enhanced ultrasound can induce pores in tumor cell membrane, which may potential increase the efficacy of tumor chemotherapy.</p>
Subject(s)
Animals , Rabbits , Acoustics , Cell Line, Tumor , Cell Membrane Permeability , Microbubbles , Neoplasms , Therapeutics , Ultrasonic Therapy , UltrasonicsABSTRACT
BACKGROUND:Traditional therapeutic methods of diabetes combined with lower limb artery obturation showed poor outcomes such as drug or intervention.Stem cell transplantation is a new method to treat this disease in recant years,and has obtained good outcomes in the clinic.Evaluating the therapeutic outcomes of stem cell transplantation has great damage and cost much.Thus,color Doppler ultrasound is used to examine non-invasion in the artery of the lower extremity,which shows important clinical value.OBJECTIVE:To evaluate improvement of lower extremity artery lesion following autologous peripheral blood stem cell transplantation using color Doppler ultrasound,and to compare with results of angiography.METHODS:A total of 41 patients diagnosed as having diabetes combined with lower limb artery obturation were included.Following administration of recombinant human granulocyte-colony stimulating factor(rhG-CSF)(150 μg/d)for 5 days,peripheral blood mononuclear cells(PBMNCs)were mobilized and harvested by using a separator at day 5 to prepare stem cell suspension,and which were injected intramuscularly in the diseased extremities(3×109 per limb).The clinical and laboratory findings were monitored every week for 3 months to 1 year following stem cell transplantation.RESULTS AND CONCLUSION:After stem cell transplantation,severe pain lameness,local cool-feeling and ulcer were significantly improved,and ankle-brachial index was increased obviously(P＜0.01).Color Doppler ultrasonography measurement showed that peak systolic velocity in diseased extremities was significantly increased post-transplantation(P＜0.01).Following transplantation,blood flow of the lower limb arterial canal was improved to different extents;collateral vessels were increased surrounding obstructed artery and in muscles.Spiral CT for new collateral vessel formation were showed increased.No related complication or adverse effects were observed in 41 patients during observation.Results indicated that color Doppler ultrasound can exactly rapidly examine and assess blood transport improvement in the lower limbs following stem cell transplantation,which is identical to results from angiography.It also provides reliable evidences for the diagnosis on the transplantation of stem cells for the treatment of diabetes combined with lower limb artery obturation.