[Pelvic floor muscle rehabilitation training combined with psychological nursing intervention in the treatment of type â ¢B prostatitis].

OBJECTIVE: To investigate the clinical effect of pelvic floor muscle rehabilitation training combined with psychological nursing intervention in the treatment of intractable type ⅢB prostatitis. METHODS: We retrospectively analyzed the clinical data on 51 cases of intractable type ⅢB prostatitis treated from October 2020 to October 2022, which were randomly assigned to receive Tamsulosin medication (the control group, n = 24) or pelvic floor muscle rehabilitation training and psychological nursing in addition (the intervention group, n = 27), all for 8 weeks. We obtained NIH-CPSI, IIEF-5, Self-Rating Anxiety Scale (SAS) scores, Self-Rating Depression Scale (SDS) scores, the level of lecithin and the count of leukocytes in the prostatic fluid and the incidence of adverse events, and compared them between the two groups of patients before and after treatment. RESULTS: The total effectiveness rate was significantly higher in the intervention than in the control group (88.9% vs 62.5%, P < 0.05). Compared with the baseline, the NIH-CPSI, IIEF-5, SAS and SDS scores and the lecithin level were remarkably increased in both groups after treatment (P < 0.05), even more significantly in the intervention group than in the control (P < 0.05). No statistically significant difference was observed in the count of leukocytes before and after treatment (P > 0.05). CONCLUSION: On the basis of Tamsulosin medication, the application of pelvic floor rehabilitation training combined with psychological care can significantly enhance the therapeutic effect on type IIIB prostatitis, effectively relieve prostatitis pain, improve erectile function, lessen anxiety and depression symptoms, increase the level of lecithosomes and promote the recovery of prostatic function.

[Effect of electroacupuncture on small airway function in patients with stable chronic obstructive pulmonary disease].

OBJECTIVE: To observe the regulatory effect of electroacupuncture (EA) on small airway function and exercise tolerance in patients with stable chronic obstructive pulmonary disease (COPD). METHODS: A total of 62 patients with stable COPD were randomized into an observation group (31 cases, 1 case dropped off) and a control group (31 cases, 5 cases dropped off). On the base of routine medication and aerobic exercise, the patients of the two groups all received EA at Danzhong (CV 17), Rugen (ST 18), Guanyuan (CV 4), Zhongwan (CV 12), Tianshu (ST 25) and Yingchuang (ST 16). In the observation group, filiform needles were used and inserted perpendicularly, 3 mm in depth. In the control group, the placebo needling method was performed, in which the needle was not inserted through skin at each point. In both groups, electric stimulation with low-frequency electronic pulse instrument was exerted, with continuous wave, 2 Hz in frequency, lasting 30 min each time in the two groups. The treatment was given once every other day, 3 times a week, for 14 treatments totally. Before and after treatment, the following indexes were compared in patients between the two groups, i.e. the lung function indexes (forced expiratory volume in first second [FEV1], forced vital capacity [FVC], the ratio of FEV1 to FVC [FEV1/FVC], maximal voluntary ventilation [MVV], the percentage of maximal expiratory flow [MEF] at 25% of FVC exhaled [MEF25], MEF50 and MEF75 in predicted value), cardiopulmonary exercise test indexs (metabolic equivalent [METS], oxygen uptake per kg body weight [VO2/kg], minute ventilation [VE], the percentage of oxygen pulse [VO2/HR] in predictd value, maximal minute ventilation [VEmax], ventilatory equivalent for oxygen [VE/VO2], ventilatory equivalent for carbon dioxide [VE/VCO2]), 6-minute walk distance (6MWD), the total score of COPD assessment test (CAT), the modified British Medical Research Council (mMRC) score and COPD comprehensive grade. RESULTS: After treatment, FVC%, MVV%, MEF75%, MEF50%, VO2/kg%, METs%, VEmax, VO2/HR%, 6MW and the total CAT score were all improved as compared with those before treatment in the observation group (P<0.05, P<0.01). After treatment, MEF75% and the total CAT score were reduced as compared with those before treatment in the control group (P<0.05). After treatment, MVV%, MEF50%, VO2/kg%, METs%, VEmax and 6MWD in the observation group were all better than those in the control group (P<0.05, P<0.01). CONCLUSION: Electroacupuncture can improve the respiratory function and exercise tolerance in COPD patients through removing small airway obstruction and increasing ventilation.

Sabina chinensis leaf extracted and in situ incorporated polycaprolactone/polyvinylpyrrolidone electrospun microfibers for antibacterial application.

Sabina chinensis is a valuable reforestation conifer and traditional medicinal plant. In order to retain the physiological and pharmacological activities of the plant and obtain a fibrous material with better antibacterial properties, a mixed solvent of dichloromethane and N,N'-dimethylformamide was used to obtain the leaf extracts, and Sabina chinensis leaf extract (ScLE)-loaded PCL/PVP microfibers were successfully fabricated by electrospinning. The whole preparation process was carried out at room temperature to avoid deterioration of active ingredients. From the antibacterial activity test, it was observed that ScLE-loaded polycaprolactone/polyvinylpyrrolidone (PCL/PVP) microfibers had potential antibacterial activity against both Gram-positive and Gram-negative bacteria stains. The morphological properties of the prepared microfibers were observed by SEM. As the proportion of ScLE increased, the fiber diameter gradually increased and the surface was smooth. The excess ScLE addition caused the formation of beads during electrospinning. Considering different characterization results, 33% (v/v) addition of ScLE to the spinning solution was the optimum ratio. The winding structure obtained by the interaction of components in ScLE with PCL and PVP was confirmed by FTIR, XRD and WCA tests, which indicated that ScLE-loaded microfibers possessed excellent thermal stability, tear resistance and degradation resistance. It is expected that the prepared composite microfibers have potential applications as robust antibacterial meshes and films in the fields of biomedicine and air purification.

Selenium-containing heterodimeric crown ether acting as an unconventional multi-responsive amphiphile in water.

A new heterodimeric crown amphiphile was fabricated, wherein the oxacrown and selencrown ethers provided the desired molecular framework for hydrophilicity and hydrophobicity, respectively. From an integrated perspective, the developed amphiphile possesses features of crown ethers, amines, and selenium-containing species, and its assembly in water can be responsive to diverse chemical effectors-H2O2 and CO2 in a switchable ON/OFF mode to achieve controlled release. It is the first case wherein the applications of cyclic polyethers with different solubilities drives the self-assembly in an aqueous medium.

Identification of volatile components from oviposition and non-oviposition plants of Gasterophilus pecorum (Diptera: Gasterophilidae).

Oviposition by Gasterophilus pecorum on shoot tips of Stipa caucasica is a key determinant of its severe infection of the reintroduced Przewalski's horse (Equus przewalskii). Volatiles in shoots of grasses on which Przewalski's horse feeds, including S. caucasica at preoviposition, oviposition, and postoviposition stages of G. pecorum, S. caucasica, Stipa orientalis, and Ceratoides latens at the oviposition stage, and S. caucasica in various growth periods, were collected by dynamic headspace adsorption and analyzed by automatic thermal desorption gas chromatography-mass spectrometry. Among five volatiles with highest relative contents under three sets of conditions, caprolactam and 3-hexen-1-ol,(Z)- were common to all samples. Caprolactam was highest in C. latens at oviposition stage of G. pecorum and lowest in S. caucasica at postoviposition stage, and that of 3-hexen-1-ol,(Z)- was lowest in C. latens and highest in S. caucasica at its oviposition stage. Particularly, in S. caucasica during the three oviposition phenological stages of G. pecorum, 3-hexen-1-ol,acetate,(Z)-, 2(5H)-furanone,5-ethyl-, and 3-hexen-1-ol,acetate,(E)- were unique, respectively, to the preoviposition, oviposition, and postoviposition stages; in three plant species during the oviposition stage of G. pecorum, 3-hexen-1-ol,acetate,(Z)-, 3-hexenal, and 1-hexanol were unique to S. orientalis, acetic acid, hexanal, and 2(5H)-furanone,5-ethyl- to S. caucasica, and 1,3,6-octatriene,3,7-dimethyl-, cis-3-hexenyl isovalerate, and acetic acid hexyl ester to C. latens; in S. caucasica, 2-undecanone,6,10-dimethyl- was unique to the early growth period, acetic acid and 2(5H)-furanone,5-ethyl- to the flourishing growth period, and 3-hexen-1-ol,acetate,(Z)- and 1,3,6-octatriene,3,7-dimethyl- to the late growth period. Furthermore, substances specific to S. orientalis and C. latens were also present in S. caucasica, except at oviposition stage. Our findings will facilitate studies on G. pecorum's adaptation to the arid desert steppe and its future control.

Effects of kinesiology taping on trunk function, balance, and mobility in stroke patients: a pilot feasibility study.

[Purpose] This study aimed to explore whether trunk kinesiology taping (KT) can improve trunk function, mobility, and balance in post-stroke patients with hemiparesis. [Participants and Methods] We conducted a single-group pre-post design pilot feasibility study. Thirteen individuals with post-stroke hemiplegia were recruited for this study. All patients received therapeutic trunk KT on the skin, representing the direction of fibres of the trunk muscles underneath. We used the Trunk Impairment Scale (TIS) and Trunk Control Test (TCT) to measure trunk function, Fugl-Meyer assessment (FMA) for balance, limits of stability (LOS) to evaluate balance, and the modified Rivermead mobility index (MRMI) to assess mobility in post-stroke patients. All measures were assessed before and immediately after the intervention. [Results] No adverse effects were found and all patients completed the trial. Compared to the baseline, TIS scores were significantly increased after KT, whereas no changes in TCT score were detected. The directional control of LOS was significantly improved, while no significant changes were seen in the other parameters of LOS, FMA-balance, and MRMI scores. [Conclusion] The results of this investigation show that trunk KT has immediate effects that improve certain trunk functional and balance parameters in stroke patients.

Successful treatment of a case with NUT midline carcinoma in the larynx and review of the literature.

In this report, we gave the first case of successful treatment for laryngeal NMC, which is exceedingly rare with dismal prognosis. intensity-modulated radiation therapy accompanied by traditional Chinese medicine was administrated for the young woman, instead of radical resection, and she got continuous remission for more than 2 years, with no recurrence detected.

Elevated D-Dimer Combined with Persistent Acupuncture-like Chest Pain in An Elderly Patient Misdiagnosed as Pulmonary Embolism Finally Proved as Lung Hamartoma with Secondary Lung Infection by Bronchoscopy Biopsy: a Case Report and Literature Review.

BACKGROUND: Pulmonary hamartoma is one of the most common benign tumors of the lung, the symptoms are often atypical, so its diagnosis is not so easy. We presented an elderly man with elevated D-dimer combined persistent acupuncture-like chest pain misdiagnosed as pulmonary embolism finally proved as lung hamartoma with secondary lung infection by bronchoscopy biopsy. METHODS: Appropriate laboratory tests were carried out. The chest computed tomography (CT) scan and bronchoscopy were performed for diagnosis. RESULTS: Laboratory tests showed D-dimer was 2,615.88 ng/mL, the chest CT scan showed the right lung portal occupying lesions accompanied by obstructive changes in the middle of the right lung and mediastinal lymphade-nopathy with partial calcification. Bronchoscopy showed the new spherical neoplasm in the middle of the right lung completely blocked the opening of the bronchus, the surface of the neoplasm was smooth and blood vessels were abundant, pathological result was lung hamartoma. CONCLUSIONS: Elevated D-dimer is not a specific index of pulmonary embolism. When a patient's D-dimer rise combined with severe chest pain, the physician should be wary of pulmonary embolism, myocardial infarction, aortic dissection, and other emergencies, and should also take into account serious infections, tumors, and other diseases. Diagnosis needs further related examination. Chest CT scan has guidance function, and when the chest CT scan suggests the occupying lesion, the pathology examination is the key to identify the benign tumor.

Persistent Mild Anemia and Hypercalcemia were Ignored as Normal Reaction Secondary to Oral Calcium Supplementation in a Steroid-Dependent Asthma Patient Ultimately Diagnosed as Multiple Myeloma: a Case Report and Literature Review.

BACKGROUND: Anemia can be secondary to many diseases and hypercalcemia can be secondary to oral calcium supplementation. For non-hematologists, anemia and hypercalcemia are usually ignored. Here we report a case of persistent mild anemia and hypercalcemia which were ignored as a normal reaction secondary to oral calcium supplementation in a steroid-dependent asthma patient; it was ultimately diagnosed as multiple myeloma. METHODS: Bone marrow puncture, combined serum, and urine laboratory indexes were performed for diagnosis. RESULTS: A bone marrow puncture specimen comprised 31.5% plasma cells. The serum and urine immunoelectrophoresis showed monoclonal kappa light chains. CONCLUSIONS: When anemia and hypercalcemia occur in an elderly patient, physicians should pay attention to multiple myeloma, especially when accompanied with vertebral and flat bone fractures.

Mechanism of antidiabetic and synergistic effects of ginseng polysaccharide and ginsenoside Rb1 on diabetic rat model.

Ginseng polysaccharides (GP) have been reported to modulate gut microbiota, and ginsenoside Rb1 is known to display significant hypoglycemic activity. However, the synergistic effect of Rb1 and GP when applied to diabetic treatment remains largely unknown. Male rats were divided into ten groups: blank group (B-Group), model group (D-Group), Rb1 group (Rb1-Group), CK group (CK-Group), GP groups and GP + Rb1 groups in dosage of high, middle and low (H-Group, M-Group, L-Group, H-Rb1-Group, M-Rb1-Group, and L-Rb1-Group). CK-Group, GP groups and Rb1 group were fed CK, GP and Rb1 for 30 days, respectively. GP + Rb1 groups were fed GP on the initial 15 days and GP and Rb1 on the final 15 days. The fasting glucose of all groups was measured every five days. The transformation of Rb1 in vitro by rat intestinal microflora, which was collected from the B-Group, D-Group and GP groups on the 15th day, was investigated using HPLC and RRLC-Q-TOF/MS. Analyses the of 16S rRNA gene of the fecal bacterial population and fecal ß-glucosidase activity were conducted among the B-Group, D-Group and H-Group. Compared with those of rats in the D-Group, the fasting glucose levels of rats in the CK-Group and H-Rb1-Group decreased highest. During transformation of Rb1 by diabetic rat intestinal microflora, five transformed products, including ginsenoside Rd, F2, CK, gypenoside XVII (G-XVII), and LXXV (G-LXXV), as well as three transformation pathways, were identified. When a high dose of GP was fed to diabetic rats for 15 days, the formation of intermediates, including G-XVII and G-LXXV was inhibited, and only one pathway (Rb1→Rd→F2→CK) was identified. Moreover, the biotransformation rate of CK increased from 14.0% to 86.7% after 8 h of cultivation. GP reinstated the perturbed holistic gut microbiota and promoted fecal ß-d-glucosidase activity. Ginsenoside Rb1 and GP shows synergistic effects when applied to diabetic treatment and may be developed as a potential antidiabetic drug.

[Effects of acupuncture on peripheral skeletal muscle exercise ability in patients with chronic obstructive pulmonary disease at stable phase].

OBJECTIVE: To explore the effects of acupuncture on improving the peripheral skeletal muscle exercise ability in patients with chronic obstructive pulmonary disease (COPD) at stable phase. METHODS: Forty-four patients were randomly divided into an observation group (24 cases) and a control group (20 cases). Based on regular western medication treatment and aerobic training, acupuncture was used in the observation group and placebo acupuncture was used in the control group. The acupoints selected were Danzhong (CV 17), Rugen (ST 18), Guanyuan (CV 4), Zhongwan (CV 12), Tianshu (ST 25), etc., 2-3 times per week, and totally 14 treatments were given. The body mass index (BMI), average distance and average maximum heart rate recorded during bicycle exercise, six-min walking distance (6-MWD), maximum power (Wmax) and maximum heart rate (HRmax) recorded during exercise cardiopulmonary function test, and pulmonary function index including forced expiratory volume in one second/estimate value (FEV1%), forced vital capacity/estimate value (FVC%), FEV1/FVC and maximal voluntary ventilation (MVV) were observed in both groups before and after treatment. RESULTS: The BMI before and after treatment in the observation group was not significantly changed (P>0.05), while that in the control group was significantly reduced (P<0.05). Compared before treatment, the average distance of bicycle exercise, 6-MWD, Wmax, FEV1%, FVC% and MVV were significantly improved after treatment in the observation group (P<0.01, P<0.05), which were all superior to those in the control group (P<0.01, P<0.05). The treatment outcomes in the control group were not significantly changed after treatment (all P>0.05). CONCLUSIONS: Acupuncture combined with aerobic training of bicycle and conventional western medication could prevent the reducing of BMI in patients with COPD at stable phase, improve pulmonary ventilation function, and increase the function of peripheral skeletal muscle to improve its performance.

[Absorption enhancing effects and safety of PAMAM dendrimers on liquiritin].

PAMAM dendrimer is one of the most widely studied dendrimers in recent years, which has a large number of functional groups on the surface and cavities inside, specific three-dimensional structure and good biocompatibility, permeability and stability. It has been widely applied in drug and gene carrier fields and may become a new absorption enhancer. In order to study the absorption enhancing effects of PAMAM dendrimers, liquiritin was selected as the model drug, with the protection of spleen and liver, detoxification and other functions, but it had not been widely used in clinical application because of its difficult absorption, first pass effect, and low bioavailability. This topic was based on the two main determinants (solubility and permeability) of intestinal absorption in the body, researched the physicochemical properties of liquiritin, analyzed the transport volume of liquiritin with or without PAMAM dendrimers by using Caco-2 cell model, and analyzed the cytotoxicity of PAMAM dendrimers on Caco-2 cells by MTT experiments. These results showed that 0.1% of the G4 generation PAG can promote the absorption of liquiritin safely and effectively, and it was suitable for further development into a new type of pharmaceutical excipients.

Proliferation, Apoptosis and Invasion effects of mistletoe alkali on human osteosarcoma U2OS in vitro.

OBJECTIVE: To evaluate the effects of mistletoe alkali on human Osteosarcoma cells (U2OS) in vitro. SUMMARY OF BACKGROUND DATA: Osteosarcoma is the most common primary malignant tumor of bone tumor, although there are a lot of therapies such as surgery, radiotherapy and chemotherapy, its prognosis is still very poor. There is increasing interest in the protective biological function of natural antioxidants contained in Chinese medicinal herbs, which are candidates for the prevention of tumors. Mistletoe alkali is one of the compounds extracted from Viscum coloratum (Komar.) Nakai, one kind of mistletoe, whose extracts contribute to the improvement of the prognosis of patients with malignancies. METHODS: The effect of mistletoe alkali on the growth of U2OS cells was compared with 5-FU, using a Cell Counting Kit-8 (CCK-8). The influence of mistletoe alkali on U2OS's proliferation and apoptosis were tested by TUNEL staining and immunocytochemical (ICC) staining of caspase 3 and proliferating cell nuclear antigen (PCNA). Additionally, the invasion ability of U2OS cells was detected using a Boyden chamber trans-well migration assay. RESULTS: CCK-8 assays gave an IC50 of 7λg/ml for mistletoe alkali. Compared to 5-FU, mistletoe alkali inhibited U2OS proliferation and induced apoptosis more effectively. The invasion ability of U2OS was also weaker in mistletoe alkali than in 5-FU. CONCLUSIONS: Mistletoe alkali significantly inhibited growth and invasion abilities of U2OS cells and induced their apoptosis in vitro. Mistletoe alkali may be a more effective drug for Human Osteosarcoma than the standard chemotherapeutic drug 5-FU.

Responsive neurostimulation for the treatment of medically intractable epilepsy.

With an annual incidence of 50/100,000 people, nearly 1% of the population suffers from epilepsy. Treatment with antiepileptic medication fails to achieve seizure remission in 20-30% of patients. One treatment option for refractory epilepsy patients who would not otherwise be surgical candidates is electrical stimulation of the brain, which is a rapidly evolving and reversible adjunctive therapy. Therapeutic stimulation can involve direct stimulation of the brain nuclei or indirect stimulation of peripheral nerves. There are three stimulation modalities that have class I evidence supporting their uses: vagus nerve stimulation (VNS), stimulation of the anterior nuclei of the thalamus (ANT), and, the most recently developed, responsive neurostimulation (RNS). While the other treatment modalities outlined deliver stimulation regardless of neuronal activity, the RNS administers stimulation only if triggered by seizure activity. The lower doses of stimulation provided by such responsive devices can not only reduce power consumption, but also prevent adverse reactions caused by continuous stimulation, which include the possibility of habituation to long-term stimulation. RNS, as an investigational treatment for medically refractory epilepsy, is currently under review by the FDA. Eventually systems may be developed to enable activation by neurochemical triggers or to wirelessly transmit any information gathered. We review the mechanisms, the current status, the target options, and the prospects of RNS for the treatment of medically intractable epilepsy.

Using electroacupuncture at acupoints to predict the efficacy of hippocampal high-frequency electrical stimulation in pharmacoresistant temporal lobe epilepsy patients.

Hippocampal high-frequency electrical stimulation (HFS) shows long-term efficiency in some pharmacoresistant temporal lobe epilepsy patients. However, the success of the procedure varies from patient to patient and neither neurologists nor neurosurgeons are currently unable to pre-operatively predict which patients will respond to the stimulation. Just like electrical stimulation of the hippocampus in the brain, electroacupuncture (EA) at acupoints involves electrical stimulation and is also efficient in treating epilepsy. However, the stimulation targets are acupoints, which are located outside of the brain, and we presume that electrical stimulation of both targets can activate therapeutic neuronal networks, which explains why both stimulations are effective in treating epilepsy. Despite the involvement of different activated positions, the neurotransmitters, including both excitatory and inhibitory amino acids, generated from the stimulation are similar. It has been shown that both hippocampal HFS and EA at acupoints are related to the metabolism of amino acids and thus, we propose the hypothesis that EA at acupoints can predict the curative effect of hippocampal HFS: if EA at acupoints is effective, HFS of hippocampus will also be effective.

[Preparation and in vitro evaluation of doxorubicin-loaded magnetic iron oxide nanoparticles].

PEG-modified magnetic Fe3O4 (Fe3O4-PEG) nanoparticles were sythesized using a solvothermal reaction and characterized with transmission electron microscopy (TEM) and thermo gravimetric analysis (TGA). The photothermal effect and photothermal destruction of cancer cells were evaluated. Then the doxorubicin loaded Fe3O4-PEG (DOX-Fe3O4-PEG) nanoparticles were prepared. The cytotoxicity and combined chemotherapy/photothermal therapy (PTT) effect were investigated. Uniform PEG coated Fe3O4 nanoparticles with particle size of 155 nm were obtained in the experiment. The loading and release of doxorubicin on Fe3O4-PEG were pH-dependent. The drug loading capacity in water was 21%. The results of MTT indicated a good biocompatiblity of Fe3O4-PEG nanoparticles and high cytotoxicity of DOX-Fe3O4-PEG. In combined therapy experiment, photothermal therapy demonstrated unambiguously enhanced chemotherapy efficacy. In conclusion, the obtained Fe3O4-PEG nanoparticles which exhibit good photothermal effect and drug loading capacity can be used for chemotherapy and photothermal therapy. The synergetic anti-tumor activity indicates the potential for the combined application of chemotherapy and photothermal therapy in cancer treatment.

Enhanced mismatch negativity in adolescents with posttraumatic stress disorder (PTSD).

The mismatch negativity (MMN) is observed following rare or unique sensory events, and reflects pre-attentional sensory processing of unexpected stimuli. The MMN is altered in several mental illnesses, including post-traumatic stress disorder (PTSD), but did not yield consistent results. We measured MMN in 27 survivors of the Wenchuan earthquake, including 13 who were diagnosed with PTSD, to determine if pre-attentive processing in the auditory cortex was altered by this disease. The amplitude of MMN was significantly greater in the PTSD group compared to the control group. In contrast, no significant group difference was found in the N1 potential, an event-related potential that reflects cortical transmission of sensory information. These results demonstrated an increased sensitivity to deviant stimuli in PTSD that may reflect a chronic state of hyperarousal and hypervigilance in trauma victims.

Engineered selenium-containing glutaredoxin displays strong glutathione peroxidase activity rivaling natural enzyme.

Insertion of selenocysteine (Sec) into protein scaffolds provides an opportunity for designing enzymes with improved and unusual catalytic properties. The use of a common thioredoxin fold with a high affinity for glutathione in glutaredoxin (Grx) and glutathione peroxidase (GPx) suggests a possibility of engineering Grx into GPx and vice versa. Here, we engineered a Grx domain of mouse thioredoxin/glutathione reductase (TGR) into a selenium-containing enzyme by substituting the active site cysteine (Cys) with selenocysteine (Sec) in a Cys auxotrophic system. The resulting selenoenzyme displayed an unusually high GPx catalytic activity rivaling that of several native GPxs. The engineered seleno-Grx was characterized by mass spectrometry and kinetic analyses. It showed a typical ping-pong kinetic mechanism, and its catalytic properties were similar to those of naturally occurring GPxs. For example, its second rate constant (k(cat)/K(mH2O2)) was as high as 1.55x10(7) M(-1) min(-1). It appears that glutathione-dependent Grx, GPx and glutathione transferase (GST) evolved from a common thioredoxin-like ancestor to accommodate related glutathione-dependent functions and can be interconverted by targeted Sec insertion.

Globular adiponectin inhibits GnRH secretion from GT1-7 hypothalamic GnRH neurons by induction of hyperpolarization of membrane potential.

Reproduction is accurately regulated by metabolic states in mammals. Adiponectin regulates luteinizing hormone (LH) secretion in the pituitary and energy homeostasis in the hypothalamus. We further investigated the gonadotropin-releasing hormone (GnRH) secretion regulation by adiponectin and its related molecular and electrophysiological mechanisms. The results showed that adiponectin receptors (AdipR1 and 2) were expressed in GT1-7 cells derived from hypothalamus neurons. GnRH secretion was inhibited via activation of AMP-activated protein kinase (AMPK). Moreover, we revealed that hyperpolarization of plasma membrane potentials and reduction of calcium influx was also caused by adiponectin.

A fused selenium-containing protein with both GPx and SOD activities.

As a safeguard against oxidative stress, the balance between the main antioxidant enzymes including superoxide dismutase (SOD), glutathione peroxidase (GPx), and catalase (CAT) was believed to be more important than any single one, for example, dual-functional SOD/CAT enzyme has been proved to have better antioxidant ability than either single enzyme. By combining traditional fusion protein technology with amino acid auxotrophic expression system, we generated a bifunctional enzyme with both GPx and SOD activities. It displayed better antioxidant ability than GPx or SOD. Such dual-functional enzymes could facilitate further studies of the cooperation of GPx and SOD and generation of better therapeutic agents.