Preliminary proteomic analysis of radiation response markers in rectal cancer patients.

OBJECTIVE: To provide biomarkers related to the radiation response of patients to avoid unnecessary side effects on those who were not sensitive to radiotherapy. PATIENTS AND METHODS: In the present study, we compared the different four proteins (PDIA3, Vimentin, Galectin3, Dhe3) patterns in rectal tumor tissue before and after radiation therapy by using 2-D PAGE, mass spectrometry, and bioinformatics analysis. RESULTS: The protein level of Galectin3 and PDIA3 were downregulated in rectal cancer patients before and after radiotherapy (1.42 folds); while Dhe3 protein and Vimentin were upregulated (1-2 folds), and we also revealed Vimentin as its role in the negative regulation of the well-known transcription factor ATF4. CONCLUSIONS: Our study showed that four candidate proteins, including PIDA3, Galectin3, Dhe3, and Vimentin, might be the potential biomarkers in the identification of radiation response in rectal cancer.

Efficacy of arginine-enriched enteral formulas for the healing of pressure ulcers: a systematic review.

OBJECTIVE: Arginine improves healing and modulates inflammation and the immune response. This systematic review aimed to assess the effect of arginine-enriched enteral formulas in pressure ulcer (PU) healing. METHOD: Systematic computerised searches of PubMed, Web of Knowledge, Scopus, ENTRAL and CINAHL databases were performed from their inception to 20 January 2016. Randomised controlled trials (RCTs) were included in this systematic review. We used the Jadad scale as a quality assessment tool. RESULTS: There were seven RCTs with 369 patients included in this systematic review; four RCTs assessed healing by PU area reduction. All of them reported arginine-enriched enteral nutrition led to a significant improved PU healing compared with standard hospital diet in 2-12 weeks follow-up. Among these four RCTs, one enrolled malnourished patients, one enrolled non-malnourished patients, and the other two studies did not restrict the nutritional status of the patients. Using the Pressure Ulcer Scale for Healing (PUSH) four RCTs assessed healing of PU, all reporting arginine-enriched enteral nutrition resulted in a significant PUSH score improvement compared with control at follow-up. Using the Pressure Sore Status Tool (PSST) one RCT assessed healing of PUs, finding patients receiving arginine had the lowest PSST scores compared with controls. An RCT compared healing with two doses of arginine (4.5g versus 9g), but no difference was found between the doses. CONCLUSION: Evidence showed that arginine-enriched enteral nutrition led to a significant improvement in PU healing. It was effective not only in malnourished patients, but also in non-malnourished patients.

Purification and characterization of a new peptide with analgesic effect from the scorpion Buthus martensi Karch.

Anew peptide, designated as Buthus martensi Karch (BmK) AngM1, with an isoelectric point (pI) of 5.8 was purified and characterized from the venom of Buthus martensi Karch. The molecular mass was calculated as 7040.5 Da from multiple-charged ions by elelctrospray ionization mass spectroscopy (ESI/MS). The complete amino acid sequence of BmK AngM1 of 64 amino acid residues was determined by automatic sequencing of N-terminal part of the native peptide and the fragments of reduced and S-carboxymethylated (RCM)-peptide degraded by Staphylococcus aureaus V(8) protease and TPCK(N-p-Tosyl-L-phenylalanine chloromethyl ketone)-treated trypsin. Bioactivity tested using mouse-twisting model showed an evident analgesic effect with 63.0% (P < 0.001) inhibition efficiency at the dose of 0.8 mg/kg, but the LD(50) was larger than 50 mg/kg. Electrophysiological studies showed that BmK AngM1 at the concentration of 1 microm obviously inhibit voltage-dependent Na(+) current (I(Na)) and voltage-dependent delayed rectifier K(+) current (I(K)) but had no effects on transient K(+) current.