[Research progress of the role of iodide transporters and its regulatory signal pathways in carcinomas].

Iodine transporters of basement membrane of thyroid follicular epithelial cells can participate and exchange the iodine ions across intracellular and extracellular. Among all of the iodine rich organs, iodine ions which only exist in colloidal of thyroid follicular epithelial cells can be functioned as the raw materials, which after oxidation, iodization and coupling, to synthesize thyroid hormone (TH) and to exert its biological functions. Therefore, the iodine transported function of iodide transporters plays a pivotal role for TH biosynthesis. Furthermore, functional studies show that the abnormal expression or dysfunction of iodide transporters might serves as tumor promoters or inhibitors via regulated the mTOR signal pathway, the MAPKs signal pathway, and the NF-κB signal pathway, together contributed to the regulation of cell proliferation, invasion, metastasis and apoptosis, in which plays the role of non iodide transported function. Therefore, the non iodine transported function of iodide transporters may plays the crucial role of tumor occurrence and progression of carcinoma. Based on this information, present study was devoted to systematic summarize the iodine transported function and non iodine transported function (may affects occurrence and progression of carcinoma) of the classical iodide transporters [sodium iodide symporter (NIS) and pendrin] and novel iodine transporters[ (cystic fibrosis transmembrane conductance regulator (CFTR) , sodium multivitamin transporter (SMVT) , and anoctamin 1 (ANO1) ], respectively, in order to provide a theoretical basis and literature review reference for underlying the mechanism of iodine transporters and its regulated signal pathways for the occurrence and progression of carcinomas.

CLIC1 knockout inhibits invasion and migration of gastric cancer by upregulating AMOT-p130 expression.

PURPOSE: To explore the regulatory relationship between Chloride intracellular channel 1 (CLIC1) and Angiomotin (AMOT)-p130, and reveal the role of AMOT-p130 in gastric cancer (GC). METHODS: Immunohistochemistry was performed to analyze the expression of CLIC1 and AMOT-p130 in GC tissues and adjacent tissues. The expression of AMOT-p130 upon CLIC1 silencing was analyzed using RT-PCR, western blot, and immunofluorescence in GC cells. Transwell and wound-healing assays were performed to detect migration and invasion in GC cells. The changes in EMT-related proteins were detected using western blot. RESULTS: Our study found that high CLIC1 expression was significantly associated with low AMOT-p130 expression in GC tissues. Silencing CLIC1 expression in MGC-803 cells (MGC-803 CLIC1 KO) and AGS cells (AGS CLIC1 KO) decreased the invasive and migratory abilities of tumor cells, which were induced by the upregulation of AMOT-p130. Subsequently, we demonstrated that AMOT-p130 inhibits the invasive and migratory abilities of GC cells by inhibiting epithelial-mesenchymal transition. CONCLUSIONS: Our study suggests that AMOT-p130 could inhibit epithelial-mesenchymal transition in GC cells. CLIC1 may participate in the metastatic progression of GC by downregulating the expression of AMOT-p130.

[Correlation between swallowing function and pulmonary ventilation function and respiratory muscles strength in patients with dysphagia after stroke].

Objective: To observe the difference of pulmonary function among patients with dysphagia after stroke, patients without dysphagia and normal people, and to explore the correlation between swallowing function and pulmonary function. Methods: From September 2018 to April 2019, 310 stroke patients were enrolled from the rehabilitation department and neurology department of sun yat-sen memorial hospital, sun yat-sen university, of which 60 were selected as standard stroke patients. Pulmonary function of the three groups was assessed by pulmonary function detector and further compared. The swallowing function of the dysphagia group after stroke was examined by using videofluroscopic swallowing study (VFSS). The swallowing function was quantitatively assessed by Rosenbek penetration-aspiration scale (PAS), dysphagia outcome and severity scale (DOSS) and videofluoroscopy dysphagia scale (VDS), and the correlation between swallowing function and respiratory function was analyzed. Results: There were significant differences in pulmonary function among three groups (P<0.05). Besides the FEF25,FVC, FIVC between patients with dysphagia after stroke and patients without dysphagia, the FEF75 between patients without dysphagia and normal people (all P>0.05), there were significant differences in the pairwise comparison of other indicators (all P<0.05). There were correlations between PAS and MIP (r=-0.618, P=0.001),PAS and MEP (r=-0.410, P=0.038), PAS and PEF (r=-0.443, P=0.024), DOSS and MIP (r=0.602, P=0.000),DOSS and MEP (r=0.496, P=0.005), DOSS and PEF (r=0.553, P=0.002), VDS and MEP (r=-0.483, P=0.012),VDS and PEF (r=-0.494, P=0.010), respectively. Conclusion: The pulmonary function of dysphagia patients after stroke decrease significantly, and the severity of dysphagia is correlated with the decrease of pulmonary function.

[The intervention effect of N-carbamoyl glutamic acid on embryo implantation disorder induced by carbon disulfide and its possible molecular mechanism].

Objective: To explore the preventive effect and possible molecular mechanism of dietary supplementation of N-carbamylglutamate (NCG) in the implantation of carbon disulfide (CS(2)) into embryo implantation disorders. Methods: embryo implantation disorder model was established by single intraperitoneal exposure to CS(2) on the 3rd, 4th, and 5th days after pregnancy. Endometrial tissues were collected for 24h after exposure to CS(2) for western-blot and immunohistochemical staining. Results: The number of embryo implantation was increased in NCG+CS(2) group, compared with CS(2) alone group. Day 4 of pregnancy when CS(2)-exposed after 24 h, the expression of pAKT protein in NCG+CS(2) group was significantly increased (P<0.05), the expression level of pAMPK protein in NCG+CS(2) group was significantly decreased, compared with CS(2) alone group, respectively. Immunohistochemical results showed that pAKT, pAMPK, AKT and AMPK proteins were expressed in luminal epithelial cells, glandular epithelial cells and stromal cells of endometrium; Day 4 of pregnancy when CS(2)-exposed after 24 h, deep staining of ATK and pAKT protein in NCG+CS(2) group, the AMPK and pAMPK protein staining became lighter. Conclusion: Dietary supplementation of NCG can interfere with the embryo loss induced by CS(2) by altering the total amount of AKT/AMPK molecules.

[Embryo implantation dysfunction via the decreased uterine dendritic cells's non-immune function after exposed to carbon disulfide].

Objective: To study the effect of CS2 on dendritic cells (DCs) in the uterus and the expression of vascular endothelial growth factor (VEGF), vascular endothelial growth factor receptor(fms-like tyrosine kinase-1, Flt-1), and to explore the toxic mechanism of CS2-induced embryo implantation dysfunction. Methods: The Kunming mice were randomly divided into control group,gestational day 4(GD4) exposure group and GD5 exposure group. The endpoints of each group(GD5, GD6, GD7) was set up according to their respective exposure time points. The mice in the exposure group were given intraperitoneal injection of CS2 at an injection dose of 631.4 mg/kg and the control group was given olive oil. The effect of CS2 on DCs in the uterus of pregnant mice was observed by flow cytometry. The levels of VEGF and Flt-1 were measured by Real-time quantitative polymerase chain reaction (qPCR) and enzyme-linked immunosorbent assay (ELISA). Results: In the GD4 and GD5 exposure groups, the number of DCs in the uterus of pregnant mice decreased at all endpoints and the GD5 endpoint in the GD4 exposure group decreased by 21%(P=0.039), when compared with the control group. In the GD4 exposure group, the levels of VEGF mRNA and protein in the uterus of the pregnant mice were 79% and 30% lower than those in the control group, respectively (P=0.03、P=0.017); the levels of Flt-1 mRNA and protein at the endpoints of GD6 and GD7 in the uterus decreased by 54%, 36%, 60% and 56%, respectively, when compared with the control group(P=0.017、P=0.012、P=0.004、P=0.007). In the GD5 exposure group, the levels of VEGF mRNA and protein in the uterus of pregnant mice at the endpoint of GD7 decreased by 62% and 36%, when compared with the control group (P=0.005、P=0.035); the levels of Flt-1 mRNA and protein in the uterus at the endpoint of GD7 decreased by 60% and 44%, respectively, when compared with the control group (P=0.004、P=0.009). Conclusion: CS2 reduced the number of DCs in the uterus of pregnant mice, and affected the non-immune function of DCs, which affected uterine angiogenesis, this may be one of the mechanisms of CS2-induced embryo implantation dysfunction.

A comparative study on genetic characteristics of two new varieties of Pelodiscus sinensis and their hybrid.

Chinese soft-shelled turtle Pelodiscus sinensis has been an important aquaculture species in Southeast Asian countries. To breed a new variety of soft-shelled turtle with excellent properties and to evaluate the effect of hybridization of two turtle strains with a highly different trait phenotype, inheritance, microsatellite loci, and transcriptome analysis were studied in the hybrid turtles and their parents of P. sinensis Japanese strain and Qingxi black turtle. The genotypic characteristics and economic trait of the hybrid turtles were analyzed and compared to the two parents, showing significant growth vigor. The chromosome number of the hybrid turtle was diploid (2N = 66). The karyotype formulae were 8m+10sm+26t+22mc, with little differences between the two parents. Genotypic segregations of 241 microsatellite loci were screened in 3 populations including 90 species and showed that the specific allele numbers and polymorphic fragments increased in hybrid turtles indicating genetic diversity increased by hybridization. The liver transcriptome analysis of the hybrids and two parents showed similar distribution abundance in the parental and hybrid groups, but the transcripts with high abundance appeared in the hybrid group. There were 274 significant differentially expressed transcripts in the hybrid group compared to the two parental groups, among them 7 differentially expressed genes indicating super-parent expression, and only 2 genes showing low-parent expression. In the differentially expressed genes, expression changes were mainly contributed to regulatory region changes rather than coding region sequences. These results would be important for facilitating successful breeding strategies by hybridization in P. sinensis.

[Study on the association between social isolation and cognitive function among elderly in Daqing city, Heilongjiang province].

Objective: To examine the association between social isolation and cognitive function among the elderly living in the communities of Daqing city. Methods: A total of 981 community residents aged 60 years or over, were surveyed with a questionnaire. Both Lubben Social Network Scale-6 (LSNS-6) and Montreal Congnitive Assessment (MoCA) Changsha Versions were used to respectively screen the status of social isolation and cognitive function, on these elderly. Results: The average age was 71 years old for the 981 study participants. 10.60% (104/981) of the participants were assessed as having the status of social isolation, 9.48% (93/981) as having marginal family ties and 13.97% (137/981) as having marginal friendship ties. Results from the multivariate linear regression analysis revealed that participants with higher scores of LSNS-6 presenting better cognitive function score, with a partial regression coefficient as 0.10 (P<0.01). The MoCA scores in participants with social isolation (20.38±5.54) were significantly lower than the ones without social isolation (22.10±5.01) and the difference was statistically significant (P<0.01). Social isolation was significantly related to the domain scores on visuo-spatial constructional executive functions (P=0.02), naming (P=0.03), language (P=0.01) and delayed memory functions (P<0.01), but not with other domains as concentration (P=0.33), orientation (P=0.27) or abstraction (P=0.49). Conclusion: The findings suggested that social isolation was mainly caused by the lack of friendship ties and associated with cognitive function and among the elderly in Daqing city, Heilongjiang province.

White Light Emission and Luminescence Dynamics in Eu³âº/Dy³âº Codoped ZnO Nanocrystals.

In order to expand the use of ZnO in advanced display and lighting device applications, such as distinguishable emissive flat panel displays and liquid crystal display backlights, Eu³âº/Dy³âº-codoped ZnO nanocrystals were synthesized using a low temperature wet chemical doping technique and chemical surface modification. X-ray diffraction patterns revealed that co-doping Eu³âº and Dy³âº does not change the wurtzite structure of ZnO. A high-resolution TEM image showing obvious lattice fringes confirmed the high crystallinity of the nanosized sample. The luminescence and dynam- ics of Eu³âº/Dy³âº-codoped ZnO nanocrystals of various doping concentrations were studied under ultraviolet excitation. Excitation into the ZnO conduction band was also studied. ZnO doped with Eu³âº and Dy³âº ions exhibited a strong blue (483 nm) emission from the 4F9/2 --> 6H15/2 transition of Dy³âº ions, a yellowish-green (575 nm) emission from the 4F9/2 --> 6H13/2 transition of Dy³âº ions and a red (612 nm) emission from the 5D0 --> 7F2 transition of Eu³âº ions, without a defect background. Undoped ZnO emitted a broadband green light, demonstrating an efficient energy transfer from the ZnO host to the Eu³âº and Dy³âº ions. Moreover, energy transfer from the Eu³âº ions to the Dy³âº ions in the ZnO host was also observed by analyzing luminescence decay curves. The luminescence dynamics of the Eu³âº/Dy³âº-codped ZnO sample indicate that as the Eu³âº concentration increased, both the rise and the decay time constants of the 4H9/2 level of the Dy³âº ions became longer, while the decay time constants of the 5D0 level of the Eu³âº ions became shorter, suggesting an energy transfer from the Eu³âº ions to the Dy³âº ions in the ZnO host. Furthermore, by adjusting the doping concentration ratio of Eu³âº and Dy³âº ions, the Eu³âº/Dy³âº-codoped ZnO phosphors emitted strong white luminescence with a high color purity and high color rendering index. The results indicate that the Eu³âº/Dy³âº-codoped ZnO phosphors are promising light-conversion materials, and have the potential to be used in field emission display devices and LCD backlights.

Nutritional State Predicts All-Cause Death Independent of Comorbidities in Geriatric Patients with Coronary Artery Disease.

OBJECTIVE: To explore whether nutritional risk is associated with poor outcomes independent of complicated clinical status in older patients with coronary artery disease (CAD). DESIGN: Cohort study. SETTING: Patients referred for coronary angiography in West China Hospital, Sichuan University, China. PARTICIPANTS: 1772 patients with angiographic documented CAD whose age was above 65 years. MEASUREMENTS: Nutritional state was appraised using geriatric nutritional risk index (GNRI). Nutritional risk was defined as the GNRI below 98. The event rate of all-cause death was observed among patients with nutritional risk and those without. RESULTS: During a median follow-up period of 27 months, 224 patients died. Multivariate Cox regression analysis showed that nutritional risk was associated with all-cause death (adjusted hazard ratio 1.99; 95% confidence interval 1.35-2.95; P=0.001). Subgroup analysis verified the association between nutritional risk and death among patients with distinct clinical features, comorbidities, and medication. There was no interaction between nutritional risk and clinical characteristics with regard to all-cause death. CONCLUSION: Nutritional state is independently associated with the risk of all-cause death in geriatric patients with CAD. Whether nutritional support in appropriate patients improves clinical outcomes deserves further investigation.

Intrahepatic hepatitis B virus replication and liver histology in subjects with occult hepatitis B infection.

We studied the intrahepatic hepatitis B virus (HBV) replicative status in 40 people with occult hepatitis B infection (OBI) and 40 patients with chronic hepatitis B (CHB). Intrahepatic HBV DNA, covalently closed circular DNA (cccDNA), and pre-genomic RNA (pgRNA) were quantified. Patients with OBI had median necroinflammation and fibrosis scores of 1 and 0, respectively. Intrahepatic total HBV DNA, cccDNA and pgRNA were detectable in 30 (77%), one (3%) and five (13%) of the participants with OBI, respectively. People with OBI had lower median intrahepatic total HBV DNA than the patients with CHB (p < 0.0001). They had nearly normal liver histology and low intrahepatic HBV replication.

Lean mass index, body fat and survival in Chinese patients with coronary artery disease.

BACKGROUND: 'Obesity paradox' was not consistently observed in Asians with coronary artery disease (CAD). AIM: The study investigated the association between body composition and outcomes in Chinese patients with CAD. DESIGN: Cohort study. METHOD: A total of 3280 patients with angiographically validated CAD were consecutively included. Body fat (BF) percentage and lean mass index (LMI) were evaluated using the Clínica Universidad de Navarra-Body Adiposity Estimator. The rate of mortality from any cause was compared across groups classified by the quartiles of LMI. RESULTS: During a median period of 24 months, 288 (8.8%) participants died. There was a close association between increasing LMI and reducing mortality rate. However, univariate analyses did not find protective effect of BF on survival. After adjusting for age, sex, diabetes, current smoking, systolic blood pressure, creatinine, white blood cell count, haemoglobin and medication, Cox regression analyses showed that the significant relation between higher quartiles (Q) of LMI and survival benefit (Q4, hazard ratio 0.58 (95% confidence interval: 0.36-0.94) vs. Q3, 0.60 (0.39-0.91) vs. Q2, 0.60 (0.41-0.88) vs. Q1, reference) remained. CONCLUSION: Low LMI but not BF predicts all-cause mortality in Chinese patients with CAD.

Increased interventricular septum wall thickness predicts all-cause death in patients with coronary artery disease.

BACKGROUND: There is debate regarding the predictive value of interventricular septum (IVS) wall thickness for adverse events. AIMS: The study investigated the association between the severity of thickened IVS and all-cause death in Chinese patients with coronary artery disease (CAD). METHODS: A total of 2297 CAD patients verified by angiography was consecutively included. Patients were grouped according to the severity of thickened IVS. Cox regression analysis was conducted to determine the independent prognostic value of thickened IVS for all-cause death. RESULTS: During a median follow up of 25 months, 149 patients died. A gradient increase in the risk of death was observed across thickened IVS groups. Compared to patients with normal IVS thickness, the adjusted hazard ratio (HR) was 1.49 (95% confidence interval (CI) 1.00-2.23, P = 0.05) and 2.13 (95% CI 1.29-3.54, P = 0.003) for all-cause death in those with mildly and moderately/severely thickened IVS respectively. For one unit increase in IVS thickness, the risk of all-cause death was elevated by 14% (adjusted HR 1.14, 95% CI 1.05-1.24, P = 0.003). In patients with normal indexed left ventricular mass, thickened IVS was also demonstrated as an independent risk factor for all-cause death. CONCLUSION: Thickened IVS can be served as a reliable marker for predicting all-cause death in Chinese patients with CAD, even in those with normal left ventricular mass.

Linearized hepatitis B surface antigen and hepatitis B core-related antigen in the natural history of chronic hepatitis B.

Changes in two novel HBV serological markers, linearized hepatitis B surface antigen (HQ-HBsAg) and hepatitis B core-related antigen (HBcrAg), in the natural history of chronic hepatitis B (CHB) have not been well characterized. Serum HQ-HBsAg and HBcrAg levels of 404 Asian treatment-naïve CHB patients were analysed in a cross-sectional manner. Patients were categorized into five groups: immune tolerant (IT group, n=52), immune clearance (IC group, n=105), hepatitis B e antigen (HBeAg)-negative hepatitis (ENH group, n=97), HBeAg-negative quiescent group (ENQ group, n=95) and CHB with hepatitis B surface antigen (HBsAg) seroclearance (SC group, n=55). HQ-HBsAg and HBcrAg were measured and correlated with HBV DNA, HBsAg, HBV genotype and clinical parameters. HQ-HBsAg showed good correlation with HBsAg, especially in the ENQ group (r=0.874, p<0.001). Correlation of HQ-HBsAg with HBV DNA was less prominent and weakest in the ENH group (r=0.268, p 0.008). HBcrAg correlated best with HBV DNA in the ENQ group (r=0.537, p<0.001). In the ENQ group, 42.1% of patients had undetectable HBcrAg; this subgroup of patients, when compared with those with detectable HBcrAg, had significantly lower median HBV DNA (3.17/4.48 log IU/mL, p<0.001) and HBsAg (5.05/5.96 log mIU/mL, p<0.001) levels. Forty per cent of the SC group patients had detectable HQ-HBsAg and/or HBcrAg up to 42 months after HBsAg seroclearance. When comparing anti-HBs positivity and median time after HBsAg seroclearance in the SC group with and without detectable HQ-HBsAg/HBcrAg, there was no significant difference (22.7% and 36.4%, respectively, p 0.284, and 76.5 and 93.2 months, respectively, p 0.245). HQ-HBsAg and HBcrAg showed unique patterns of distribution throughout the five disease phases of CHB, including high detectability rates after HBsAg seroclearance, opening up different possibilities for their applicability.

Efficient doping and energy transfer from ZnO to Eu3+ ions in Eu(3+)-doped ZnO nanocrystals.

Successful doping of Eu3+ ions into ZnO nanocrystals has been realized by using a low temperature wet chemical doping technique. The substitution of Eu3+ for Zn2+ is shown to be dominant in the Eu-doped ZnO nanocrystals by analyzing the X-ray diffraction patterns, transmission electron microscopy images, Raman and selectively excited photoluminescence spectra. Measurement of the luminescence from the samples shows that the excited ZnO transfers the excited energy efficiently to the doped Eu3+ ions, giving rise to efficient emission at red spectral region. The red emission quantum yield is measured to be 31% at room temperature. The temperature dependence of photoluminescence and the photoluminescence excitation spectra have also been investigated, showing strong energy coupling between the ZnO host and Eu3+ ions through free and bound excitons. The result indicates that Eu3+ ion-doped ZnO nanocrystals are promising light-conversion materials and have potential application in highly distinguishable emissive flat panel display and LED backlights.

Taiwan's traffic control bundle and the elimination of nosocomial severe acute respiratory syndrome among healthcare workers.

The traffic control bundle consists of procedures designed to help prevent epidemic nosocomial infection. We retrospectively studied the serial infection control measures to determine factors most effective in preventing nosocomial infections of healthcare workers (HCWs) during the 2003 Taiwanese severe acute respiratory syndrome (SARS) epidemic. Fever screening stations, triage of fever patients, separating SARS patients from other patients, separation of entrances and passageways between patients and HCWs, and increasing hand-washing facilities all demonstrated a protective effect for HCWs (univariate analysis; P<0.05). By multiple logistic regression: (i) checkpoint alcohol dispensers for glove-on hand rubbing between zones of risk, and (ii) fever screening at the fever screen station outside the emergency department, were the significant methods effectively minimising nosocomial SARS infection of HCWs (P<0.05). The traffic control bundle should be implemented in future epidemics as a tool to achieve strict infection control measures.

Enhanced efficacy in anti-tumour activity by combined therapy of recombinant FGFR-1 related angiogenesis and low-dose cytotoxic agent.

Fibroblast growth factor receptor-1 (FGFR-1) has been used as a target for anti-angiogeneic therapy of cancer. The strategies of combining anti-angiogenic biotherapy with chemotherapeutic drugs show potential and promise for cancer therapy. In this study, we evaluated the anti-tumour efficacy of chicken FGFR-1 (cFR-1) vaccine combined with low-dose gemcitabine in two mice tumour models. We found that both the cFR-1 vaccine and low-dose gemcitabine can suppress tumour growth to some extent. Remarkably, the combination strategy produces an apparent decrease in tumour volume, microvessel density and tumour cell proliferation, and an increase of apoptosis without obvious side-effects compared with either therapy alone. Moreover, the combination strategy also demonstrated synergistic indices against tumour growth and angiogenesis. Furthermore, auto-antibodies against mouse FGFR-1 were identified. These findings support the idea that the combination strategy synergistically strengthens anti-tumour activity via suppression of tumour angiogenesis without overt toxicity in tumour-bearing mice.

A plasmid DNA vaccine encoding the extracellular domain of porcine endoglin induces anti-tumour immune response against self-endoglin-related angiogenesis in two liver cancer models.

BACKGROUND: Anti-angiogenesis therapy has showed a promising future in tumour treatment. More and more evidence suggest that endoglin is a powerful marker of angiogenesis in solid malignancies, including liver cancer. AIM: To explore whether a plasmid DNA encoding the porcine endoglin has the ability of breaking immune tolerance against endoglin-related tumour angiogenesis in mice. METHODS: A eukaryotic plasmid encoding the extracellular domain of porcine endoglin was constructed, and then used it as a xenogeneic DNA vaccine. Hepa1-6 and H22 hepatoma models were established to observe the anti-tumour activities. Western blot, enzyme-linked immunoadsorbent assay and enzyme-linked immunospot assay were used to determine the antibody characters. Immunohistochemistry and alginate-encapsulated tumour cell assay were used to observe the anti-angiogenesis effects. RESULTS: Immunotherapy with recombinant plasmid encoding extracellular domain of porcine endoglin was effective at both protective and therapeutic anti-tumour immunity in two hepatoma models. Autoantibodies against murine endoglin were identified. IgG1 and IgG2b were the major subclasses in response to recombinant plasmid encoding extracellular domain of porcine endoglin vaccination. Anti-endoglin antibody-producing B cells were significantly increased in the spleens of mice immunised with recombinant plasmid encoding extracellular domain of porcine endoglin. In addition, mouse self-immunoglobulins were found deposited on the blood vessels of recombinant plasmid encoding extracellular domain of porcine endoglin-immunised tumour tissues. The similar anti-tumour activity was induced by the adoptive transfer of the purified immunoglobulins from the sera of mice immunised with recombinant plasmid encoding extracellular domain of porcine endoglin. Furthermore, angiogenesis was apparently inhibited within the tumour tissues from the recombinant plasmid encoding extracellular domain of porcine endoglin-immunised mice, and the vascularisation of alginate balls was also reduced in recombinant plasmid encoding extracellular domain of porcine endoglin-immunised mice. Most importantly, recombinant plasmid encoding extracellular domain of porcine endoglin could really induce cytotoxic T lymphocyte-mediated cytotoxicity and inhibit cell proliferation against endothelial cells. In addition, both CD4+ and CD8+ T lymphocytes took part in the function of inhibiting tumour growth and were synergistically responsible for induction of the anti-tumour activities. CONCLUSIONS: This approach may provide an alternative strategy for liver cancer immunotherapy.

Negative effect of heat sterilization on the free amino acid concentrations in infant formula.

Infant formulas are often heat sterilized in hospitals where water contamination or nosocomial infection is a concern, but there are few studies of the effect of high heat on the nutritional value of infant formula. In particular, the effect of heat sterilization on free amino acid (FAA) concentrations is seldom discussed. In view of the importance of these nutrients for infant growth, we investigated the FAA concentrations of infant formula after heat sterilization. Powdered infant formulas were reconstituted with hot water (80 degrees C) in glass bottles and placed in an autoclave for 5 min at 105 degrees C and 5600 kg/m2 of pressure. Additional samples of formula were prepared by conventional methods to serve as controls. After autoclaving, we measured the FAA concentrations with ion exchange chromatography. The results were compared with those obtained after conventional preparation. We found a 19.5% lower amount of total protein after autoclaving compared with conventional preparation. Concentrations of total FAA were significantly lower after autoclaving (696.5 +/- 101.4 vs 899.4 +/- 152.2 micromol/l, P = 0.01). The concentrations of individual amino acids were also lower in autoclaved infant formulas, with differences ranging from -4.1 to 71.5% (mean 22.6%). Concentrations of certain amino acids were more than 30% lower, such as valine (71.5%), citrulline (61.1%), glutamine (60.6%), ethanolamine (54%), and lysine (39.2%). Both essential and nonessential amino acids were similarly affected by autoclaving, 28.17 and 27.13%, respectively, lower than in controls (P = 0.37). The concentration of ammonia was significantly higher after autoclaving (645.2 +/- 76.2 vs 393.2 +/-140.7 micromol/l, P = 0.0003). However, the urea level was significantly lower after autoclaving than after conventional preparation (1110.8 +/- 162.7 vs 1426.5 +/- 209.5 micromol/l, P = 0.0004). The accumulation of ammonia may reflect degradation of protein and amino acids. Autoclaving clearly results in decreased concentrations of FAA in infant formula. The increased concentration of ammonia after autoclaving is of concern if it leads to deleterious effects.