Investigation of structural proteins in sea cucumber (Apostichopus japonicus) body wall.

Structural proteins play critical roles in the food quality, especially texture properties, of sea cucumbers and their products. Most of the previous studies on sea cucumbers focused on few individual proteins, which limited our understanding of how structural proteins influenced the quality of sea cucumbers. Inspired by the clarification of sea cucumber (Apostichopus japonicus) genome, we established an integrated data of structural proteins in the sea cucumber body wall. A portfolio of 2018 structural proteins was screened out from the sea cucumber annotated proteome by bioinformatics analysis. The portfolio was divided into three divisions, including extracellular matrix proteins, muscle proteins, and proteases, and further classified into 18 categories. The presence of 472 proteins in the sea cucumber body wall was confirmed by using a proteomics approach. Moreover, comparative proteomics analysis revealed the spatial distribution heterogeneity of structural proteins in the sea cucumber body wall at a molecular scale. This study suggested that future researches on sea cucumbers could be performed from an integrated perspective, which would reshape the component map of sea cucumber and provide novel insights into the understanding of how the food quality of sea cucumber was determined on a molecular level.

Collagen fibrils of sea cucumber (Apostichopus japonicus) are heterotypic.

Sea cucumbers attracted increasing interest due to its nutritional functions. Collagen is the most important structural biomacromolecule in sea cucumber body wall, and is highly related to the textual properties and food quality of sea cucumber. In this study, the type of constituent collagens of sea cucumber collagen fibrils was investigated, employing a commercially important species Apostichopus japonicus as the material. Proteomics and bioinformatics analysis revealed that collagen fibrils of A. japonicas are heterotypic. Two clade A and one clade B fibrillar collagens and two FACIT collagens were identified from the fibrils. Besides, the heterogeneity was also revealed in the pepsin-solubilized collagen (PSC) of A. japonicus by using the proteomics strategy. It implied that the previous conclusions on the type of sea cucumber collagen deduced from SDS-PAGE analysis should be rechecked. The results provided novel insight into the composition of sea cucumber collagen fibrils.

Effects of Tianqijiangtang capsule on survival, self-renewal and differentiation of hippocampal neural stem cells of embryonic rats cultured in high glucose medium.

OBJECTIVE: This study aims to investigate the effects of Tianqijiangtang capsule on the survival, self-renewal and differentiation of hippocampal neural stem cells (NSCs) of embryonic rats cultured in high glucose medium. MATERIALS AND METHODS: A cell model of diabetic encephalopathy was established. Cell viability was assessed to screen the optimal concentration of glucose for the cell model of diabetic encephalopathy. Then, the effects of Tianqijiangtang capsule on the proliferation and differentiation of NSCs, and the expression of vascular endothelial growth factor (VEGF) and brain-derived neurotrophic factor (BDNF) in the culture medium and cells were detected. RESULTS: High glucose significantly reduced the ability of survival, proliferation and differentiation of NSCs, which was statistically significant, when compared to the control group (P < 0.05 or 0.01). Tianqijiangtang capsule significantly enhanced the survival, proliferation and differentiation of NSCs cultured in high glucose medium, which was statistically significant, when compared with the high glucose group (P < 0.05 or 0.01). The high glucose culture resulted in a significant decrease in VEGF and BDNF levels in culture medium and cells of NSCs. Tianqijiangtang capsule significantly increased the level of VEGF nuclear BDNF in cells and the culture medium, which was significantly higher, when compared to that in the high glucose group (P < 0.05 or 0.01). CONCLUSION: Tianqijiangtang capsule enhances the level of neurotrophic factor synthesized and secreted by hippocampal NSCs cultured with high glucose through the autocrine and paracrine pathway, promotes the NSC survival, replication and differentiation of new neurons and astrocytes, and reduces the degeneration and necrosis of nerve cells.

Emulsion stability and dilatational viscoelasticity of ovalbumin/chitosan complexes at the oil-in-water interface.

The contribution of the emulsion rheological properties and the viscoelastic of the interface adsorbed layer to the emulsification mechanism of ovalbumin (OVA)-chitosan (CS) mixtures were investigated. In comparison to the treatment with OVA alone and OVA/CS mixtures at pH 4.0, the addition of CS at pH 5.5 increased the size distribution of emulsion droplets with significant flocculation through polyelectrolyte bridging, remarkably enhancing the emulsions stability against gravity creaming after storage at 25 °C for 14 days. The dynamic rheological properties indicated that the formation of the complex at pH 5.5 increased the elastic modulus (G') and apparent viscosity (η∗) of the emulsions, which is useful for inhibiting creaming. Moreover, the complexation of OVA and CS at pH 5.5 increased the dilatational modulus (E), especially the elastic modulus (Ed), of the oil/water interfacial absorbed layer, which could reduce the droplet coalescence and therefore inhibit the growth of emulsion droplets.

Impact of capsule endoscopy on prevention of postoperative recurrence of Crohn's disease.

BACKGROUND AND AIMS: Capsule endoscopy (CE) can detect lesions outside the scope of ileocolonoscopy in postoperative patients with Crohn's disease (CD). However, the impact of such findings on patient outcomes remains unknown. This study is intended to evaluate the impact of CE findings on clinical management and outcomes in asymptomatic patients with CD without pharmacologic prophylaxis after ileocolonic resection. METHODS: In this retrospective cohort study, 37 patients (group 1) received ileocolonoscopy together with CE within 1 year after surgery, whereas 46 patients (group 2) only received ileocolonoscopy. Patients with endoscopic recurrence detected by either ileocolonoscopy or CE received pharmacologic therapy with azathioprine or infliximab. One year later, disease activity was re-evaluated. RESULTS: In group 1, all patients with ileocolonoscopy-identified recurrence also had CE-identified recurrence. In addition, CE detected endoscopic recurrence in 11 patients missed by ileocolonoscopy. Endoscopic remission identified by ileocolonoscopy was confirmed by CE in 13 patients. One year later, endoscopic remission identified by ileocolonoscopy was maintained in all 24 patients, and none had clinical recurrence. Conversely, in group 2, of those with ileocolonoscopy-identified remission, both ileocolonoscopy-identified recurrence and clinical recurrence occurred in 9 of 31 patients 1 year later. The total clinical recurrence rate was 2.7% (1/37) in group 1 versus 21.7% (10/46) in group 2 (P = .019). CONCLUSIONS: If endoscopic remission identified by ileocolonoscopy was confirmed by CE, patients could remain free of pharmacologic prophylaxis. If recurrence outside the scope of ileocolonoscopy was detected by CE, initiation of active pharmacologic therapy would be needed.

In vitro investigation of the mechanism underlying the effect of ginsenoside on the proliferation and differentiation of neural stem cells subjected to oxygen-glucose deprivation/reperfusion.

The present study comprised a series of experiments to investigate the mechanism underlying the effect of ginsenoside on the self-renewal, proliferation and differentiation of neural stem cells (NSCs) undergoing oxygen-glucose deprivation/reperfusion (OGD/R) in vitro. The NSCs, which were isolated from the hippocampus of embryonic day 17 embryo rats, were subjected to OGD/R to establish an in vitro model of brain ischemia-reperfusion, following which different doses of ginsenoside were administered to the model. The proliferation of the NSCs was determined using MTT colorimetry and nestin/bromodeoxyuridine (BrdU) immunofluorescent double-labeling. The NSCs were identified by measuring the expression of nestin, and the differentiation of NSCs was assessed through the immunofluorescent double-labeling of nestin/vimentin and nestin/neuron-specific class III ß-tubulin (tuj-1). The protein levels of vascular endothelial growth factor (VEGF) and hypoxia-inducible factor-1α (HIF-1α) were detected to investigate the function and mechanism of ginsenoside on ischemic stroke using an enzyme-linked immunosorbent assay. Marked increases in the optical density, area density and numbers of nestin/BrdU-, nestin/vimentin- and nestin/tuj-1-positive cells were found in the ginsenoside-treated group. Compared with the control group, enhanced expression levels of BrdU, tuj-1 and vimentin were found in the ginsenoside-treated group, suggesting that ginsenoside may significantly promote the proliferation and differentiation of NSCs. The results of the present study also showed that ginsenoside significantly increased the protein level of HIF-1α (P<0.05) in the NSCs exposed to OGD/R. These results indicated that ginsenoside may maintain NSC replication, promote NSC proliferation and promote NSC differentiation into neurons and astrocytes. Ginsenoside may initiate the expression of downstream VEGF, which is involved in promoting the survival, self-renewal and differentiation of NSCs.

Effects of ginsenoside­Rg1 on the proliferation and glial­like directed differentiation of embryonic rat cortical neural stem cells in vitro.

Ginsenoside­Rg1, the main active component of Panax notoginseng, exhibits a number of pharmacological functions, including promoting protein synthesis in the brain, increasing the number of synapses, improving memory and promoting recovery of brain function following injury. The effect of ginsenoside­Rg1 on proliferation and glial­like­directed differentiation in the cortical neural stem cells (NSCs) of embryonic rat brain was investigated. The present study used MTS assays to identify the optimum dose and window time of ginsenoside­Rg1 administration to stimulate the proliferation of cortical NSCs in the rat embryonic tissue. The oxygen glucose deprivation (OGD) set­up was used as a cell injury model. Immunofluorescent staining was used for identification of NSCs and subsequent observation of their proliferation and glial­like directed differentiation. Nestin expression was the marker for the presence of NSCs among the cortical cells of embryonic rat brain. The optimum dose of ginsenoside­Rg1 for proliferation of NSCs was 0.32 µg/ml. The optimum window time of 0.32 µg/ml ginsenoside­Rg1 administration on proliferation of NSCs was 6 h. Ginsenoside­Rg1 at 0.32 µg/ml concentration promoted incorporation of bromo­2­deoxyuridine, and expression of nestin and vimentin in primary and passaged NSCs, and NSCs following OGD. Ginsenoside­Rg1 had a role in promoting proliferation and glial­like­directed differentiation of cortical NSCs. The plausible explanation for these responses is that ginsenoside­Rg1 acts similarly to the growth factors to promote the proliferation and differentiation of NSCs.

Proliferation and Glia-Directed Differentiation of Neural Stem Cells in the Subventricular Zone of the Lateral Ventricle and the Migratory Pathway to the Lesions after Cortical Devascularization of Adult Rats.

We investigated the effects of cortical devascularization on the proliferation, differentiation, and migration of neural stem cells (NSCs) in the subventricular zone (SVZ) of the lateral ventricle of adult rats. 60 adult male Wistar rats were randomly divided into control group and devascularized group. At 15 and 30 days after cerebral cortices were devascularized, rats were euthanized and immunohistochemical analysis was performed. The number of PCNA-, Vimentin-, and GFAP-positive cells in the bilateral SVZ of the lateral wall and the superior wall of the lateral ventricles of 15- and 30-day devascularized groups increased significantly compared with the control group (P < 0.05 and P < 0.01). The area density of PCNA-, Vimentin-, and GFAP-positive cells in cortical lesions of 15- and 30-day devascularized groups increased significantly compared with the control group (P < 0.05 and P < 0.01). PCNA-, GFAP-, and Vimentin-positive cells in the SVZ migrated through the rostral migratory stream (RMS), and PCNA-, GFAP-, and Vimentin-positive cells from both the ipsilateral and contralateral dorsolateral SVZ (dl-SVZ) migrated into the corpus callosum (CC) and accumulated, forming a migratory pathway within the CC to the lesioned site. Our study suggested that cortical devascularization induced proliferation, glia-directed differentiation, and migration of NSCs from the SVZ through the RMS or directly to the corpus callosum and finally migrating radially to cortical lesions. This may play a significant role in neural repair.

Sedation With Propofol Has No Effect on Capsule Endoscopy Completion Rates: A Prospective Single-Center Study.

Patients who need both capsule endoscopy (CE) and colonoscopy often undergo both examinations on the same day to avoid repeated bowel preparation and fasting. Sedation can relieve pain and is commonly used for colonoscopies but may influence the CE completion rate.To determine whether sedation with propofol influences the completion rate and small-bowel transit time (SBTT) of CE.From July 2014 to December 2014, patients (18-65 years old) who needed both CE and colonoscopy were assessed consecutively for enrollment in our study. Colonoscopies were performed with or without sedation based on patient preferences on the day of capsule ingestion. The completion rate, SBTT, and diagnostic yield of CEs were recorded. Patients' satisfaction and pain scores were also recorded.Sedation with propofol had no significant effect on CE completion rates (83.3% sedation group vs 81.8% nonsedation group, P = 0.86) but was associated with increased SBTT (403.6 ±â€Š160.3 sedation group vs 334.5 ±â€Š134.4 nonsedation group, P = 0.006). The diagnostic yields in the sedation and nonsedation groups were 69.4% and 65.9%, respectively (P = 0.74). The median satisfaction scores were 8.6 in the sedation group and 3.5 in the nonsedation group (P < 0.001). Median pain scores were 1.4 in the sedation group and 6.7 in the nonsedation group (P < 0.001).Sedation with propofol increased SBTT but had no effect on CE completion rates, suggesting that CE and colonoscopy with propofol can be performed on the same day (clinical trial registration number: ChiCTR-ONRC-14004866).

Double balloon enteroscopy in the old: experience from China.

AIM: To evaluate the safety, efficacy and management of double balloon enteroscopy (DBE) carried out in those aged individuals with suspicious small intestine diseases. METHODS: DBE is a wonderful invention of the past decade and is widely used as an examination tool for the gastrointestinal tract. From January 2003 to July 2011, data from patients who were ≥ 65 years old and underwent DBE examination in the Nanfang Hospital were included in a retrospective analysis. RESULTS: Fifty-nine individuals were found and subsequently analyzed. The mean age was 69.63 ± 3.89 years (range 65-84), 34 were males. Indications for DBE were melena/hematochezia (36 cases), abdominal pain (15 cases), diarrhea (3 cases), stool change (1 case), weight loss (1 case), vomiting (2 cases), and debilitation (1 case). The average duration of symptoms was 33.34 ± 64.24 mo. Twenty-seven patients suffered from age-related diseases. Severe complications were not found during and after DBE. Comparison between systolic and diastolic blood pressure before and after DBE was statistically significant (mean ± SD, P < 0.01, P < 0.05, respectively). Small bowel pathologies were found by DBE in 35 patients, definite diagnoses were made in 31 cases, and detection rate and diagnostic yield for DBE were 68.6% and 60.8%, respectively. CONCLUSION: DBE is a safe and effective method for gastrointestinal examination in the aged population. Aging alone is not a risk factor for elderly patients with suspicious gastrointestinal diseases and thorough preparation prior to the DBE procedure should be made for individuals with multiple diseases especially cardiopulmonary disorders.

First principles study on the electronic properties of Zn(64)Sb(64-x)Te(x) solid solution (x = 0, 2, 3, 4).

The electronic properties of Te doped-ZnSb systems are investigated by first-principles calculations. We focus on the Zn(64)Sb(64-) (x)Te(x) systems (x = 0, 2, 3, 4), which respond to the 0, 1.56at%, 2.34at% and 3.12at% of Te doping concentration. We confirm that the amount of Te doping will change the conductivity type of ZnSb. In the cases of x = 2 and 3, we find that the Te element in ZnSb introduces some bands originating from Te s and p orbits and a donor energy level in the bottom of the conduction band, which induce the n-type conductivity of ZnSb. From these findings for the electronic structure and the conductivity mechanism, we predict that Te doping amounts such as 1.56at% and 2.34at% can be considered as suitable candidates for use as donor dopant.

Diaqua-bis(5-phenyl-1H-pyrazole-3-carboxyl-ato)copper(II).

In the centrosymmetric title compound, [Cu(C(10)H(7)N(2)O(2))(2)(H(2)O)(2)], the Cu(II) ion occupies an inversion centre and exhibits a distorted octa-hedral geometry. The phenyl and pyrazole rings of the ligand are twisted by an angle of 11.36 (8)°. In the crystal structure, mol-ecules are linked into a two-dimensional network parallel to the (010) plane by O-H⋯O and N-H⋯O hydrogen bonds.

[Pit pattern and endoscopic mucosal resection in diagnosis and treatment of colorectal tumors].

OBJECTIVE: To explore the effective methods to diagnose and treat colorectal cancer in its early stage. METHODS: 1 205 patients were examined by colonoscopy and mucosa staining with indigocarmine. The pit patterns were observed with magnifying endoscope and stereomicroscope according to the Kudo classification. The pathological diagnoses of the lesions were compared with their pit patterns. Electrocoagulation resection was performed on the prominent lesions and endoscopic mucosal resection (EMR) or endoscopic partial mucosal resection (EPMR) was performed on the flat lesions. RESULTS: In the 282 patients 478 prominent and flat lesions were found. There were 16 cases of laterally spreading tumor (LST), including I case of pit pattern II, 6 of pit pattern IIIL, 8 of pit pattern IV, and 1 of pit pattern Va, with 2 cases of intramembrane cancer and 1 case of IIa + IIc lesions invading the superficial myometrium among them. EMR and EPMR were performed on 14 LST lesions, 22 IIa lesions, and 14 IIb lesions. CONCLUSION: The examination of pit pattern is very important in early diagnosis of colorectal cancer and differentiation tumorous from non-tumorous lesions. V type pit pattern is an indicator of colorectal cancer. EMR and EPMR are safe and effective for flat lesions.

[Serrated adenoma of large intestine: report of 7 cases].

From December 2000 to April 2001, 859 patients were examined with coloscopy in our endoscopy centre and 188 cases of adenoma were diagnosed. Among the 188 patients, 7 were found with serrated adenoma that had been confirmed pathologically, including 6 male and 1 female patients, aged 32 to 53 with an average of 44.7 years. All the 7 cases were identified as having single focal lesion, among which 3 were found in the rectum, 1 in the transverse colon, 2 in the ascending colon and 1 in the cecum. The diameter of the lesions ranged from 8 to 27 mm with an average of 15.4 mm.

[Endoscopic diagnosis and treatment of the early-stage malignant colorectal polyp and follow-up study].

In the past 20 years we have performed endoscopic removal of colorectal polyps in 4 000 cases, and thorough histological examination of the removed polyps identified 121 cases of early-stage malignant polyp. According to the depth of malignant invasion and whether malignant remnants were present after the initial surgical removal, conservative treatment or radical operation was implemented. During the follow-up study, endoscopy was performed once each year in all the patients with malignancies. No recurrence was found in the 33 patients with mucosa cancer or in the 27 patients with type I submucosa cancer who did not receive radical operation due to absence of malignant remnants or in the 38 patients with type II submucosa cancer who had the radical operation. Relapse occurred in 1 patient with malignant remnant and in another 3 cases of type II submucasa cancer without radical operation.

[Construction and application of colorectal polyp database].

OBJECTIVE: To study the construction and application of computerized database of colorectal polyp in the clinical management and research of this disease. METHOD: A colorectal polyp database and its management system was constructed on the basis of Microsoft Access 2000. Clinical, endoscopic and pathological data, which went through standardized and elemental processing, of 2 627 cases (4 850 records) of colorectal polyp collected from 1990 to 2000 in Nanfang Hospital was entered into this database. RESULTS: Using this new database, the information on the population and age distribution, location and clinical features of colorectal polyps were obtained. Comparative study of the clinical and pathological findings in the cases, evaluation of the therapeutic effects, statistical review of the identification of the polyp and its canceration in the previous years as well as the analysis of other relevant factors were successfully accomplished, which greatly facilitated the follow-up study of some chosen cases that may be of clinical significance. CONCLUSIONS: Applications of modern informatics and computer technology greatly facilitates case management and clinical research of colorectal polyps, and standardized and elemental processing of the clinical data offers a new possibility for easy case information management.

[The diagnosis and treatment of 25 cases of laterally spreading tumor of the large intestine].

Laterally spreading tumor (LST) originates from the large intestine mucosa with prominent lesions that mainly extend laterally other than vertically. The pathological morphology and evolvement of this disease distinguish itself from other adenomas, and its close association with colorectal cancer has been noted. Up till now, no report on LST involving the large intestine has been available in China, therefore we presently report our experience in the diagnoses and treatment of 25 LST patients (26 lesions) identified with conventional endoscopy and mucosa staining during the period from Nov, 2000 to Oct, 2001. Among the 26 lesions, 11 were classified into granular homogeneous type, 15 into nodular mixed type, and 3 patients were found to have intramucosa carcinoma and 2 serrated adenoma. The biggest lesion was 60 mmx70 mm, the smallest being 11 mmx12 mm, and 6 lesions were within the range of 11 to 20 mm, 9 within 21 to 30 mm with the rest 11 lesions exceeding 31 mm in diameter. Type IV pit pattern was predominant in the the 26 lesions, accounting for a proportion of 61.54% (16/26). Two lesions with V(A) pit pattern and 1 with IV pattern were pathologically diagnosed to be intramucosa carcinoma, and 8 with type III(L) pit pattern were tubulovillous adenoma. Immediate or elective endoscopic mucosa resection or partitioned mucosa resection was performed in the 25 cases without incidences of the complications as bleeding or perforation.

[Comparison of curative effect for colon flat lesion between mucosa resection and fulguration with high frequency current after mucosa staining under magnifying endoscope].

OBJECTIVE: To observe the relationship between the pit patterns and pathology and compare the curative effect for colon flat lesion between endoscopic mucosa resection (EMR) and fulguration with high frequency current (FHFC). METHODS: They were divided to two groups. There were 37 cases for FHFC in group A, and 34 cases for EMR in Group B. The two groups were comparabal. Examining patients suffering with colon flat lesions with magnifying endoscope and observing the pit patterns of mucosa after staining with indicarmine. RESULTS: The pit patterns of inflammatory or hyperplastic lesions were mainly pit II, adenoma pit III and pit IV, and carcinomatous lesions pit IV and pit V. The worse the differentiation degree of lesions was, the higher the pit patterns were. There were no difference (P > 0.05) between group A and B in complication and quantity, classification and distribution of lesions. No canceration was detected in 21 cases with adenoma in group A, while 4 cases of canceration (all were adenocacinoma) was found in 20 cases whith adenoma in group B. There was significance in canceration between two groups (P < 0.05). CONCLUSIONS: The worse the differentiation degree of lesions was, the higher pit patterns were. EMR and FHFC share the same validity and security when treating the flat lesions, but by EMR, doctors could judge whether the lesions were resected completely, once the remained lesions were found, they could be resected immediately again lesion in case of omission of canceration.