Overview of Protein‐Based Biopolymers for Biomedical Application

Biopolymers are playing a vital role in biomedical applications. Among them, protein‐based biopolymers are utilized for the fabrication of tissue‐engineering constructs, therapeutic molecule delivery carriers, emulsifiers, and food packaging materials. Wide ranges of proteins are extracted from animal or plant sources and are being utilized for the fabrication of scaffolds for regenerative tissue‐engineering application. Here, an overview about the protein structure, extraction procedure, solubility, and various formulation‐based proteins found in the literature are discussed. Biopolymers display several advantages such as biocompatibility and degradability by enzymes. Methods to overcome the disadvantages of these proteins such as immunogenicity, antigenicity, and solubility are reported. Various crosslinking reagents specific to protein chemistry are discussed as well.     

Early detection of the PAX3‐FOXO1 fusion gene in circulating tumor‐derived DNA in a case of alveolar rhabdomyosarcoma

Cell‐free DNA (cfDNA), which are small DNA fragments in blood derived from dead cells including tumor cells, could serve as useful biomarkers and provide valuable genetic information about the tumors. cfDNA is now used for the genetic analysis of several types of cancers, as a surrogate for tumor biopsy, designated as “liquid biopsy.” Rhabdomyosarcoma (RMS), the most frequent soft tissue tumor in childhood, can arise in any part of the body, and radiological imaging is the only available method for estimating the tumor burden, because no useful specific biological markers are present in the blood. Because tumor volume is one of the determinants of treatment response and outcome, early detection at diagnosis as well as relapse is essential for improving the treatment outcome. A 15‐year‐old male patient was diagnosed with alveolar RMS of prostate origin with bone marrow invasion. The PAX3‐FOXO1 fusion was identified in the tumor cells in the bone marrow. After the diagnosis, cfDNA was serially collected to detect the PAX3‐FOXO1 fusion sequence as a tumor marker. cfDNA could be an appropriate source for detecting the fusion gene; assays using cfDNA have proved to be useful for the early detection of tumor progression/recurrence. Additionally, the fusion gene dosage estimated by quantitative polymerase chain reaction reflected the tumor volume during the course of the treatment. We suggest that for fusion gene‐positive RMSs, and other soft tissue tumors, the fusion sequence should be used for monitoring the tumor burden in the body to determine the diagnosis and treatment options for the patients.     

Activation of phosphoinositide 3-kinase delta by antipsychotic drugs: Preliminary results

Background

Catalytic subunit delta of phosphoinositide 3-kinase, p110δ, encoded by the PIK3CD gene, was recently proposed as a target for pharmacological treatment of schizophrenia. Current antipsychotic drugs were found to decrease the mRNA expression of PIK3CD, but the mechanism of this process is not known. The aim of the study was to elucidate the mechanism by which antipsychotic drugs affect the mRNA expression of PIK3CD.

Neuroprotective effect of omega-3 polyunsaturated fatty acids in the 6-OHDA model of Parkinson's disease is mediated by a reduction of inducible nitric oxide synthase

Objective: Parkinson's disease (PD) is characterized by deterioration of the nigrostriatal system and associated with chronic neuroinflammation. Glial activation has been associated with regulating the survival of dopaminergic neurons and is thought to contribute to PD through the release of proinflammatory and neurotoxic factors, such as reactive nitric oxide (NO) that triggers or exacerbates neurodegeneration in PD. Polyunsaturated fatty acids (PUFAs) exert protective effects, including antiinflammatory, antiapoptotic, and antioxidant activity, and may be promising for delaying or preventing PD by attenuating neuroinflammation and preserving dopaminergic neurons. The present study investigated the effects of fish oil supplementation that was rich in PUFAs on dopaminergic neuron loss, the density of inducible nitric oxide synthase (iNOS)-immunoreactive cells, and microglia and astrocyte reactivity in the substantia nigra pars compacta (SNpc) and striatal dopaminergic fibers.

Methods: The animals were supplemented with fish oil for 50 days and subjected to unilateral intrastriatal 6-hydroxydopamine (6-OHDA)-induced lesions as a model of PD.

Results: Fish oil mitigated the loss of SNpc neurons and nerve terminals in the striatum that was caused by 6-OHDA. This protective effect was associated with reductions of the density of iNOS-immunoreactive cells and microglia and astrocyte reactivity.

Discussion: These results suggest that the antioxidant and antiinflammatory properties of fish oil supplementation are closely related to a decrease in dopaminergic damage that is caused by the 6-OHDA model of PD.     

后溪配申脉治疗强直性脊柱炎颈腰痛11例

目的:观察后溪配申脉治疗强直性脊柱炎颈腰痛的临床疗效。方法:11例强制性脊柱炎颈腰痛患者均给予针刺后溪配申脉治疗,留针30 min,留针期间,每隔10 min捻针催气一次,每日1次,14 d为1个疗程,2个疗程后对其疗效进行评价。结果:11例患者治疗2个疗程后,显效7例(63.64%),有效3例(27.27%),无效1例(9.09%),有效率为90.91%。结论:后溪配申脉可以改善强直性脊柱炎患者的颈腰痛症状。     

蓝布正提取物对血管性痴呆大鼠学习记忆能力及海马NT-3,BDNF蛋白表达的影响

目的:观察蓝布正提取物(GHE)对血管性痴呆(VD)大鼠学习记忆能力的影响并探讨其作用的机制。方法:采用双侧颈总动脉结扎法制作VD大鼠模型,将大鼠随机分成假手术组,模型组,GHE高、中、低剂量组(7,3.5,1.75 g·kg~(-1))和阳性药组(天保宁银杏叶片,0.007 g·kg~(-1)),各组灌胃相应药物,每日1次,连续35 d,在第30~35天进行Morris水迷宫实验检测大鼠的学习记忆能力,Morris水迷宫实验结束后处死大鼠,收集大脑样本,免疫组化法检测海马CA1区B细胞淋巴瘤-2(Bcl-2)相关X蛋白(Bax),Bcl-2,神经营养因子-3(NT-3),脑源性神经营养因子(BDNF)蛋白表达。结果:与模型组比较,GHE高、中剂量组可明显缩短大鼠的逃避潜伏期,增加穿越平台数(P0.05);GHE高、中、低剂量组可显著降低海马CA1区Bax表达,升高Bcl-2,NT-3,BDNF表达(P0.05,P0.01)。结论:GHE能改善VD大鼠的学习记忆能力,其机制可能与促进海马CA1区NT-3,BDNF的表达,抑制神经细胞凋亡有关。     

扶正抗癌方通过PTEN/PI3K/Bad通路调控肺癌A549细胞增殖与凋亡

目的:观察扶正抗癌(FZKA)方对肺癌细胞A549增殖的调控作用,探讨其作用的分子机制。方法:以非小细胞肺癌细胞A549为研究对象,以FAKA方0.8,1.2,1.6,2.0,2.4,2.8,3.2 g·L~(-1)干预,空白组,分别孵育24,48,72 h后,设立采用噻唑蓝(MTT)比色法检测FZKA方对A549细胞活力的影响;以FAKA方1.2,1.6,2.0 g·L~(-1)干预,设立空白组,培养24 h后,采用实时荧光定量聚合酶链式反应(Real-time PCR)检测FZKA方对A549细胞人第10号染色体同源丢失性磷酸酶-张力蛋白(phosphatase and tensin homolog deleted on chromosome ten,PTEN)mRNA水平的影响;孵育24 h后,采用蛋白质免疫印迹法(Western blot)分析FZKA方对PTEN,磷脂酰肌醇3-激酶(phosphatidylinositol-3-kinase,PI3K),磷酸化的促凋亡蛋白Bad(Phospho-Bad,p-Bad)表达的影响并探讨其相关性。结果:与空白组比较,FZKA方能明显抑制A549细胞增殖,处理24 h后,FZKA从0.8 g·L~(-1)开始,处理48,72 h后,FZKA方从0.4 g·L~(-1)开始,细胞存活率明显降低(P0.05,P0.01);与空白组比较,处理24 h后,FZKA方从0.8 g·L~(-1)开始以浓度依赖性上调PTEN mRNA和蛋白的表达(P0.05,P0.01),FZKA方从1.6 g·L~(-1)开始以浓度依赖性下调PI3K蛋白表达(P0.05,P0.01),从2 h开始以时间依赖性上调p-Bad蛋白的表达(P0.05,P0.01)。结论:FZKA方可通过上调PTEN来调控下游PI3K/Akt/Bad通路相关蛋白的表达进而抑制A549的增殖,促进肺癌细胞凋亡。