Proteases and their inhibitors as prognostic factors for high-grade serous ovarian cancer

Ovarian carcinoma is one of the most lethal malignancies, but only very few prognostic biomarkers are known. The degradome, comprising proteases, protease non-proteolytic homologues and inhibitors, have been involved in the prognosis of many cancer types, including ovarian carcinoma. The prognostic significance of the whole degradome family has not been specifically studied in high-grade serous ovarian cancer. A targeted DNA microarray known as the CLIP-CHIP microarray was used to identify potential prognostic factors in ten high-grade serous ovarian cancer women who had early recurrence (<1.6 years) or late/no recurrence after first line surgery and chemotherapy. In women with early recurrence, we identified seven upregulated genes (TMPRSS4, MASP1/3, SPC18, PSMB1, IGFBP2, CFI – encoding Complement Factor I – and MMP9) and one down-regulated gene (ADAM-10). Using immunohistochemistry, we evaluated the prognostic effect of these 8 candidate genes in an independent cohort of 112 high-grade serous ovarian cancer women. Outcomes were progression, defined according to CA-125 criteria, and death. Multivariate Cox proportional hazard regression models were done to estimate the associations between each protein and each outcome. High ADAM-10 expression (intensity of 2–3) was associated with a lower risk of progression (adjusted hazard ratio (HR): 0.51; 95% confidence interval (CI): 0.29-0.87). High complement factor I expression (intensity 2–3) was associated with a higher risk of progression (adjusted HR: 2.30, 95% CI: 1.17–4.53) and death (adjusted HR: 3.42; 95% CI: 1.72–6.79). Overall, we identified the prognostic value of two proteases, ADAM-10 and complement factor I, for high-grade serous ovarian cancer which could have clinical significance.     

Magnesium lithospermate B acts against dextran sodiumsulfate-induced ulcerative colitis by inhibiting activation of the NRLP3/ASC/Caspase-1 pathway

This study aimed to observe the therapeutic effects of magnesium lithospermate B on acute and chronic colitis induced by dextran sodiumsulfate (DSS) and the role of inflammasome complex (NOD-like receptor protein, NLRP; apoptosis-associated speck-like protein containing, ASC; caspase-1). Establishment of acute and chronic colitis models were by using 5% DSS oral administration in BALB/C male mice. Magnesium lithospermate B (240 mg/kg body weight) was given by subcutaneous injection. Samples were collected for biomarker assay, histological examination, immunohistochemical evaluation and western blot. There was obvious increase in TNF-α level and NLPR3, ASC, and caspase-1 expressions in acute and chronic colitis groups compared with the normal control. Significant decrease of the tumor necrosis factor-α level and the expressions of NLPR3, ASC, and caspase-1 were observed after treatment with magnesium lithospermate B. This study showed that magnesium lithospermate B could be used to treat acute and chronic colitis by inhibiting the activation of the NLRP3/ASC/Caspase-1 pathway.     

Characterization of membrane occupation and recognition nexus repeat containing 3, meiosis expressed gene 1 binding partner,in mouse male germ cells

Mammalian spermatogenesis is a well-organized process of cell development and differentiation. Meiosis expressed gene 1 (MEIG1) plays an essential role in the regulation of spermiogenesis. To explore potential mechanisms of MEIG1''s action, a yeast two-hybrid screen was conducted, and several potential binding partners were identified; one of them was membrane occupation and recognition nexus repeat containing 3 (MORN3). MORN3 mRNA is only abundant in mouse testis. In the testis, Morn3 mRNA is highly expressed in the spermiogenesis stage. Specific anti-MORN3 polyclonal antibody was generated against N-terminus of the full-length MORN3 protein, and MORN3 expression and localization was examined in vitro and in vivo. In transfected Chinese hamster ovary cells, the antibody specifically crossed-reacted the full-length MORN3 protein, and immunofluorescence staining revealed that MORN3 was localized throughout the cytoplasm. Among multiple mouse tissues, about 25 kDa protein, was identified only in the testis. The protein was highly expressed after day 20 of birth. Immunofluorescence staining on mixed testicular cells isolated from adult wild-type mice demonstrated that MORN3 was expressed in the acrosome in germ cells throughout spermiogenesis. The protein was also present in the manchette of elongating spermatids. The total MORN3 expression and acrosome localization were not changed in the Meig 1-deficient mice. However, its expression in manchette was dramatically reduced in the mutant mice. Our studies suggest that MORN3 is another regulator for spermatogenesis, probably together with MEIG1.     

Inactivated influenza vaccine formulated with single-stranded RNA-based adjuvant confers mucosal immunity and cross-protection against influenza virus infection

Influenza vaccination is considered the most valuable means to prevent and control seasonal influenza infections, which causes various clinical symptoms, ranging from mild cough and fever to even death. Among various influenza vaccine types, the inactivated subunit type is known to provide improved safety with reduced reactogenicity. However, there are some drawbacks associated with inactivated subunit type vaccines, with the main ones being its low immunogenicity and the induction of Th2-biased immune responses. In this study, we investigated the role of a single-stranded RNA (ssRNA) derived from the intergenic region in the internal ribosome entry site of the Cricket paralysis virus as an adjuvant rather than the universal vaccine for a seasonal inactivated subunit influenza vaccine. The ssRNA adjuvant stimulated not only well-balanced cellular (indicated by IgG2a, IFN-γ, IL-2, and TNF-α) and humoral (indicated by IgG1 and IL-4) immune responses but also a mucosal immune response (indicated by IgA), a key protector against respiratory virus infections. It also increases the HI titer, the surrogate marker of influenza vaccine efficacy. Furthermore, ssRNA adjuvant confers cross-protective immune responses against heterologous influenza virus infection while promoting enhanced viral clearance. Moreover, ssRNA adjuvant increases the number of memory CD4⁺ and CD8⁺ T cells, which can be expected to induce long-term immune responses. Therefore, this ssRNA-adjuvanted seasonal inactivated subunit influenza vaccine might be the best influenza vaccine generating robust humoral and cellular immune responses and conferring cross-protective and long-term immunity.     

Conformation of glycyl residues in globular proteins

Glycine is unique among the amino acids in view of its symmetric nature. While the overall distribution of glycyl residues in the (φ, ø) plane is near-symmetric, there can be certain preferences for the individual conformations. An analysis of the observed glycyl conformations in 70 proteins has been carried out to find the influence of residues adjoining the glycyl residues. For this purpose, the (φ, ø) plane has been divided into two regions: (a) the region in which φ is negative and (b) the region in which φ is positive. The analysis is done in terms of the number of conformations occurring in these regions. It has been found that while the overall percentage distribution of glycyl residues between the positive and the negative φ regions is 54:46, the distribution shows asymmetry when the examples are sorted out in terms of X-Gly and Gly-Y doublets. The asymmetry becomes more prominent when the data are sorted out into triplets X-Gly-Y. Using the available information, it has been possible to designate 25 triplets as P-predominant and 19 as N-predominant. An examination of P-predominant triplets for possible occurrence in β-bends having one of the conformations in the positive φ region shows that only 25% are of this nature. Thus, the P-preference of P-predominant triplets is not an outcome of the bend formation alone and must be an inherent property of these triplets.     

复方山绿茶缓释袋泡剂的研究

用网状多孔性纤维包念材料制备的复方山绿茶缓袋泡剂，具有速释和缓释作用，在１－８ｈ内按埝级方式释药。Ｔ０．５为１．３ｈ，Ｔｄ为３．２ｈ，１－８ｈ的平均释药速率７２．３５ｍｇ／ｈ。与传统的半生药型袋泡剂比较，具有栽药量高，使用方便，性质稳定，疗效确切的优点。     

抗真菌剂三氮唑含硫化合物的合成

合成了１３个三氮唑含硫化合物，均为未见文献报道的新化合物，对所合成的化合物，选择三种常见真菌进行体外最低抑菌浓度（ＭＩＣ）的测定，结果表明它们均有较好的抗真菌活性，有些化合物抑菌活性极高，有进一步研究和开发前景。     

胆碱能神经在正常人胃壁的分布

为了给临床病理状态下胃溃疡神经分布提供参照，更好地为溃疡病的防治提供形态学依据，本文采用Ｋａｒｎｏｖｓｋｙ－Ｒｏｏｔｓ法，观察了４例正常人胃壁胆碱能神经纤维分布特点。结果：胃壁各层均有乙酰胆碱酯酶（ＡＣｈＥ）阳性纤维，但上皮和固有层上部未见ＡＣｈＥ阳性纤维；ＡＣｈＥ阳性纤维有４种形态：终末纤维、终末前纤维、神经束、神经干，胃壁各层细小动脉壁也存在神经末梢分布，在含非特异胆碱酸酶反应中，可见胃粘膜上皮下固有膜内，存在分支的神经末梢交互联成网状，可能是传入性质，对其功能意义做了讨论     

马桑内酯致痫后大鼠海马生长抑素mRNA表达的变化

为探讨马桑内酯致痫与生长抑素的关系，用原位杂交组织化学法研究了马桑内酯致痫后大鼠海马生长抑素ｍＲＮＡ阳性神经元的变化，结果表明：致痫组大鼠ＣＡ１，ＣＡ２区及齿状回生长抑素ｍＲＮＡ的反应明显增强，以上各区的中，小神经内生长抑素ｍＲＮＡ神经元的数目及强度明显高于正常对照组，两者有显著性差异。