Theoretical studies on the conformation of β-D-N-acetyl neuraminic acid (sialic acid)

The possible conformations of sialic acid were analysed using semi-empirical potential functions. The solid state conformation has approx. 0.2 kcal/mol higher energy than the minimum energy conformation. These studies suggest that in solution sialic acid may exist preponderantly in two different conformations which differ in the orientation of the terminal hydroxymethyl group of glycerol side-chain. The present model is consistent with ¹H- and ¹³C-NMR data, but differs from the earlier models.     

Chemical reactivity and uses of 1-phenyl-3-methyl-5-pyrazolone (PMP), also known as edaravone

1-Phenyl-3-methyl-5-pyrazolone is a reagent, known as PMP, used to derivatize monosaccharides for the study of polysaccharides composition and structure, and for the dosage of carbohydrates in complex media. The same molecule is also known as edaravone, a drug approved for the treatment of stroke and amyotrophic lateral sclerosis. It is also a reactive molecule susceptible to form stable adducts with aromatic aldehydes, such as formylpterin and vanillin. In addition, the molecule serves as a scaffold to design of edaravone analogs and drug conjugates, with various pharmacological properties (antioxidant, anticancer, antiviral). We have analyzed the multiple usages of PMP/edaravone to highlight the reactivity of the molecule and its wide range of applications. This phenyl-pyrazolone compound, considered by many as a biochemical reagent and by other as a clinically useful drug, has not yet revealed the full extent of its capacities and benefits.     

磁共振成像检查联合血清HE4、TK1、CA199检测在卵巢癌诊断中的应用价值

摘要 目的：研究磁共振成像（MRI）检查联合血清人附睾蛋白4（HE4）、细胞质胸苷激酶（TK1）、糖类抗原199（CA199）检测在卵巢癌诊断中的应用价值。方法：将2017年4月～2019年12月我院收治的卵巢癌患者54例作为卵巢癌组,卵巢良性肿瘤患者49例作为卵巢良性肿瘤组,所有受试者均进行MRI检测,并采集受试者血清检测HE4、TK1、CA199水平,以受试者工作特征（ROC）曲线分析MRI检查联合血清HE4、TK1、CA199检测诊断卵巢癌的效能。结果：卵巢癌MRI特点包括以下几点：①囊实性肿块;②形态不规则;③呈长T2/T1等信号;④病灶边界模糊;⑤增强扫描结果呈病灶显著强化;⑥腹膜转移者存在显著腹腔积液以及散在分布的结节状种植病灶。卵巢良性肿瘤MRI特点包括以下几点：①囊壁光滑;②呈长T1以及长T2信;③病灶边界清晰;④增强扫描结果提示病灶无强化/稍有强化。卵巢癌组血清HE4、TK1、CA199水平分别为（87.13±15.32）pmol/L、（2.15±0.13）pmol/L、（95.39±15.25）U/mL,明显高于卵巢良性肿瘤组的（66.42±10.19）pmol/L、（0.85±0.20）pmol/L、（37.94±1.05）U/mL（均P＜0.05）。经ROC曲线分析可得：MRI检查联合血清HE4、TK1、CA199检测诊断卵巢癌的灵敏度、特异度以及曲线下面积均高于上述各项单独诊断。结论：卵巢癌患者血清HE4、TK1、CA199水平较高,MRI检查联合血清HE4、TK1、CA199检测诊断卵巢癌的价值较高,具有一定的临床应用价值。     

超声造影技术联合血清CA12-5、CEA、HE-4检查诊断卵巢良恶性肿瘤的临床价值研究

摘要 目的：研究超声造影技术联合血清糖类抗原125（CA12-5）、癌胚抗原（CEA）及人附睾分泌蛋白4（HE-4）检查诊断卵巢良恶性肿瘤的临床价值。方法：将我院从2019年1月～2020年3月收治的83例卵巢肿瘤患者纳入研究。将其按照病理学诊断结果分成恶性组40例与良性组43例,按照是否发生淋巴结转移将恶性组分为转移亚组18例和未转移亚组22例。比较恶性组和良性组各项超声造影指标水平和血清CA12-5、CEA及HE-4水平,比较转移亚组和未转移亚组血清CA12-5、CEA及HE-4水平。通过受试者工作特征（ROC）曲线分析超声造影技术联合血清CA12-5、CEA及HE-4在卵巢良恶性肿瘤中的诊断能效。分析血清CA12-5、CEA及HE-4与卵巢恶性肿瘤患者淋巴结转移的关系。结果：恶性组超声造影增强强度及增强速率均高于良性组,而增强时间短于良性组（P＜0.05）。恶性组血清CA12-5、CEA及HE-4水平均高于良性组（P＜0.05）。超声造影技术联合血清CA12-5、CEA及HE-4诊断卵巢肿瘤良恶性的曲线下面积、灵敏度及特异度分别为0.947、0.96、0.93,高于超声造影技术单独检测或血清CA12-5、CEA及HE-4联合检测。转移亚组患者的血清CA12-5、CEA及HE-4水平均高于未转移亚组患者（P＜0.05）。结论：超声造影技术联合血清CA12-5、CEA及HE-4检查诊断卵巢良恶性肿瘤的价值较高,且联合检测血清CA12-5、CEA及HE-4水平有助于判断淋巴结转移情况,具有较高的临床应用价值。     

黄色肉芽肿性胆囊炎与胆囊癌的临床特征分析及螺旋CT检查的鉴别诊断价值

目的:研究黄色肉芽肿性胆囊炎(XGC)与胆囊癌的临床特征分析及螺旋CT检查的鉴别诊断价值。方法:选取从2018年1月-2020年12月于我院接受腹部螺旋CT检查的41例XGC患者纳入研究,记作XGC组,另取同期医院接受腹部螺旋CT检查的45例胆囊癌患者作为胆囊癌组。分析两组临床特征、螺旋CT检查结果表现,比较两组血清血管内皮生长因子(VEGF)、糖类抗原19-9(CA19-9)水平的差异。并以病理检查为金标准,分析螺旋CT检查用作XGC与胆囊癌鉴别诊断的价值。结果:XGC组患者食欲下降、体重下降人数占比均低于胆囊癌组(均P<0.05);而两组腹痛、黄疸、发热、白细胞(WBC)升高、谷丙转氨酶(ALT)升高、谷草转氨酶(AST)升高、胆囊扩张发生率对比差异无统计学意义(均P>0.05)。XGC组囊壁增厚均匀、壁内有低密度结节人数占比均低于胆囊癌组,而有肿大淋巴结人数占比高于胆囊癌组(均P<0.05)。螺旋CT检查诊断XGC的灵敏度、特异度、准确度分别为95.12(39/41)、95.56%(43/45)、95.35%(82/86)。XGC组患者血清VEGF、CA19-9水平均低于胆囊癌组,差异均有统计学意义(均P<0.05)。结论:XGC患者食欲下降、体重下降发生率低于胆囊癌患者,螺旋CT检查鉴别诊断XGC与胆囊癌的价值较高,值得临床关注。     

The Modular Organisation and Stability of a Thermostable Family 10 Xylanase

The thermophilic marine bacterium Rhodothermus marinus produces a modular family 10 xylanase (Xyn10A). It consists of two N-terminal family 4 carbohydrate binding modules (CBMs) followed by a domain of unknown function (D3), and a catalytic module (CM) flanked by a small fifth domain (D5) at its C-terminus. Several truncated mutants of the enzyme have been produced and characterised with respect to biochemical properties and stability. Multiple calcium binding sites are shown to be present in the two N-terminal CBMs and recent evidence suggests that the third domain of the enzyme also has the ability to bind the same metal ligand. The specific binding of Ca²⁺ was demonstrated to have a pronounced effect on thermostability as shown by differential scanning calorimetry and thermal inactivation studies. Furthermore, deletion mutants of the enzyme were less stable than the full-length enzyme suggesting that module interactions contributed to the stability of the enzyme. Finally, recent evidence indicates that the fifth domain of Xyn10A is a novel type of module mediating cell-attachment.     

Engineering of Hydrolysis Reaction Specificity in the Transglycosylase Cyclodextrin Glycosyltransferase

Abstract

Cyclodextrin glycosyltransferase (CGTase) is a member of the α-amylase family, a large group of enzymes that act on α-glycosidic bonds in starch and related compounds. Over twenty different reaction and product specificities have been found in this family. Although three-dimensional structure elucidation and the biochemical characterization of site-directed mutants have yielded a detailed insight into the mechanism of bond cleavage, the variation in reaction and product specificity is far from understood. This article gives an overview of recent developments in the undersanding and engineering of transglycosylation and hydrolysis specificity in CGTase, which is one of the best-studied α-amylase family enzymes.     

Chronic stress and high sucrose intake cause distinctive morphometric effects in the adrenal glands of post-weaned rats

We investigated the effects of chronic stress combined with high sucrose intake on the morphology of the adrenal glands in young rats. Male Wistar rats were fed a standard chow diet and allocated into control (C; tap water), chronic restraint stress (St), 30% sucrose diet (S30) and 30% sucrose diet + chronic restraint stress (S30 + St) groups. St consisted of 1 h daily sessions, 5 days/week for 4 weeks. Chronic stress reduced the thickness of the zona glomerulosa (ZG) and zona fasciculata (ZF) in both right and left glands; the thickness of the zona reticularis (ZR) was increased in the right gland. Cell density was greater in the ZF and medulla of both right and left glands, whereas cell density increased in the ZR of only the left gland. The percentage of small cells was lower in the ZG, whereas more large cells were found in the left gland. A similar result was obtained for the ZF, ZR and medulla in both right and left glands. Chronic stress increased the area covered by blood vessels in the ZR of the right gland, but decreased the area in the ZR of the left gland. The area covered by blood vessels was reduced in the medulla of both right and left glands in rats subjected to chronic stress. Infiltration of immune cells was increased by chronic stress in all layers of the cortex of the left gland, but was reduced in the medulla of the right gland. A high sucrose diet reduced the thickness of the medulla in the left gland. Cell proliferation increased in the ZG of the right gland and the weight of the right adrenal gland increased. Reduced cell proliferation in the ZG of the left gland was associated with a reduction in the area covered by blood vessels. In addition, the area covered by blood vessels decreased in the medulla of both glands. Our findings demonstrate that exposure to chronic stress during early life causes morphometric changes in adrenal glands.     

Effects of Food Processing on Flavonoids and Lycopene Status in a Mediterranean Tomato Variety

This research is focused on the antioxidant properties of dietary components, in particular phenolics and carotenoids and the assessment of the contribution of the combined antioxidants to the total antioxidant activity (TAA) of tomato fruit. The aim of this study was to analyse the effects of processing on the antioxidant properties of tomato. The effects of three different methods of processing fresh tomatoes into tomato sauce were investigated with respect to the antioxidant properties of the fruit. Identification and quantification of the main carotenoids and flavonoids present in tomatoes was achieved by HPLC analysis and the effect on the concentration and availability of these compounds was investigated at different stages of the processing. The processing affected mainly naringenin causing a reduction in the concentration. Conversely, levels of chlorogenic acid were increased suggesting an improvement in availability of this compound to extraction. The concentration of all- trans -lycopene was also increased following processing. Less than 10% isomerisation of all- trans -lycopene to the cis form was detected for all the methods analysed. The effects of processing on the overall antioxidant activity support the theory of a general improvement in availability of individual antioxidants. For both hydrophilic and lipophilic extracts TAA values were increased.     

Detection of Architectural Distortion in Prior Mammograms via Analysis of Oriented Patterns

We demonstrate methods for the detection of architectural distortion in prior mammograms of interval-cancer cases based on analysis of the orientation of breast tissue patterns in mammograms. We hypothesize that architectural distortion modifies the normal orientation of breast tissue patterns in mammographic images before the formation of masses or tumors. In the initial steps of our methods, the oriented structures in a given mammogram are analyzed using Gabor filters and phase portraits to detect node-like sites of radiating or intersecting tissue patterns. Each detected site is then characterized using the node value, fractal dimension, and a measure of angular dispersion specifically designed to represent spiculating patterns associated with architectural distortion.Our methods were tested with a database of 106 prior mammograms of 56 interval-cancer cases and 52 mammograms of 13 normal cases using the features developed for the characterization of architectural distortion, pattern classification via quadratic discriminant analysis, and validation with the leave-one-patient out procedure. According to the results of free-response receiver operating characteristic analysis, our methods have demonstrated the capability to detect architectural distortion in prior mammograms, taken 15 months (on the average) before clinical diagnosis of breast cancer, with a sensitivity of 80% at about five false positives per patient.