A comparison of Förster resonance energy transfer analysis approaches for Nanodrop fluorometry

Ensemble Förster resonance energy transfer (FRET) results can be analyzed in a variety of ways. Due to experimental artifacts, the results obtained from different analysis approaches are not always the same. To determine the optimal analysis approach to use for Nanodrop fluorometry, we have performed both ensemble and single-molecule FRET studies on oligomers of double-stranded DNA. We compared the single-molecule FRET results with those obtained using various ensemble FRET analysis approaches. This comparison shows that for Nanodrop fluorometry, analyzing the increase of the acceptor fluorescence is less likely to introduce errors in estimates of FRET efficiencies compared with analyzing the fluorescence intensity of the donor in the absence and presence of the acceptor.     

Increase of anti-HIV activity of C-peptide fusion inhibitors using a bivalent drug design approach

We reported the design of fusion inhibitors with improved activity using a multivalent inhibitor design strategy. First, we chose C29 as the template sequence, which is a 29-mer peptide derived from HIV-1 gp41 CHR domain and has anti-HIV activity of IC₅₀ 118 nM in a cell–cell fusion assay. We optimized the crosslink sites and linkers of the template peptide. We found that N-terminal crosslink caused activity improvement based on the multivalent co-operative effect. Especially, the IC₅₀ of peptide (CAcaC29)₂ was improved from 49.02 (monomeric form) to 5.71 nM. Compared with long peptides, short peptides may be more suitable to analyze the co-operative effect. So we selected a shorter peptide C22 to synthesize the bivalent inhibitors. Due its weak helicity, no co-operative effect appeared. Therefore, we chose SC22EK, which were introduced salt bridges to consolidate the helicity based on the natural sequence C22. The cross-linked (CAcaSC22EK)₂ was four times more potent than the monomer SC22EK in anti-HIV activity, with an IC₅₀ value of 4.92 nM close to the high active peptide fusion inhibitor C34. The strategy used in this study may be used to design new fusion inhibitors to interfere similar processes.     

Solid-phase distribution of heavy metals as affected by single reagent extraction in dredged sediment derived surface soils

ABSTRACT

EDTA is useful to assess mobile metal pools in polluted soils and sediments. There is a need to enhance our understanding of the significance of metal fractions released. The impact of single reagent extraction with 0.05 mol L^?1 EDTA on the solid phase distribution of trace metals in surface soils sampled from confined dredged sediment disposal sites was investigated. Not extracted and EDTA extracted soils were subjected to sequential extraction to fractionate the total contents into: (1) easily exchangeable and carbonate bound fraction; (2) reducible fraction; (3) oxidisable fraction; and (4) residual fraction. With EDTA, significant portions of metals associated with the acid extractable and reducible fractions were released. The oxidisable and residual fractions remained unaffected for most of the investigated metals except for the organic matter associated metals (Cu and Pb). A decrease in the residual fraction after EDTA-extraction for Cu and Pb was attributed to artifacts of the sequential extraction procedure.     

Performances de la scintigraphie parathyroïdienne au 99mTc-Sestamibi dans l’hyperparathyroïdie secondaire (à propos de 20 cas)

Aim of the studyTo evaluate the performance of the ^99mTc-Sestamibi parathyroid scintigraphy and to compare it with the performance of cervical ultrasonography in patients with secondary hyperparathyroidism who are candidates for parathyroidectomy.Patients and methodsWe performed a retrospective study including 20 patients with severe secondary hyperparathyroidism who underwent parathyroid scintigraphy in the nuclear medicine department of Sfax, during the period between January 2009 and June 2012. Our two days protocol included dual-phase, MIBI/Tc subtraction and single photon emission photons (SPECT) techniques. We analyzed the results obtained from each technique alone, then from combinations thereof. For all patients, we have collected the surgical and histopathological data as well cervical ultrasound if available.ResultsThe subtraction technique was the best performing with a sensitivity of 47% and an accuracy of 55%. The combination of subtraction scintigraphy and SPECT has improved the sensitivity to 53%and accuracy to 57%. The combined lecture of ultrasound and scintigraphy has given the best performance with a sensitivity of 58%, a specificity of 83% and an accuracy of 66%.ConclusionParathyroid scintigraphy combining subtraction and SPECT showed better reliability. The coupling with ultrasound is essential to improve results. The poor performance of scintigraphy in secondary hyperparathyroidism implies that it should be required only to search for ectopic or supernumerary glands.     

中国汉族人群CXCR2基因＋1235C/T多态与急性冠脉综合征的关联研究

目的：炎症反应在动脉粥样斑块变化的病理过程中发挥着重要的作用。本研究探讨CXCR2基因＋1235 C/T单核苷酸多态与中国汉族人群急性冠脉综合征发病的相关关系。方法：本研究采用聚合酶链反应-限制性片段长度多态性方法对675例急性冠脉综合征的患者和636例对照组进行检测,分析CXCR2基因＋1235 C/T单核苷酸多态的基因型和等位基因频率的分布情况,同时收集济南军区总医院心内科经冠脉造影证实为阳性的急性冠脉综合征患者360例及对照者360例,对上述关联分析的结果进行复制实验的印证。结果：CXCR2基因＋1235 C/T单核苷酸多态三种基因型（CC型,CT型和TT型）在急性冠脉综合征组分布频率分别为39.3%,45.3%和15.1%,在对照组分别为41.7%,47.2%和11.1%,CXCR2基因＋1235 C/T基因型和等位基因频率对照组和急性冠脉综合征组之间存在统计学差异（P〈0.05）。Logistic回归校正性别、年龄、体重指数、吸烟、高血压、高脂血症、糖尿病等冠心病的易患因素后,CXCR2基因＋1235 C/T多态与急性冠脉综合征的发病存在相关关系（P〈0.05）。结论：CXCR2基因＋1235 C/T多态与急性冠脉综合征发病存在相关关系,CXCR2基因＋1235 C/T多态可能是中国汉族人群急性冠脉综合征发病的独立危险因子。     

血管紧张素转换酶基因多态性与冠心病发病的相关关系

目的:从分子遗传学角度分析血管紧张素转换酶(ACE)基因I/D多态与中国北方汉族人群中冠心病发病的相关关系。方法:本研究收集在沈阳军区总医院心内科住院的行冠脉造影检查的病例为研究对象,冠脉动脉照影检查显示冠状动脉主支狭窄程度大于等于70%的入选为冠心病组,冠状动脉照影检查显示冠状动脉主支狭窄程度小于20%的为对照组,共入选568名冠心病患者以及性别与年龄相匹配的529名对照个体为研究对象,利用测序的方法分析检测血管紧张素转换酶(ACE)基因I/D多态在冠心病组与对照组中的频率分布情况。结果:血管紧张素转换酶(ACE)基因I/D多态基因型频率符合Hardy-Weinberg定律。血管紧张素转换酶(ACE)基因I/D多态(II型,ID型和DD型)在我们入选的568例冠心病组分布频率分别为50.3%,30.3%和19.4%,而在我们入选的524例对照组中的分布频率为57.7%,31.2%和11.1%,研究发现血管紧张素转换酶(ACE)基因I/D多态可能是中国北方汉族人群冠心病发病的独立危险因素(P0.05);利用多元回归分析发现,在调整了冠心病的其他危险因素后,血管紧张素转换酶(ACE)基因I/D多态的变化仍然是中国北方汉族人群冠心病发病一个独立危险因素,可以预测中国北方汉族人群冠心病的发生。结论:在中国北方汉族人群中,血管紧张素转换酶(ACE)基因I/D多态可能是冠心病发病的独立危险因素,在临床上可以早期预判冠心病的发生。     

Synthesis of polypyrrole within the cell wall of yeast by redox-cycling of [Fe(CN)6]3−/[Fe(CN)6]4−

Yeast cells are often used as a model system in various experiments. Moreover, due to their high metabolic activity, yeast cells have a potential to be applied as elements in the design of biofuel cells and biosensors. However a wider application of yeast cells in electrochemical systems is limited due to high electric resistance of their cell wall. In order to reduce this problem we have polymerized conducting polymer polypyrrole (Ppy) directly in the cell wall and/or within periplasmic membrane. In this research the formation of Ppy was induced by [Fe(CN)₆]³⁻ions, which were generated from K₄[Fe(CN)₆], which was initially added to polymerization solution. The redox process was catalyzed by oxido-reductases, which are present in the plasma membrane of yeast cells. The formation of Ppy was confirmed by spectrophotometry and atomic force microscopy. It was confirmed that the conducting polymer polypyrrole was formed within periplasmic space and/or within the cell wall of yeast cells, which were incubated in solution containing pyrrole, glucose and [Fe(CN)₆]⁴⁻. After 24 h drying at room temperature we have observed that Ppy-modified yeast cell walls retained their initial spherical form. In contrast to Ppy-modified cells, the walls of unmodified yeast have wrinkled after 24 h drying. The viability of yeast cells in the presence of different pyrrole concentrations has been evaluated.     

染色体1q12 区段IL6R 基因多态性与儿童哮喘易感性的研究

目的:检测染色体1q12区段IL6R基因多态性与儿童发生支气管哮喘易感性的关系。方法:150名支气管哮喘患儿为支气管哮喘组。150名健康儿童为对照组。采用质谱单核苷酸多态性(SNP)技术,对两组儿童的IL6R基因进行分析。结果:两组IL6基因位点的分布符合Hardy-Weinburg平衡定律。两组IL6R基因rs4845374位点的基因型与等位基因相比较,无明显差异(X2值分别为3.442和3.701;P值分别为0.179和0.088)。两组IL6R基因rs2228145位点的基因型与等位基因相比较,差异均有统计学意义(X2值分别为6.635和9.200;P值分别为0.036和0.003)。IL6R基因rs2228145位点基因型的变异等位基因T、C与支气管哮喘存在密切联系,CC、TT型出现支气管哮喘的风险均比CT型高。结论:IL6R基因rs4845374位点与儿童支气管哮喘无相关性,而rs2228145位点多态性与儿童支气管哮喘有相关性。     

基质金属蛋白酶-9 基因单核苷酸多态性与肺结核病的相关性研究

目的:探讨基质金属蛋白酶-9(matrix metalloproteinase-9,MMP-9)基因多态性(single nucleotide polymorphism,SNP)与肺结核的相关性。方法:对符合纳入及排除标准的肺结核病例组224例及健康对照组249例进行血样收集与临床资料采集。采用飞行时间质谱分析方法对MMP-9基因rs17576、rs2236416、rs3787268、rs3918254共4个多态性位点进行基因分型,数据统计分析采用SPSS20.0和Haplo View 4.0软件进行。结果:我们首次发现,在病例及对照组中,rs17576基因型频率分布存在统计学差异(X~2=7.822,P=0.020)。与对照组相比,病例组G等位基因频率显著高于对照组(X~2=7.335,P=0.007,OR=1.463,95%CI=1.110-1.927)。病例组rs17576基因型分布中,GG和AG基因型患者吸烟史显著高于AA基因型患者;GG和AG基因型患者卡介苗接种史显著低于AA基因型患者。连锁不平衡分析发现一个单倍型(rs17576-rs3918254)高度连锁(D'0.7;r~20.8)。在病例组及对照组中,G-C和A-C单倍型频率分布存在显著性差异,病例组中G-C单倍型频率显著高于对照组(P=0.022),对照组中A-C单倍型频率显著高于疾病组(P=0.024)。结论:MMP-9基因rs17576多态性位点可能与肺结核有关,携带有rs17576位点G等位基因的个体更易发生肺结核。携带G-C(rs17576-rs3918254)单倍型的个体更易患肺结核病,携带A-C(rs17576-rs3918254)单倍型的个体相对不易患肺结核病。