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The hydroxylation of dehydroepiandrosterone (DHEA) to 7α -hydroxy-5-androstene-17-one (7α-OH-DHEA) and 7β-hydroxy-5-androstene-17-one (7β-OH-DHEA) by Gibberella sp. CICC 2498 and Absidia coerulea CICC 41050 was investigated. The media ingredients were optimized. Single factors such as the DHEA concentration, culture time, medium volume, and inoculum rate were individually investigated to generate optimum biotransformation conditions. An orthogonal optimization process using a four-factor, three- level L9 (33) experiment was designed and performed. Finally, the maximum production of 7β-OH-DHEA from DHEA biotransformation by Absidia coerulea is 69.61%. This strategy would provide a possible way to enhance the 7β-OH-DHEA yield in the pharmaceutical industry.

Streptomyces noursei D-3-14 was taken as a starting strain and treated with UV (15 W, 30 cm) mutagenesis for 40 s for three consecutive rounds. High yielding strains were screened using chemical and biological potency determination, and the components of the fermentation products were detected using HPLC. Finally, the mutant strain Streptomyces noursei 72-22-1 with a chemical potency of 8912 (U/mL) and a biological potency of 5557 (U/mL) was obtained after the genetic stability evaluation. After optimization of the fermentation conditions, the chemical potency and biological potency of Streptomyces noursei 72-22-1 reached 14,082 U/mL and 10579 U/mL, respectively, which is 1.58 and 1.91 times those before optimization. HPLC analysis indicated that the mutant strain 72-22-1 displayed a higher content of polyfungin B. When equimolar nystatin A1, A3, and polyfungin B were tested for their fungicidal activities towards Saccharomyces cerevisiae ATCC 2061, polyfungin B exhibited a better efficacy than nystatin A1 and A3.

Mycoplasma pneumoniae(MP) is a leading pathogen of respiratory infection, especially community-acquired pneumonia (CAP), in children worldwide. However, its diagnosis is frequently ineffective because bacterial culture and serology test are usually positive 1–2 weeks or more after the disease onset. To achieve a better detection efficiency, the single-walled carbon nanotubes(SWCNT) were coupled with the colloidal gold-monoclonal antibody immunochromatographic strips(CGIC). Interestingly, the SWCNT/CGIC assay allowed MP identification, with a detection limit of 1 × 102 copies/ml. Using referenced throat swabs of 97 MP and 40 non-MP cases, the assay yielded 72.2% sensitivity, 100.0% specificity, 100.0% positive predictive value (PPV), 59.7% negative predictive value (NPV). In summary, our assay was far more effective than any conventional methods for the diagnosis of acute MP. The ease of use, rapid and stability further enhance its feasibility for clinical use on-site.

We used 2D-PAGE to isolate a light-induced protein (AL-A) that is expressed abundantly in light-growth alfalfa sprouts. The seven amino acids of the N-terminal region of the protein were identified, and we searched for the protein in GenBank using the BLAST program. The results of the homology analysis showed that the amino acid sequence of the isolated protein is most similar to one from a pea plastocyanin. To identify the protein, we amplified and sequenced the DNA fragment encoding AL-A from genomic alfalfa DNA. We found that the AL-A gene was highly homologous (90%) to the sequences from the pea plastocyanin via multiple alignments, and the deduced protein precursor was predicted to be chloroplast-specific via the ChloroP computer program. The protein was named alfalfa-plastocyanin (AL-P). It was characterized as being a light-inducible protein, and RT-PCR analysis showed that AL-P mRNA transcription only occurred in the leaves of the alfalfa plant and the alfalfa seedlings growth in lighted conditions. PCR was also used to amplify the DNA fragment encoding the AL-P promoter (AL-Pp) from genomic alfalfa DNA. PlantCARE analysis of the promoter sequence indicated that both a typical TATA box and a CAAT box were located in the promoter sequence, and some of the cis-elements that are responsible for light responsiveness were also identified within this promoter region. The AL-P gene promoter fused to the β-glucuronidase (GUS) reporter gene has been examined for expression in transgenic alfalfa seedlings. Our findings have a potential application in plant genetic engineering; the AL-Pp may be used to drive the expression of heterologous genes in transgenic alfalfa plants.

Background Type 2 diabetes mellitus (T2DM) is a complex, pandemic disease contributing towards the global burden of health issues. To date, there are no simple clinical tests for the early detection of T2DM. Method To identify potential peptide biomarkers for such applications, 406 sera of T2DM patients (n = 206) and healthy controls (n = 200) were analyzed using MALDI-TOF MS with a cross-sectional case-control design. Result Six peptides (peaks m/z 1452.9, 1692.8, 1946.0, 2115.1, 2211.0 and 4053.6) were identified as candidate biomarkers for T2DM. A diagnostic model constructed with the 6 peptides was able to discriminate T2DM patients from healthy controls, with an accuracy of 82.20%, sensitivity of 82.50%, and specificity of 77.80% in the validation set. Peptide peaks m/z 1452.9 and 1692.8 were identified as fragments of the complement C3f, while peptide peaks m/z 1946.0, 2115.0, and 2211.0 were identified as the fragments of kininogen 1 isoform 1 precursor. Conclusion This study reinforces proteomic analyses as a potential technique for defining significant clinical peptide biomarkers, providing a simple and convenient diagnostic model for T2DM in clinical examination. This article is protected by copyright. All rights reserved

Sesquiterpenes such as curcumol ( 1 ) and curdione ( 2 ) are the major ingredients of Rhizoma curcumae . Compounds ( 1 ) and ( 2 ) are isomers of one another and play important roles in Chinese Traditional Medicine. Microbial transformations of naturally occurring curcumol and curdione by Cunninghamella elegans AS 3.2028 were studied. In this research, stereoselective epoxidation at the double bond of curcumol led to 10 S ,14-epoxycurcumol ( 3 ) as the major metabolite, with no detectable 10 R ,14-epoxycurcumol ( 4 ). Epoxidation also occurred at the double bond of curdione, generating both (1 S ,10 S )- and (1 R ,10 R )-1,10-epoxycurdione ( 5 ) and ( 6 ). The diastereomeric excess ( de ) of the S diastereomer was 27%. The selectivity of the biotransformation is discussed.

Clocortolone pivalate is a synthetic corticosteroid that can be used to cure corticosteroid-responsive dermatoses. Three previously unknown impurities detected by HPLC were isolated by semi-preparative LC. Based on the NMR and MS spectral data, these were identified as (6R,9R,16R)-9-chloro-6β-fluoro-11β,21-dihydroxy-16α-methylpregna-1,4-diene-3,20-dione-21-pivalate (Impurity I), (9R,16R)-9-chloro-4-fluoro-11β,21-dihydroxy-16α-methylpregna-1,4-diene-3,20-dione-21-pivalate (Impurity II) and (9R,16R)-9-chloro-6α-fluoro-11β,21-dihydroxy-16α-methylpregna-1,4-diene-3,20-dione-11,21-dipivalate (Impurity III). The possible mechanism of the formation of the impurities is discussed.

Introduction – Salvianolic acid B (Sal B) is one of the major water-soluble compounds isolated from the roots of Salvia miltiorrhiza, which is widely used as a traditional Chinese medicine. Although much research on the general stability of Sal B has been undertaken and reported, there is still a need for further study of the stability required as a potential drug material. Objective – To study the stability of Sal B in the solid state and in normal saline (NS) solution during storage, as required in the ICH guidelines (2003) and Chinese Pharmacopoeia (2005). Methodology – Sal B stability was analysed using the high-performance liquid chromatography (HPLC) method described in the Chinese Pharmacopoeia. HPLC coupled with time-of-flight mass spectrometry (HPLC-TOFMS) was applied for the separation and identification of the degradation products of Sal B. Results – In the solid state, Sal B packaged in aluminium foil bags was stable for 6 months under ‘accelerated conditions’ (40°C, 75% relative humidity, RH). However, solid Sal B degradation was observed under open exposure to stress conditions of high temperature (60°C) or high humidity (92.5 or 75% RH). In NS solution, Sal B underwent severe degradation under accelerated conditions. Through HPLC-TOFMS, nine degradation products were identified and the possible degradation pathway was deduced. Conclusion – The results demonstrate that the potential drug material Sal B could be used in a solid formulation, but is not suitable for use as a liquid formulation. Copyright © 2011 John Wiley & Sons, Ltd.

The gene targeting combined somatic cell nuclear transfer is very useful in agriculture and medicine. Epigenetic modification of DNA by methylation is significant in regulating gene expression during mammalian development. During gene targeting, epigenetic status of donor cell nuclei may be changed in a series of processes, including homologous recombination, cell selection and cloning. We examined DNA methylation of six genes ( β-actin , VEGF , oct4 , TERT , H19 and Igf2 ) and a repetitive sequence art 2 in blg +/− cell line from β-lactoglobulin (BLG) gene targeted fetus and the cells used for BLG gene targeting serve as control. The results demonstrated that the widespread changes of DNA methylation were found in blg +/− cell line. But the degree of variation was different. DNA methylation of VEGF in blg +/− was noticeably decreased. These observations suggest that DNA methylation variations may impact gene expression and finally induce abnormalities and lethality in later developmental stages.

Lmbr1 is regarded as a key gene that controls the digital model formation in early developmental stages of the chicken. However, there are few reports of lmbr1 expression levels and tendencies in 4-toe and 5-toe chicken species. Therefore, the objective of this study was to compare the lmbr1 expression in White Leghorn (4-toe) and Chinese Silky (5-toe). Firstly, total RNA was extracted from 14 different embryonic development stages (HH3 to HH31) in White Leghorn and Chinese Silky. Secondly, dramatic gene expression changes of lmbr1 were monitored by RT-PCR, which indicated a general up-down-up tendency with subtle differences between these two species. Moreover, Q-PCR reactions were performed to quantitate the expression level of lmbr1 in the 14 selected developmental stages. These data demonstrated a first lmbr1 expression peak of 18.68 and 15.32, a lmbr1 expression trough of 6.61 and 1.80, and a second lmbr1 expression peak of 22.33 and 12.48 in White Leghorn and Chinese Silky, respectively. Finally, embryonic in situ hybridization analysis identified that lmbr1 expressed in the ectoderm in HH21, HH23 and HH24 developmental stages in both species.

Summary Transmissible spongiform encephalopathy (TSE) is a neurodegenerative disorder in humans and animals. Polymorphisms and mutations in the prion protein (PRNP) gene have been associated with the incidence of natural and experimental TSE and the incubation period length. In this study, we determined PRNP polymorphisms in Chinese ovine, caprine and bovine breeds using 400 samples from 13 ovine and caprine breeds and 250 samples from nine bovine breeds. In the ovine and caprine PRNP gene, we found five previously unreported amino acid polymorphisms and two silent nucleotide alterations. In bovine PRNP, we found eight previously unreported amino acid polymorphisms and six silent nucleotide alterations.

A chicken bacterial artificial chromosome (BAC) library consisting of 138,240 clones was constructed in vector pBeloBAC11 with genomic DNA isolated from female white‐silk chicken. An average insert size of 118 kb was estimated from 452 randomly isolated clones, which indicate the library to be approximate 13.34‐fold genome coverage. For the demonstration of the probability to pick out any unique genes or DNA markers from the library, 8 single‐copy genes were screened out and the positive clones were yielded between 2 and 15 with an average of 11.125, in agreement with the estimated high genomic coverage of this library. Positive superpools were obtained for 40 microsatellite markers selected from different regions of chicken genome. The number of positive superpools for each marker varies from 1 to 15 with an average of 9.475.

The aim of this study was to investigate the therapeutic effects of the combination of paeoniflorin and albiflorin (CPA) extracted from Paeonia radix on radiation and chemotherapy induced myelosuppression in two animal models: mice and rabbits. Mice were exposed to X-ray radiation (400 Roentgen), and both mice and rabbits were intraperitoneally injected with cyclophosphamide (100.0 mg/kg) and cytarabine chloride (92.7 mg/kg), respectively, for 3 days to induce myelosuppression. CPA was subsequently administrated intravenously at low (15.0 mg/kg for mice, 6.00 mg/kg for rabbits), intermediate (30.0 mg/kg for mice, 12.0 mg/kg for rabbits) and high (60.0 mg/kg for mice, 24.0 mg/kg for rabbits) doses, as well as orally (60.0 mg/kg for mice, 24.0 mg/kg for rabbits) for 7 days. Shenqi tablets were used as positive controls (oral administration of 936.0 mg/kg for mice, 336.0 mg/kg for rabbits). The administration of CPA significantly ameliorated myelosuppression in all cases. For the X-ray irradiated mice and the chemotherapy treated mice and rabbits, high dosages of CPA resulted in the recovery of, respectively, 94.4%, 95.3% and 97.7% of hemoglobin content; 67.7%, 92.0% and 94.3% of platelet numbers; 26.8%, 137.1% and 107.3% of white blood cell counts; as well as a reversal in the reduction of peripheral differential white blood cell counts. There was also a recovery of 50.9%, 146.1% and 92.3%, respectively, in the animals' relative spleen weight. Additionally, a recovery of 35.7% and 87.2% in the number of bone marrow nucleated cells was observed in the radio- and chemotherapy treated mice, respectively. Bone marrow white blood cell counts also resumed to normal levels. These results substantiate the marked therapeutic effects of CPA to ameliorate myelosuppression induced by radio and chemotherapy.