Investigation of the association between all-trans-retinol dehydrogenase (RDH8) polymorphisms and high myopia in Chinese

Retinoic acid level in the retina/choroid is altered in induced myopia models. All-trans-retinol dehydrogenase (RDH8) is an important enzyme of retinoic acid metabolism. This study aimed to investigate the association of the RDH8 gene with high myopia. Three single nucleotide polymorphisms (SNPs) [RDH851 (rs2233789), RDH8E5a (rs1644731), and RDH855b (rs3760753)] were selected, based on the linkage disequilibrium pattern of RDH8 from a previous study, and genotyped for 160 Han Chinese nuclear families with highly myopic (−10 diopters or worse) offspring as well as in an independent group with 166 highly myopic cases (−10 diopters or worse) and 211 controls. Family-based association analysis was performed using the family-based association test (FBAT) package, and genotype relative risk (GRR) was calculated using the GenAssoc program. Population-based association analysis was performed using Chi-square test. These SNPs were in linkage equilibrium with each other. SNPs RDH851 (rs2233789) and RDH8E5a (rs1644731) both did not show association with high myopia. SNP RDH855b (rs3760753) demonstrated significant association (P=0.0269) with a GRR of 0.543 (95% confidence interval=0.304–0.968, P=0.038). The association became statistically insignificant, however, after multiple comparison correction. Haplotype analysis did not show a significant association either. Population-based association analysis also showed no significant association (P>0.05). Our family- and population-based data both suggest that the RDH8 gene is unlikely to be associated with high myopia in Chinese.     

Association between 11beta-hydroxysteroid dehydrogenase type 1 gene polymorphisms and metabolic syndrome in Bosnian population

Introduction:

The enzyme 11β-hydroxysteroid dehydrogenase type 1 (11β-HSD1) catalyzes the conversion of the hormonally inactive cortisone to active cortisol, thus facilitating glucocorticoid receptor activation in target tissues. Increased expression of 11β-HSD1 in adipose tissue has been associated with obesity and insulin resistance. In this study, we investigated the association of two 11β-HSD1 gene (HSD11B1) polymorphisms with the metabolic syndrome (MetS) and its characteristics in the Bosnian population.

Materials and methods:

The study included 86 participants: 43 patients diagnosed with MetS and 43 healthy controls. Subjects were genotyped for two HSD11B1 gene polymorphisms: rs846910: G>A and rs45487298: insA, by the high resolution melting curve analysis. Genotype distribution and an influence of genotypes on clinical and biochemical parameters were assessed.

Results:

There was no significant difference in the mutated allele frequencies for the two HSD11B1 gene polymorphisms between MetS patients and controls. In MetS patients, no significant associations between disease-associated traits and rs45487298: insA were found. Regarding rs846910: G>A variant, heterozygous patients (G/A) had significantly lower systolic (P = 0.017) and diastolic blood pressure (P = 0.015), lower HOMA-IR index (P = 0.011) and higher LDL-cholesterol levels (P = 0.049), compared to the wild-type homozygotes. In the control group, rs45487298: insA polymorphism was associated with lower fasting plasma insulin levels (P = 0.041), lower homeostasis model assessment insulin resistance (HOMA-IR) index (P = 0.041) and lower diastolic blood pressure (P = 0.048). Significant differences between rs846910: G>A genotypes in controls were not detected. Haplotype analysis confirmed the association of rs45487298: insA with markers of insulin resistance in the control subjects.

Conclusions:

Our results indicate that a common rs45487298: insA polymorphism in HSD11B1 gene may have a protective effect against insulin resistance.     

血乳酸在自行车训练监控中的应用

依据项目的供能特点，结合实验数据的分析，提出了血乳酸在山地自行车爬坡间歇训练、自行车50公里团体项目的有氧训练、场地自行车的速度耐力训练中的应用方法。     

Biochemical characterization of the recombinant schistosome tegumental protein SmALDH_312 produced in E. coli and baculovirus expression vector system

BackgroundThe heterologous expression of parasitic proteins is challenging because the sequence composition often differs significantly from host preferences. However, the production of such proteins is important because they are potential drug targets and can be screened for interactions with new lead compounds. Here we compared two expression systems for the production of an active recombinant aldehyde dehydrogenase (SmALDH_312) from Schistosoma mansoni, which causes the neglected tropical disease schistosomiasis.ResultsWe produced SmALDH_312 successfully in the bacterium Escherichia coli and in the baculovirus expression vector system (BEVS). Both versions of the recombinant protein were found to be active in vitro, but the BEVS-derived enzyme showed 3.7-fold higher specific activity and was selected for further characterization. We investigated the influence of Mg²⁺, Ca²⁺ and Mn²⁺, and found out that the specific activity of the enzyme increased 1.5-fold in the presence of 0.5 mM Mg²⁺. Finally, we characterized the kinetic properties of the enzyme using a design-of-experiment approach, revealing optimal activity at pH 7.6 and 41°C.ConclusionsAlthough, E. coli has many advantages, such as rapid expression, high yields and low costs, this system was outperformed by BEVS for the production of a schistosome ALDH. BEVS therefore provides an opportunity for the expression and subsequent evaluation of schistosome enzymes as drug targets.How to cite: Harnischfeger J, Beutler M, Salzig D, et al. Biochemical characterization of the recombinant schistosome tegumental protein SmALDH_312 produced in E. coli and baculovirus expression vector system. Electron J Biotechnol 2021;54. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.ejbt.2021.08.002     

有氧运动锻炼对LD含量和LDH、ALP、ACP、CK活性影响的研究

为了探讨有氧运动锻炼对人体在不同功能状态下血 L D(乳酸 )代谢和 L DH(乳酸脱氢酶 )、AL P(碱性磷酸酶 )、ACP(酸性磷酸酶 )、CK(肌酸激酶 )活性的影响 ,将 4 2名中学生随机分为一般锻炼组、强化锻炼组和对照组。对两运动组分别实施不同的有氧运动处方后 ,与对照组相比 ,结果发现 :安静状态时 ,血清中 L D含量明显降低 (P<0 .0 5 ) ,L DH活性极显著升高 (P<0 .0 0 1) ,ACP、CK活性呈升高趋势 ,AL P活性呈下降趋势 ,但均无显著性差异 (P>0 .0 5 ) ;定量负荷和极量负荷运动后 ,L D含量无变化、L DH活性仍显著升高 ,ACP、AL P、CK活性的变化趋势基本与安静状态时相同 ,只是强化锻炼组 AL P活性在极量负荷时显著低于对照组水平。这说明 ,短期有氧运动锻炼能够有效地降低人体在安静状态时血乳酸的生成和促进在不同功能状态下 L DH活性的提高 ,但对 ACP、AL P、CK的作用不够明显     

大强度训练对大鼠红细胞糖酵解代谢及2,3-二磷酸甘油酸的影响

以大鼠为实验对象,研究7周大强度跑台训练对大鼠红细胞糖酵解代谢及2,3-二磷酸甘油酸浓度的影响.结果发现:1)7周的大强度训练能够明显提高大鼠红细胞内无氧代谢酶LDH活性及代谢底物葡萄糖的浓度,有利于促进糖酵解代谢;2)大强度训练后的大鼠在一次性运动后,红细胞LDH活性在运动后30 min显著升高,HL浓度在运动后30 min有非常显著性升高,同时伴随葡萄糖浓度的明显下降.3)大强度训练7周的大鼠在一次性大强度运动后24 h,红细胞Pk和葡萄糖均恢复到原有水平,但LDH活性仍处于显著高水平.4)大强度训练7周会造成红细胞内2,3-二磷酸甘油酸浓度显著升高,有利于红细胞向组织释放氧气,但其一次性运动对2,3-二磷酸甘油酸的影响,有待进一步的研究.     

武术散打运动训练强度的评定研究

采用生理生化实验、文献资料调研、数理统计等方法，对上海体育学院12名散打运动员进行训练强度的监测，发现监测散打训练强度的最佳生化指标为血乳酸和乳酸脱氢酶，其次为肌酸激酶。同时研究发现．提高散打运动训练强度的有效方法是采用5～6组，持续时间为1～2min，间歇时间为1min的间歇训练法。     

A Critical Review on Clinical Application of Separation Techniques for Selective Recognition of Uracil and 5-Fluorouracil

The most important objectives that are frequently found in bio-analytical chemistry involve applying tools to relevant medical/biological problems and refining these applications. Developing a reliable sample preparation step, for the medical and biological fields is another primary objective in analytical chemistry, in order to extract and isolate the analytes of interest from complex biological matrices. Since, main inborn errors of metabolism (IEM) diagnosable through uracil analysis and the therapeutic monitoring of toxic 5-fluoruracil (an important anti-cancerous drug) in dihydropyrimidine dehydrogenase deficient patients, require an ultra-sensitive, reproducible, selective, and accurate analytical techniques for their measurements. Therefore, keeping in view, the diagnostic value of uracil and 5-fluoruracil measurements, this article refines several analytical techniques involved in selective recognition and quantification of uracil and 5-fluoruracil from biological and pharmaceutical samples. The prospective study revealed that implementation of molecularly imprinted polymer as a solid-phase material for sample preparation and preconcentration of uracil and 5-fluoruracil had proven to be effective as it could obviates problems related to tedious separation techniques, owing to protein binding and drastic interferences, from the complex matrices in real samples such as blood plasma, serum samples.     

Identification and characterization of a novel 2R,3R-Butanediol dehydrogenase from Bacillus sp. DL01

Background2R,3R-butanediol dehydrogenase (R-BDH) and other BDHs contribute to metabolism of 3R/3S-Acetoin (3R/3S-AC) and 2,3-butanediol (2,3-BD), which are important bulk chemicals used in different industries. R-BDH is responsible for oxidizing the hydroxyl group at their (R) configuration. Bacillus species is a promising producer of 3R/3S-AC and 2,3-BD. In this study, R-bdh gene encoding R-BDH from Bacillus sp. DL01 was isolated, expressed and identified.ResultsR-BDH exerted reducing activities towards Diacetyl (DA) and 3R/3S-AC using NADH, and oxidizing activities towards 2R,3R-BD and Meso-BD using NAD⁺, while no activity was detected with 2S,3S-BD. The R-BDH showed its activity at a wide range of temperature (25°C to 65°C) and pH (5.0–8.0). The R-BDH activity was increased significantly by Cd²⁺ when DA, 3R/3S-AC, and Meso-BD were used as substrates, while Fe²⁺ enhanced the activity remarkably at 2R,3R-BD oxidation. Kinetic parameters of the R-BDH from Bacillus sp. DL01 showed the lowest K_m, the highest V_max, and the highest K_cat towards the racemic 3R/3S-AC substrate, also displayed low K_m towards 2R,3R-BD and Meso-BD when compared with other reported R-BDHs.ConclusionsThe R-BDH from Bacillus sp. DL01 was characterized as a novel R-BDH with high enantioselectivity for R-configuration. It considered NAD⁺ and Zn²⁺ dependant enzyme, with a significant affinity towards 3R/3S-AC, 2R,3R-BD, and Meso-BD substrates. Thus, R-BDH is providing an approach to regulate the production of 3R/3S-AC or 2,3-BD from Bacillus sp. DL01.How to cite: Elmahmoudy M, Elfeky N, Zhongji P, et al. Identification and characterization of a novel 2R,3R-Butanediol Dehydrogenase from Bacillus sp. DL01. Electron J Biotechnol 2021;49. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.ejbt.2020.11.002     

茴香醛抗真菌作用的实验研究

本文以琼脂稀释法测定了茴香醛对10种真菌的最低抑菌浓度.实验发现茴香醛对所试10种真菌均有抑和杀菌作用,对其中自色念珠菌、新型隐球菌及孢子丝菌等条件致病真菌也具有抗真菌活性.其临床意义有待于进一步探讨。