Site-selective fatty acid chain conjugation of the N-terminus of the recombinant human granulocyte colony-stimulating factor.

The clinical application of the recombinant human granulocyte colony-stimulating factor (rhG-CSF) is restricted by its short serum half-life. Herein, site-selective modification of the N-terminus of rhG-CSF with PAL-PEG-Ph-CHO was used to develop a long-acting rhG-CSF. The optimized conditions for rhG-CSF modification with PAL-PEG-Ph-CHO were: reaction solvent system of 3% (w/v) Tween 20 and 30 mM NaCNBH in acetate buffer (20 mmol/L, pH 5.

Mac-1 deficiency ameliorates pressure overloaded heart failure through inhibiting macrophage polarization and activation.

Persistent pressure overload commonly leads to pathological cardiac hypertrophy and remodeling, ultimately leading to heart failure (HF). Cardiac remodeling is associated with the involvement of immune cells and the inflammatory response in pathogenesis. The macrophage-1 antigen (Mac-1) is specifically expressed on leukocytes and regulates their migration and polarization.

Blocking VCAM-1 ameliorates hypertensive cardiac remodeling by impeding macrophage infiltration.

Cardiac remodeling is an important mechanism of heart failure, which frequently results from leukocyte infiltration. Vascular cellular adhesion molecule-1 (VCAM-1) plays a critical role in leukocyte adhesion and transmigration. However, the importance of VCAM-1 in the development of angiotensin II (Ang II)-induced cardiac remodeling remains unclear.

Preparation and Characterization of Site-Specific Fatty Chain-Modified Recombinant Human Granulocyte Colony Stimulating Factor.

The clinical use of recombinant human granulocyte colony-stimulating factor (rhG-CSF) is limited by its short serum half-life. In this study, a long-acting strategy for site-specific modification of rhG-CSF with 1-pentadecyl-1H-pyrrole-2,5-dione (C15 fatty chain-maleimide, C15-MAL) was studied in mixed DMSO-aqueous solutions. The factors influencing the conjugation reaction were investigated and optimized, and a high yield of the desired product (C15-rhG-CSF) was achieved.

Angiotensin II Induces Cardiac Edema and Hypertrophic Remodeling through Lymphatic-Dependent Mechanisms.

Cardiac lymphatic vessel growth (lymphangiogenesis) and integrity play an essential role in maintaining tissue fluid balance. Inhibition of lymphatic lymphangiogenesis is involved in cardiac edema and cardiac remodeling after ischemic injury or pressure overload. However, whether lymphatic vessel integrity is disrupted during angiotensin II- (Ang II-) induced cardiac remodeling remains to be investigated.

Blocking VCAM-1 Prevents Angiotensin II-Induced Hypertension and Vascular Remodeling in Mice.

Adhesion of monocytes to the vascular endothelium frequently leads to an inflammatory response, which contributes to hypertension and vascular remodeling. Vascular cellular adhesion molecule-1 (VCAM-1) plays an important role in leukocyte adhesion and migration during inflammatory diseases. However, its role in angiotensin (Ang) II -induced hypertension and vascular dysfunction remains largely unknown.

Effect of the Mini-Nutritional Assessment-Short Form in Elderly Burn Patients.

Nutritional assessment can early identify patients who are malnourished and at risk of malnutrition. To examine the effect of nutritional status on wound healing in elderly burn patients, we used the Mini-Nutritional Assessment-Short Form (MNA-SF) to measure the nutritional status of elderly patients. This study aimed to examine the role of MNA-SF in elderly burn patients through the correlation analysis of wound healing indicators and MNA-SF score.

Association between LGR4 polymorphisms and peak bone mineral density and body composition.

Introduction: Leucine-rich repeat-containing G protein-coupled receptor 4 (LGR4) could affect differentiation of osteoblasts and bone mass through potentiating Wnt/β-catenin signaling. LGR4 is also relevant to glycolipid metabolism. The present study aims to explore the relationship between genetic variations in LGR4 gene and peak bone mineral density (peak BMD) and body composition phenotypes in Chinese nuclear families.

[Effects of nitrogen fertilizer application on carbon dioxide emissions from soils with different inorganic carbon contents.].

The application of nitrogen (N) fertilizer results in decreases of soil pH, but its effects on CO emission from soils with different inorganic carbon contents remain unclear. An closed-jar incubation experiment was conducted to examine the effects of N fertilizer and nitrification inhibitor (DCD) on soil pH and CO emissions from three soil types with different contents of soil inorganic carbon (SIC), including paddy soil (PS), lime concretion black soil (CS), and eum-orthic anthrosols (AS). There were three treatments for each soil type, including control (N), 0.

Seven novel and six de novo PHEX gene mutations in patients with hypophosphatemic rickets.

Inactivating mutations in phosphate-regulating gene with homologies to endopeptidase on the X chromosome (PHEX) have been identified as a cause of X-linked hypophosphatemic rickets (XLH; OMIM 307800). In the present study, we enrolled 43 patients from 18 unrelated families clinically diagnosed with hypophosphatemic rickets and 250 healthy controls. For each available individual, all 22 exons with their exon-intron boundaries of the PHEX gene were directly sequenced.

Identification of two novel mutations in the COMP gene in six families with pseudoachondroplasia.

Pseudoachondroplasia (PSACH; MIM no. 177170) is an autosomal dominant osteochondrodysplasia characterized by short‑limb short stature, brachydactyly and early‑onset osteoarthropathy. Typically, at approximately two years of age, the rate of growth falls below the standard growth curve, causing a moderately severe form of disproportionate short‑limb short stature.

Reports of 17 Chinese patients with tumor-induced osteomalacia.

Tumor-induced osteomalacia (TIO) is a rare acquired form of hypophosphatemic osteomalacia, which is usually attributed to the overproduction of fibroblast growth factor 23 (FGF-23) by benign mesenchymal neoplasms. Localization and thereafter surgical resection of tumors lead to a cure. The present study aimed to investigate the clinical data, diagnostic methods, and follow-up after tumor resection at one medical center in Shanghai to characterize the profile of this rare disorder and to share our successful experience in diagnosis and treatment.