Modified human uterus transplantation using ovarian veins for venous drainage: the first report of surgically successful robotic-assisted uterus procurement and follow-up for 12 months.

Objective: To report the 12-month results of the first human uterus transplantation case using robot-assisted uterine retrieval. This type of transplantation may become a treatment for permanent uterine factor infertility.

Design: Case study.

Simultaneous saccharification and fermentation of corncobs with genetically modified Saccharomyces cerevisiae and characterization of their microstructure during hydrolysis.

Cellulose is an abundant natural polysaccharide that is universally distributed. It can be extracted from corncobs, which are inexpensive, easily accessible, renewable, and environmentally friendly. A common strategy for effectively utilizing cellulose is efficient heterogeneous expression of cellulase genes in Saccharomyces cerevisiae.

Modified uterine allotransplantation and immunosuppression procedure in the sheep model.

Objective: To develop an orthotopic, allogeneic, uterine transplantation technique and an effective immunosuppressive protocol in the sheep model.

Methods: In this pilot study, 10 sexually mature ewes were subjected to laparotomy and total abdominal hysterectomy with oophorectomy to procure uterus allografts. The cold ischemic time was 60 min.

A visual method for direct selection of high-producing Pichia pastoris clones.

Background: The methylotrophic yeast, Pichia pastoris, offers the possibility to generate a high amount of recombinant proteins in a fast and easy way to use expression system. Being a single-celled microorganism, P. pastoris is easy to manipulate and grows rapidly on inexpensive media at high cell densities.

Expression and purification of an antimicrobial peptide by fusion with elastin-like polypeptides in Escherichia coli.

Different carrier molecules have been fused to antimicrobial polypeptides (AMPs) to facilitate recombinant protein expression and purification. Some of them have improved the stability of AMPs and reduced the toxicity to host cells, but most current strategies still have some problems to be solved such as poor yield, low purity, high expense, time-consumption, and difficulty in scaling-up. Here, we introduced the elastin-like polypeptides (ELPs) as a fusion partner to express an antimicrobial polypeptide halocidin18 (Hal18).

Transfer of Ephedra genomic DNA to yeasts by ion implantation.

The genomic DNA from Ephedra glauca was randomly transferred to Saccharomyces cerevisiae and Hansenula anomala by argon and nitrogen ion implantation. Through repeated subculturing and using reversed phase high-performance liquid chromatography analysis to quantify the concentrations of the secondary metabolites, l-ephedrine and d-pseudoephedrine, 12 recombinant strains of genetically stable yeast were obtained, each using glucose as a carbon source, NaNO3 as a nitrogen source and producing l-ephedrine and/or d-pseudoephedrine. After culturing in liquid medium for 72 h, extracellular l-ephedrine and d-pseudoephedrine concentrations of 18.

[Differentially expressed genes in diabetes-induced embryopathy].

To determine molecular mechanism in hyperglycemia induced congenital neural tube defects, yolk sac cells were harvested at gestational day 12 from streptozotocin (STZ) -induced diabetic rats with congenital neural tube defects in offspring, STZ-induced diabetic rats without neural tube defects and normal control group. We analyzed gene expression profiles in yolk sac cells using a DNA microarray technique. Changes in apoptotic and MAP Kinase signaling pathways were detected by Western blotting analyses.

[Expression and purification of the antimicrobial polypeptide by fusion with elastin-like polypeptide].

Elastin-like polypeptides (ELPs) are biological macromolecules designed on the elastic structure and composition. ELPs are thermally responsive polypeptides that undergo reversible inverse phase transition. Below their inverse transition temperature (Tt), ELPs are soluble in water, but when the temperature is raised above Tt, phase transition occurs, leading to aggregation of the polypeptide.

[A new plate method for screening of polysaccharide-degrading enzymes and their producing microorganisms].

A plate assay based on the formation of haloes on Petri dishes, containing the trypan blue dye and polysaccharides as substrates, provides a specific, reliable and rapid detection of corresponding polysaccharide degrading enzymes and their producing microorganisms. A blue complex was formed by mixing trypan blue and polysaccharides as substrates. It has been proved by testing three strains that the trypan blue was neither harmful to microorganisms nor enzymes and could stand the normal sterilization.

[Production of l-ephedrine and d-pseudoephedrine in recombined yeasts obtained by argon ion implantation mediated Ephedra genome DNA transformation].

The genome DNA from Ephedra glauca was randomly transferred into Hansenula anomala, respectively, by argon ion bombardment. Then, after screening by the motheds of bromothymol blue indicator selection, slant cultivation, l-ephedrine and d-pseudoephedrine copper chromic salt qualitative test and RP-HPLC determination, 3 strains, producing recombined yeasts were obtained, which can use glucose as a carbon source, NaNO3 as nitrogen source and be genetically stable. After cultivated in liquid medium for 72 hours and analyzed by the RP-HPLC, the recombined strains can produce l-ephedrine 11.

[Detection of expression of endometriosis-related cytokine and their receptor genes by cDNA microarray technique].

Aim: To study the pathogenesis of endometriosis(EM) by investigating cytokine(CK) and CKR genes expression involved in the development of EM.

Methods: The CK and CKR gene expression pattern in samples of EM and normal endometrial tissues were analyzed by using cDNA microarrays.

Results: 119 genes were expressed differently between 3 cases EM tissues and 3 cases normal endometria tissues.

[Effect of gestrinone on growth and apoptosis in isolated ectopic endometrium cells in vitro].

Objective: To investigate the effects of gestrinone on growth and apoptosis, as well as the expression of phosphatase and tension homologue deleted on chromosome 10 (PTEN) in isolated ectopic endometrium cells in vitro and the underlying mechanisms.

Methods: Ectopic endometrium cells were cultured and exposed to gestrinone of different doses of 0, 10(-6) and 10(-4) mol/L respectively. The inhibition of the cells during 48 hours was determined by methylthiazolyl tetrazolium (MTT) assay, and the cell growth curve was made.

Aberrant patterns of cellular communication in diabetes-induced embryopathy in rats: II, apoptotic pathways.

Objective: The objective was to test the hypothesis that hyperglycemia-induced injury of yolk sac cell membranes is associated with disruption of cellular apoptotic signaling pathways.

Study Design: Pregnant rats were induced to become diabetic by injection of streptozotocin. Fourteen normal control and 24 diabetic rats were killed on day 12 of gestation.

Signal transduction of gap junctional genes, connexin32, connexin43 in human hepatocarcinogenesis.

Aim: To investigate gap junctional intercellular communication (GJIC) in hepatocellular carcinoma cell lines, and signal transduction mechanism of gap junction genes connexin32(cx32),connexin43(cx43) in human hepatocarcinogenesis.

Methods: Scarped loading and dye transfer (SLDT) was employed with Lucifer Yellow (LY) to detect GJIC function in hepatocellular carcinoma cell lines HHCC, SMMC-7721 and normal control liver cell line QZG. After Fluo-3AM loading, laser scanning confocal microscope (LSCM) was used to measure concentrations of intracellular calcium (Ca(2+))i in the cells.

Expression of gap junction genes connexin32 and connexin43 mRNAs and proteins, and their role in hepatocarcinogenesis.

Aim: To investigate the relationship between hepatocarcinogenesis and the expression of connexin32 (cx32), connexin43 (cx43) mRNAs and proteins in vitro.

Methods: Gap junction genes cx32 and cx43 mRNA in hepatocellular carcinoma cell lines HHCC, SMMC-7721 and normal liver cell line QZG were detected by in situ hybridization (ISH) with digoxin-labeled cx32, and cx43 cDNA probes. Expression of Cx32 and Cx43 proteins in the cell lines was revealed by indirect immuno-fluorescence and flow cytometry (FCM).

Expression of gap junction genes connexin 32, connexin 43 and their proteins in hepatocellular carcinoma and normal liver tissues.

AIM:To investigate the significance and mechanism of cx32 mRNA,cx43 mRNA and their proteins in hepatocarcinogenesis.METHODS:Sixty-one cases of HCC and 14 cases of normal liver tissues were detected by immunohistochemical and in situ hybridization (ISH) methods.RESULTS:In HCC grades I, II, III and normal liver tissues, the positive rates of cx32 protein were 55.