The progress in the understanding of cancer progression and early detection has been slow and frustrating due to the complex multifactorial nature and heterogeneity of the cancer syndrome. To date, no effective treatment is available for advanced cancers, which remain a major cause of morbidity and mortality. Clearly, there is urgent need to unravel novel biomarkers for early detection. Most of the functional information of the cancer-associated genes resides in the proteome. The later is an exceptionally complex biological system involving several proteins that function through posttranslational modifications and dynamic intermolecular collisions with partners. These protein complexes can be regulated by signals emanating from cancer cells, their surrounding tissue microenvironment, and/or from the host. Some proteins are secreted and/or cleaved into the extracellular milieu and may represent valuable serum biomarkers for diagnosis purpose. It is estimated that the cancer proteome may include over 1.5 million proteins as a result of posttranslational processing and modifications. Such complexity clearly highlights the need for ultra-high resolution proteomic technology for robust quantitative protein measurements and data acquisition. This review is to update the current research efforts in high-resolution proteomic technology for discovery and monitoring cancer biomarkers.

Objective: To investigate whether vascular endothelial growth factor (VEGF) gene plasmid carried by polytetrafluoroethylene (PTFE) vascular graft materials could transfect endothelial cells (ECs) and promote their growth. Methods: PTFE vascular graft materials carried with pCDI-hVEGF₁₂₁, pCDI or pEGFP were incubated in Tris-buffer solution and the values of optical density of 260 nm at different time were plotted, then the DNA controlled release curve was made. ECs derived from human umbilical vein were seeded on the pCDI-hVEGF₁₂₁/pCDI/pEGFP-PTFE materials or tissue culture plates, ECs numbers were counted and VEGF protein concentrations at different time were measured by enzyme-linked immunoadsorbent assay method. Green fluorescent protein (GFP) expression in ECs on pEGFP-PTFE materials was examined with fluorescence microscopy. Results: The controlled release curve showed that the gene released from PTFE materials was rapid within 8 h, then slowed down and that the gene released continuously even after 72 h. At 24, 72 and 120 h, ECs number and proliferation rate of pCDI-hVEGF₁₂₁-PTFE materials were higher than those of pCDI or pEGFP-PTFE materials (P<0.05). VEGF protein concentration of pCDI-hVEGF₁₂₁-PTFE materials was higher than that of pCDI or pEGFP-PTFE materials at 6, 24, 72 and 120 h (P<0.01). GFP expression in ECs on the pEGFP-PTFE materials could be detected by fluorescence microscopy. Conclusion: PTFE graft can be used as a carrier of VEGF gene plasmid, VEGF gene carried by PTFE can transfect ECs and promote ECs growth.

Psidium guajava (guava) leaf is a phytotherapic used in folk medicine to treat gastrointestinal and respiratory disturbances and is used as anti-inflammatory medicine. In nuclear medicine, blood constituents (BC) are labelled with technetium-99m (^99mTc) and used to image procedures. However, data have demonstrated that synthetic or natural drugs could modify the labelling of BC with ^99mTc. The aim of this work was to evaluate the effects of aqueous extract of guava leaves on the labelling of BC with ^99mTc. Blood samples of Wistar rats were incubated with different concentrations of guava extract and labelled with ^99mTc after the percentage of incorporated radioactivity (%ATI) in BC was determined. The results suggest that aqueous guava extract could present antioxidant action and/or alters the membrane structures involved in ion transport into cells, thus decreasing the radiolabelling of BC with ^99mTc. The data showed significant (P<0.05) alteration of ATI in BC from blood incubated with guava extract.

The binding of pefloxacin mesylate (PFLX) to bovine lactoferrin (BLf) and human serum albumin (HSA) in dilute aqueous solution was studied using fluorescence spectra and absorbance spectra. The binding constant K and the binding sites n were obtained by fluorescence quenching method. The binding distance r and energy-transfer efficiency E between pefloxacin mesylate and bovine lactoferrin as well as human serum albumin were also obtained according to the mechanism of Förster-type dipole-dipole nonradiative energy-transfer. The effects of pefloxacin mesylate on the conformations of bovine lactoferrin and human serum albumin were also analyzed using synchronous fluorescence spectroscopy.

This study is aimed at identifying and determining the percentage of occurrence frequency of cellulose decomposing soil fungi. The soil samples were inoculated into culture plates prepared in Sabouraud medium under sterilized conditions and incubated at 30 °C for 4 to 7 d. The identified fungal species were incubated in self-designed cellulose medium for testing their cellulolytic ability. Forty-two species, including 2 nova species, representing sixteen genera showed growth and sporulation in the cellulose medium. Most of the isolated species were from genus Aspergillus and Penicillium. Aspergillus niger and Mucor hiemalis showed highest occurrence frequency (45% and 36% respectively), as these species were collected from about 80% of soil samples. Being agar free and cheaper, the new fungal medium designed showed results equivalent to Sabouraud medium.

The ascidian Ciona intestinalis is a model organism of developmental and evolutionary biology and may provide crucial clues concerning two fundamental matters, namely, how chordates originated from the putative deuterostome ancestor and how advanced chordates originated from the simplest chordates. In this paper, a whole-life-span culture of C. intestinalis was conducted. Fed with the diet combination of dry Spirulina, egg yolk, Dicrateria sp., edible yeast and weaning diet for shrimp, C. intestinalis grew up to average 59 mm and matured after 60 d cultivation. This culture process could be repeated using the artificially cultured mature ascidians as material. When the fertilized eggs were maintained under 10, 15, 20, 25 °C, they hatched within 30 h, 22 h, 16 h and 12 h 50 min respectively experiencing cleavage, blastulation, gastrulation, neurulation, tailbud stage and tadpole stage. The tadpole larvae were characterized as typical but simplified chordates because of their dorsal nerve cord, notochord and primordial brain. After 8~24 h freely swimming, the tadpole larvae settled on the substrates and metamorphosized within 1~2 d into filter feeding sessile juvenile ascidians. In addition, unfertilized eggs were successfully dechorionated in filtered seawater containing 1% Tripsin, 0.25% EDTA at pH of 10.5 within 40 min. After fertilization, the dechorionated eggs developed well and hatched at normal hatching rate. In conclusion, this paper presented feasible methodology for rearing the tadpole larvae of C. intestinalis into sexual maturity under controlled conditions and detailed observations on the embryogenesis of the laboratory cultured ascidians, which will facilitate developmental and genetic research using this model system.

The solubilization of elastin by Bacillus licheniformis elastase cannot be analyzed by conventional kinetic methods because the biologically relevant substrate is insoluble and the concentration of enzyme-substrate complex has no physical meaning. In this paper we report the optimization of elastolysis conditions and analysis of elastolytic kinetics. Our results indicated that the hydrolyzing temperature and time are very important factors affecting elastolysis rate. The optimized conditions using central composite design were as follows: elastolysis temperature 50 °C, elastase concentration 1×10⁴ U/ml, elastin 80 mg, elastolytic time 4 h. Investigation of the effects of substrate content, elastase concentration and pH was also revealed that low or high elastin content inhibits the elastolysis process. Increasing elastase improves elastin degradation, but high elastase may change the kinetics characterization. Alkaline environment can decrease elastin degradation rate and pH may affect elastolysis by changing elastase reaction pH. To further elucidate the elastolysis process, the logistic model was used to elastolysis kinetics study showing clearly that the logistic model can reasonably explain the elastolysis process, especially under lower elastase concentration. However, there is still need for more investigations with the aid of other methods, such as biochemical and molecular methods.

The variation of the vibration characteristics of a Huanghua pear was investigated using finite element simulations. A new image processing technique was used to obtain the unsymmetrical and un-spherical geometrical model of a pear. The vibration characteristics of this type of pear with the correlation of its behavior with geometrical configurations and material characteristics were investigated using numerical modal analysis. The results showed that the eigenfrequency increased with the increasing pear Young’s modulus, while decreased with increasing pear density, and decreased with increasing pear volume. The results of this study provided foundation for further investigations of the physical characteristics of fruits and vegetables by using finite element simulations.

A patented kinetic uricase method was evaluated for serum uric acid assay. Initial absorbance of the reaction mixture before uricase action (A₀) was obtained by correcting the absorbance at 293 nm measured before the addition of uricase solution, and background absorbance (A_b) was predicted by an integrated method. Uric acid concentration in reaction solution was calculated from ∆A, the difference between A₀ and A_b, using the absorptivity preset for uric acid. This kinetic uricase method exhibited CV<4.3% and recovery of 100%. Lipids, bilirubin, hemoglobin, ascorbic acid, reduced glutathione and xanthine <0.32 mmol/L in serum had no significant effects. ∆A linearly responded to 1.2 to 37.5 μmol/L uric acid in reaction solution containing 15 μl serum. The slope of linear response was consistent with the absorptivity preset for uric acid while the intercept was consistent with that for serum alone. Uric acid concentrations in clinic sera by different uricase methods positively correlated to each other. By Bland-Altman analysis, this kinetic uricase method accorded with that by quantifying the total change of UV absorbance on the completion of uricase reaction. These results demonstrated that this kinetic uricase method is reliable for serum uric acid assay with enhanced resistance to both xanthine and other common errors, wider range of linear response and much lower cost.

Objective: To investigate the role of simultaneous blockade of CD40/CD40L and B7/CD28 pathways in the immune tolerance via co-expression of sCD40LIg and CTLA4Ig mediated by replication-defective adenovirus. Methods: Ad-sCD40LIg-IRES₂-CTLA4Ig, replication-defective adenovirus co-expressing sCD40LIg and CTLA4Ig, was constructed and identified. The co-expression of sCD40LIg and CTLA4Ig was evaluated with confocal laser scanning microscope and Western blotting. Skin transplantations of C57BL/6 to BALB/c mice were performed. PBS, Ad-Shuttle-CMV and Ad-sCD40LIg-IRES₂-CTLA4Ig were administered. Skin graft survival was monitored and the mRNA expression of both genes was evaluated in the skin allografts. Results: Ad-sCD40LIg-IRES₂-CTLA4Ig was constructed successfully and identified. The co-expression of sCD40LIg and CTLA4Ig was identified with confocal laser scanning microscopy and Western blotting. Compared to the skin graft mean survival time (MST) of non-treated group ((5.75±0.71) d) or Ad-Shuttle-CMV-treated group ((5.50±0.53) d), the skin graft MST was dramatically prolonged in the Ad-sCD40LIg-IRES₂-CTLA4Ig-treated group ((16.38±1.19) d, P<0.001). The mRNA expression of both genes was detected. Conclusion: Ad-sCD40LIg-IRES₂-CTLA4Ig, a replication-defective adenovirus carrying genes encoding sCD40LIg and CTLA4Ig, was constructed. Simultaneous blockade of CD40/CD40L and B7/CD28 costimulatory pathway mediated by replication-defective adenovirus significantly prolonged skin allograft survival in mice.

This study is aimed at establishing a sensitive approach to detect disseminated tumor cells in peripheral blood and evaluate its clinical significance. A total of 198 blood samples including 168 from colorectal carcinoma (CRC) patients and 30 from healthy volunteers were examined by quantitative real-time reverse transcription-polymerase chain reaction (RT-PCR) to evaluate the expression of carcinoembryonic antigen (CEA), cytokeratin 20 (CK20) and cytokeratin 19 (CK19) mRNA. CEA mRNA was detected in 35.8% of patients and 3.3% of controls, CK20 mRNA in 28.3% of patients and 6.7% of controls, and CK19 mRNA in 41.9% of patients and 3.3% of controls. CEA and CK20 mRNA positive ratio increased with the advancing Dukes stages, but there was no significant difference in positive ratio between any two stages (P>0.05). Also, relatively high positive ratio of CEA, CK20 and CK19 mRNA expression was observed in some CRC patients with earlier Dukes stages. A higher positive ratio was obtained when two or three detection markers were combined compared to a single marker. Our study indicates that quantitative real-time RT-PCR detection for CEA, CK20 and CK19 mRNA in peripheral blood is a valuable tool for monitoring early stage dissemination of CRC cells in blood circulation.

Sweetpotato starch thermal properties and its noodle quality were analyzed using a rapid predictive method based on near-infrared spectroscopy (NIRS). This method was established based on a total of 93 sweetpotato genotypes with diverse genetic background. Starch samples were scanned by NIRS and analyzed for quality properties by reference methods. Results of statistical modelling indicated that NIRS was reasonably accurate in predicting gelatinization onset temperature (T_o) (standard error of prediction SEP=2.014 °C, coefficient of determination RSQ=0.85), gelatinization peak temperature (T_p) (SEP=1.371 °C, RSQ=0.89), gelatinization temperature range (T_r) (SEP=2.234 °C, RSQ=0.86), and cooling resistance (CR) (SEP=0.528, RSQ=0.89). Gelatinization completion temperature (T_c), enthalpy of gelatinization (ΔH), cooling loss (CL) and swelling degree (SWD), were modelled less well with RSQ between 0.63 and 0.84. The present results suggested that the NIRS based method was sufficiently accurate and practical for routine analysis of sweetpotato starch and its noodle quality.