The xylanase gene of Bacillus subtilis B10 which had an excellent capacity for degumming ramie fibres was cloned by PCR amplification. The xylanase gene was cloned into vector pBluescript II KS+ and the CaMV 35S promoter was inserted in front of the gene, and the expression vector pKS-35SXYHyg was constructed successfully after the Hyg~(r) gene was inserted into the multi-cloning sites of pBluescript II KS+. The expression vector was linearized and transformed protoplasts of Aspergillus niger strain An1. Hygromycin-resistant transformants were generated and the integration of xylanase gene was confirmed by genomic Southern blotting analysis. Compared with An1, the xylanase activity of the transformant AT1 was increased more than trebled, and the residual gum content was decreased by 55.18% after the ramie was treated by culture supernatants from AT1.

A one-year-old, 3.25 kg intact male Chinchilla cat presented with acute right hind limb paralysis. Diagnostic imaging studies found cardiomegaly with interstitial lung pattern, abnormal mitral valve leaflets without maximum opening at the end of the ventricular diastole and during atrial systole and severe mitral inflow obstruction. Based on these findings and its young age, the case was diagnosed as congenital mitral valve stenosis. Treatment was directed to stabilize clinical conditions related to heart failure, to prevent further formation of thrombus and to relieve pain associated with thromboembolism. After one month of therapy, hind limb motor function was fully recovered.
Animals ; Cardiomegaly ; Cats* ; Chinchilla* ; Diagnostic Imaging ; Diastole ; Extremities ; Heart Failure ; Humans ; Hypertension, Pulmonary ; Lung ; Male ; Mitral Valve Stenosis* ; Mitral Valve* ; Paralysis ; Systole ; Thromboembolism ; Thrombosis

Objective To observe the effects of acupuncture on the sleeping quality of male Wistar rats with stress induced gastric mucosal injury from the viewpoint of the brain-intestine axis. Methods Male Wistar rats were randomized into normal control, model, ST36-CV12, BL62-KI6, and combined groups, with 8 rats in each group. The model was established by using intragastric perfusion of ethanol in the rats. Acupoints of Zusanli (ST36) and Zhongwan (CV12) on both sides were used for the ST36-CV12 group. Acupoints of Shenmai (BL62) and Zhaohai (KI6) on both sides were used for the BL62-KI6 group. All four acupoints were used for the combined group. 0.22 mm × 13 mm stainless steel filiform needles were inserted 5-10 mm deep, and were left untouched for 20 minutes before withdrawal. The acupoints were stimulated each day for five days and the paw withdraw thermal latency (PWTL) was detected after the last stimulation. 2%pentobarbital sodium was then injected (40 mg/kg), and sleeping time of rats was detected. Gastric mucosa was observed through naked eyes. Gastric mucosal ulcer Index was determined by using the Guth method. 5-HT and DA contents were detected by using HPLC-ECD method. Results Compared with the normal control group, PWTL and sleeping time decreased (P<0.01), and UI, 5-HT, and DA content increased in model group (P<0.05, P<0.01). Compared with the model group, PTWL and sleeping time increased (P<0.05, P<0.01), and UI decreased in all treatment groups (P<0.01). 5-HT content in ST36-CV12 and combined groups decreased significantly, and DA content in ST36-CV12 group dropped (P<0.01). Compared with other treatment groups, PWTL and sleeping time increased significantly (P<0.01), and UI decreased obviously in combined group (P<0.01). Conclusion Stimulating acupoints of Zusanli, Zhongwan, Shenmai, and Zhaohai (KI6) may promote the recovery of gastric mucosal injury while at the same time increase sleeping time, with four acupoints used in combination having the best efficacy. The mechanism may be related to adjusting contents of 5-HT and DA in corpus striatum.

Objective: To study the anti hyperglycemic effect of rubusoside on diabetic rats induced by streptozotocin (STZ)and its mechanism . Methods: The STZ induced diabetic rats were dived into three groups and were given (ig.) saline, rubusoside and Phenformin respectively once a day. After three weeks, the levels of serum glucose, fructosamine, insulin,SOD were assayed. Results: Rubusoside could reduce the level of serum glucose significantly, enhance the ability of anti oxidation and stimulate the secretion of insulin in STZ induced diabetic rats. Conclusion: The action of rubusoside on secretion of insulin can be explained for the anti hyperglycemic effect.

PURPOSE: This study aimed to explore the protective factors of demoralization in cancer patients via investigation of cancer patients' demographic and disease characteristics. METHODS: This was a cross-sectional descriptive study. We used a structured questionnaire, which contained items on demographic and disease characteristics, as well as the Demoralization Scale Mandarin Version (DS-MV), with a cutoff of 30 or more indicating high demoralization. Data were analyzed with age-matched and gender-matched conditional logistic regression analysis. For the study, 428 questionnaires were delivered and 411 were recovered. After being age-matched and gender-matched, 182 participants of high demoralization (DS-MV > 30) and low demoralization (DS-MV ≤ 30) were obtained respectively, for a total of 364 participants. RESULTS: Cancer patients' demoralization was significantly related to family support (p = .019), education (p = .049), and monthly income (p = .001). Family support [odds ratio = 0.38; p = .028; 95% confidence interval (0.16, 0.91)] and monthly income [odds ratio = 0.49; p = .009; 95% confidence interval (0.29, 0.84)] were protective factors of demoralization in cancer patients. CONCLUSION: Early and appropriate demoralization assessment of cancer patients' demographic and disease characteristics is very important in clinical settings. Healthcare providers might regularly monitor demoralization in cancer patients, and develop related nursing care guidelines or treatment for demoralization in cancer patients. The study results can be a reference for healthcare providers who work with cancer patients.
Education ; Health Personnel ; Humans ; Logistic Models ; Nursing Care ; Odds Ratio ; Protective Factors* ; Taiwan*

Anti-Bacterial Agents ; pharmacology ; therapeutic use ; Burkholderia pseudomallei ; drug effects ; isolation & purification ; Ceftazidime ; pharmacology ; therapeutic use ; Comorbidity ; Drug Resistance, Bacterial ; Humans ; Lymphadenitis ; physiopathology ; Male ; Mediastinal Diseases ; physiopathology ; Melioidosis ; etiology ; physiopathology ; Middle Aged

Hantaan virus ; genetics ; isolation & purification ; Hemorrhagic Fever with Renal Syndrome ; prevention & control ; virology ; Humans ; Viral Vaccines ; immunology

Purpose: Dignity is a basic human right that is related to psychological distress factors in patients with cancer such as depression and demoralization. Hence, the dignity issue is of great importance to healthcare professionals. The present study aimed to advise healthcare professionals regarding the related distress factors of dignity in patients with cancer by investigating its relationship with patients’ demographics, disease characteristics, and psychological distress. Methods: This was a cross-sectional study design. A convenience sample of 267 patients with cancer from a medical center was recruited into this study. Each patient completed demographics and disease characteristics questionnaires, the Patient Dignity Inventory Mandarin Version, the Demoralization Scale Mandarin Version (DS-MV), and the Patient Health Questionnaire-9 (PHQ-9). Data were analyzed with SPSS 22.0 software. Results: Dignity was significantly correlated with age, demoralization, and depression. Cancer patients aged 65 or above were more likely to have a lower sense of dignity. In the present study, the sensitivity and specificity of the Patient Dignity Inventory Mandarin Version for demoralization (DS-MV≥30) were 84.8% and 79.1% and for depression (PHQ-9≥10) were 73.8% and 70.9% in patients with cancer with an aggregate score of 35 or above. Conclusions Dignity is significantly correlated with personal demographic characteristics and psychological distress in patients with cancer. The results provide reference data for healthcare professionals to understand and enable dignity in patients with cancer and aid in the development of methods that promote their dignity.

Ornithine decarboxylase (ODC) is the rate-limiting enzyme in polyamine biosynthesis and a target for chemoprevention. Hydroxydibenzoylmethane (HDB), a derivative of dibenzoylmethane of licorice, is a promising chemopreventive agent. In this paper, we investigated whether HDB would inhibit the ODC pathway to enhance apoptosis in human promyelocytic leukemia HL-60 cells. We found ODC enzyme activity was reduced during HDB treatment. Overexpression of ODC in HL-60 parental cells could reduce HDB-induced apoptosis, which leads to loss of mitochondrial membrane potential (Deltapsim), through lessening intracellular ROS. Furthermore, ODC overexpression protected cytochrome c release and the activation of caspase-3 following HDB treatment. The results demonstrated HDB-induced apoptosis was through a mechanism of down-regulation of ODC and occurred along a ROS-dependent mitochondria-mediated pathway.
Apoptosis/*drug effects ; Caspase 3/metabolism ; Chalcones/metabolism/*pharmacology ; Chemoprevention ; Cytochromes c/biosynthesis/secretion ; Down-Regulation ; Gene Expression ; HL-60 Cells ; Humans ; Immunoblotting ; Leukemia, Myeloid/*enzymology/pathology ; Membrane Potential, Mitochondrial/drug effects ; Mitochondria/enzymology ; Ornithine Decarboxylase/antagonists & inhibitors/genetics/*metabolism ; Reactive Oxygen Species/analysis/metabolism ; Reverse Transcriptase Polymerase Chain Reaction