Gluconobacter oxydans is known to oxidize glucose to gluconic acid (GA), and subsequently, to 2-keto-gluconic acid (2KGA) and 5-keto-gluconic acid (5KGA), while 5KGA can be converted to L-(+)-tartaric acid. In order to increase the production of 5KGA, Gluconobacter oxydans HGI-1 that converts GA to 5KGA exclusively was chosen in this study, and effects of carbon sources (lactose, maltose, sucrose, amylum and glucose) and nitrogen sources (yeast extract, fish meal, corn steep liquor, soybean meal and cotton-seed meal) on 5KGA production were investigated. Results of experiment in 500 mL shake-flask show that the highest yield of 5KGA (98.20 g/L) was obtained using 100 g/L glucose as carbon source. 5KGA reached 100.20 g/L, 109.10 g/L, 99.83 g/L with yeast extract, fish meal and corn steep liquor as nitrogen source respectively, among which the optimal nitrogen source was fish meal. The yield of 5KGA by corn steep liquor is slightly lower than that by yeast extract. For the economic reason, corn steep liquor was selected as nitrogen source and scaled up to 5 L stirred-tank fermentor, and the final concentration of 5KGA reached 93.80 g/L, with its maximum volumetric productivity of 3.48 g/(L x h) and average volumetric productivity of 1.56 g/(L x h). The result obtained in this study showed that carbon and nitrogen sourses for large-scale production of 5KGA by Gluconobacter oxydans HGI-1 were glucose and corn steep liquor, respectively, and the available glucose almost completely (85.93%) into 5KGA.
Bioreactors ; Carbon ; chemistry ; Culture Media ; chemistry ; Fermentation ; Gluconates ; metabolism ; Gluconobacter oxydans ; metabolism ; Industrial Microbiology ; Nitrogen ; chemistry

Objective To investigate the value of urinary trehalase (T) in patients with renal proximal tubular damage.Methods 134 patients with kidney disease (male:66 female:68 age:18-59 ; 31cases with acute renal failure,30 cases with chronic renal failure,20 cases with drug-induced renal impairment,21 cases with renal transplantation and 32 cases with nephritic syndrome) and 101 healthy controls (58 males and 43 females) were selected.Urinary T,N-acetyl-D-glucosaminidase (NAG),β2-MG,gamma-glutamyl transferase (GGT) were detected.Data were analyzed by SPSS 11.5,including nonparametric rank test,ROC analysis.Results The level of urinary trehalase in control group was normally distributed (7.1 ± 4.1) μmol/h · g Cr (0-25 μmol/h · g Cr).There was no significant difference between men and women (t =0.63,P =0.53).Urinary T levels were significant higher in all kidney disease groups than in control group (Z =6.80,5.90,5.23,6.00,8.04,P ＜0.01).According to ROC curve,the area of urinary T under the ROC curve (AUC) in 134 patients was 0.9,significantly different with NAG,β2-MG,GGT area (P ＜ 0.01),the AUCs of T were 0.94,0.85,0.90,0.90,0.91 in acute and chronic renal failure group,drug-induced renal impairment group,renal transplantation group and nephritic syndrome group,respectively; Youden index were 0.85,0.65,0.77,0.66,0.72 respectively.Corresponding to the Youden index,sensitivity and specificity were 90.3％ and 95.1％,73.3％ and 92.1％,85.0％ and 92.1％,81.0％ and 85.2％,87.5％ and 84.2％ respectively.Conclusions The Urinary trehalase is better than other markers in the diagnosis of the proximal renal tubular damage.It was better to evaluate the proximal tubular function early in time.The diagnostic value of urinary trehalase played a key role in diagnosis,treatment and prognosis of kidney diseases.

Objective To investigate the relationship between expression of active form of caspase-3 and cell cycle in Fas-mediated apoptosis of B lymphocytoma cell line MML-1. Methods MML-1 cells were incubated with agonistic anti-Fas antibody for different time,and cell apoptosis was induced.Cell apoptotic rates were analysed by flow cytometry,and sensitivity of MML-1 cells to apoptosis was determined.The expression of active form of caspase-3 was analysed by double staining with PI-Triton X and FITC-active caspase-3.Cyclin A,B_1 and E were selected as cell cycle markers for S,G_2/M and G_1 phase of MML-1 cells,and the expression of active form of caspase-3 was detected by flow cytometry. Results The cell apoptotic rate reached 56% after induction by Fas for 6 h.After induction by Fas for 4 h,the active form of caspase-3 was mainly expressed in cells of G_1 phase,while rarely in cells of S and G_2/M phase.Cells with negative cyclin A and B_1 and positive cyclin E expressed active form of caspase-3. Conclusion The expression of active form of caspase-3 in MML-1 cells mediated by Fas might be cell cycle dependent.Cells entering into late G_1 and early S phase first express active form of caspase-3,and their sensitivity to Fas-mediated apoptosis is the highest.

Objective To evaluate the role of spinal c?Jun N?terminal kinase ( JNK ) signaling pathway in incisional pain in rats. Methods Sixty?three adult male Sprague?Dawley rats, weighing 200-250 g, were randomly divided into 3 groups ( n=21 each) using a random number table: incisional pain group ( IP group) , dimethyl sulfoxide ( DMSO) group, and JNK inhibitor SP600125 group ( SP group) . A 1?cm longitudinal incision was made through skin, fascia and muscle of the plantar aspect of the hindpaw in anesthetized rats. In group DMSO, 10% DMSO 10 μl was injected intrathecally at 30 min before surgery. In group SP, SP600125 25 μg (in 10 μl of 10% DMSO) was injected intrathecally at 30 min before sur?gery. Six rats in each group were sacrificed, and the mechanical paw withdrawal threshold ( MWT) and thermal paw withdrawal latency ( TWL) were measured at 24 h before establishment of the model and 2, 6, 24, 48 and 72 h after establishment of the model. After measurement of the pain threshold at 24 h before establishment of the model and 6, 24, 48 and 72 h after establishment of the model, the lumbar segment of the spinal cord was removed for determination of the expression of phosphorylated JNK ( p?JNK) by im?munofluorescence. Results The MWT was significantly lower, the TWL was shorter, and the expression of p?JNK was lower at each time point after establishment of the model than at 24 h before establishment of the model in group IP (P<0?05). Compared with group IP, the MWT was significantly increased, the TWL was prolonged, and the expression of p?JNK was down?regulated at each time point after establishment of the model in group SP ( P<0?05) , and no significant change was found in the parameters mentioned a?bove in group DMSO ( P>0?05) . Conclusion Spinal JNK signaling pathway is involved in the develop?ment and maintenance of incisional pain in rats.

Objective:To explore the impact of urinary iodine concentration (UIC) on response to 131I treatment in differentiated thyroid cancer (DTC) patients with different risk stratifications. Methods:A total of 181 patients with DTC (75 males, 106 females, age: (44.1±12.5) years), who received the first 131I treatment in Tianjin Medical University General Hospital between January 2018 and February 2019, were retrospectively analyzed. Patients were divided into low- to intermediate-risk and high-risk groups. The treatment response was categorized into excellent response (ER) and non-excellent response (non-ER). Factors being evaluated including age, sex, preablative stimulated thyroglobulin (ps-Tg), UIC, etc. Mann-Whitney U test, χ2 test and logistic regression analysis were used for data analysis. Results:The UIC and ps-Tg in the low- to intermediate-risk group ( n=113) was 111.60(55.80, 204.65) μg/L and 2.08(0.63, 4.91) μg/L, respectively. Compared with the ER subgroup ( n=86), non-ER subgroup ( n=27) had higher UIC and ps-Tg level ( z values: -2.585, -4.511, both P<0.05). In the high-risk group ( n=68), UIC was 115.40(61.23, 167.28) μg/L and ps-Tg was 16.65(4.52, 43.45) μg/L. Compared with the ER subgroup ( n=20), non-ER subgroup ( n=48) had higher ps-Tg level ( z=-4.677, P<0.01), while the UIC was not significantly different between ER and non-ER subgroups ( z=-0.013, P>0.05). The multivariate logistic analysis indicated the ps-Tg level was the significant variable for non-ER in low- to intermediate-risk group (odds ratio( OR)=6.157(95% CI: 1.046-36.227); OR=22.965(95% CI: 3.591-146.857), both P<0.05) and high-risk group ( OR=9.696 (95% CI: 1.379-68.169), P<0.05); a high UIC could be an indicator of non-ER only in the low- to intermediate-risk group ( OR=3.715(95% CI: 1.201-11.488), P<0.05). Conclusions:The non-ER is associated with UIC in the low- to intermediate-risk group; however, UIC does not affect the non-ER in the high-risk group. Higher ps-Tg level is associated with non-ER in patients with low- to intermediate-risk and high-risk DTC.

Objective To investigate the level of serum vascular endothelial growth factor (VEGF) in stable schizophrenia patients, and to explore the relationship between serum VEGF level and clinical symptoms. Methods Seventy-five patients with stable schizophrenia and 40 healthy controls were enrolled. The levels of serum VEGF were detected by flow multiplex protein analysis. The clinical symptoms of patients were assessed by positive and negative symptom scale (PANSS). Results The level of serum VEGF was significantly lower in patients group than in healthy control group [medians (lower and upper quartiles) were 3.77 (2.61, 5.14) pg/mL vs. 6.21 (4.37, 11.16) pg/mL, P＜0.01]. There was no significant difference in serum VEGF levels between patients with different gender, smoking or family history of mental illness (P＞0.05). The level of VEGF was negatively correlated with the total score of PANSS (r=-0.27, P=0.03), negative symptom subscale score (r=-0.25, P=0.04), lack of response score (r=-0.26, P=0.02), but not with other PANSS scores (P＞0.05). Conclusion The serum level of VEGF in patients with stable schizophrenia is lower than that in healthy control group. There is, to some degree, a relationship between the level of VEGF and the severity of clinical symptoms in patients with stable schizophrenia.

ObjectiveTo investigate the diagnostic value of EUS-FNA for pancreatic masses and correlated influential factors. MethodsWe retrospectively analyzed the clinical data of 101 patients with pancreatic lesions who underwent EUS-FNA from January 2008 to January 2010. The clinical data enrolled 10 factors including patient gender, patient age, lesion location, lesion size, lesion characteristics, negative suction pressure, times of access, real-time cytological diagnosis, type of EUS and operators' experiences.ResultsThe overall diagnostic accuracy, sensitivity, specificity, positive predictive value and negative predictive value of EUS-FNA were 85. 1％, 81.1％, 96. 3％, 98. 4％ and 65.0％, respectively. Univariable logistic regression analysis indicated that lesion size, lesion characteristics, negative suction pressure, operators' experience were correlated factors of EUS-FNA positive rate, while lesion size was the only correlated factor of EUS-FNA diagnostic accuracy ( OR =1. 984,95 ％ CI: 1. 141 ～ 3. 451, P =0. 015 ). Every 1 cm the lesion increased, by 1.67 times of opportunity the positive rate became, by 1.83 times of opportunity the accuracy was. The lesion size and lesion characteristics were independent correlated factors of EUS-FNA positive rate (OR=2.012, P=0.000; OR =10.218, P=0. 002). The positive rate of EUS-FNA in solid lesions was 10. 2 times of that in cystic lesions. Lesion size was the independent correlated factors of EUS-FNA diagnostic accuracy (OR =1. 984, P =0. 015 ). ConclusionEUS-FNA can effectively make a pathological diagnosis of pancreatic masses with high diagnostic accuracy and specificity. EUS-FNA diagnostic positive rate and accuracy were both positively correlated with pancreatic lesion size. EUS-FNA positive rate of solid pancreatic lesions is significantly higher than that of cystic lesions.

BACKGROUNDOxidative stress and inflammation are important steps in the pathogenesis of atherosclerosis. We postulated that therapeutic concentrations of aspirin and pravastatin, especially in combination, may suppress oxidative stress and inflammation in endothelial cells, and this concept was examined in human coronary artery endothelial cells (HCAECs).

METHODSHuman coronary artery endothelial cells were cultured and treated with oxidized-low density lipoprotein (ox-LDL, 60 microg/ml for 24 hours) alone, or pre-treated with aspirin (1, 2 or 5 mmol/L), pravastatin (1, 5 or 10 micromol/L) or their combination (1 mmol/L aspirin and 5 micromol/L pravastatin), followed by ox-LDL treatment. After respective treatment, superoxide anion production, p38 mitogen activated protein kinase and transcription factor NF-kappaB activation, protein expression of lectin-like ox-LDL receptor-1 (LOX-1) and adhesion molecules, and monocyte adhesion were measured.

RESULTSOx-LDL treatment greatly elicited its receptor LOX-1 expression, superoxide anion production and inflammatory response, which were minimally affected by low concentration of aspirin (1 mmol/L) or pravastatin (5 micromol/L), but were markedly decreased by their combination. Activation of p38 mitogen activated protein kinase and NF-kappaB, the expression of intercellular adhesion molecule-1 and monocyte chemotactic protein-1, which were only mildly affected by aspirin or pravastatin alone, were significantly attenuated by their combination. As a consequence, monocyte adhesion to endothelial cells was markedly attenuated by the combination of the two agents. Well-known anti-oxidants alpha-tocopherol and gamma-tocopherol had similar inhibitory effects on ox-LDL-mediated oxidative stress and LOX-1 expression as well as monocyte adhesion as did the combination of aspirin and pravastatin.

CONCLUSIONSThese studies point to a positive interaction between aspirin and pravastatin with regard to endothelial biology. Anti-oxidant and subsequent anti-inflammatory effect may be one of the potential underling mechanisms.

Anticholesteremic Agents ; pharmacology ; Aspirin ; pharmacology ; Blotting, Western ; Cell Adhesion Molecules ; metabolism ; Cells, Cultured ; Coronary Vessels ; cytology ; Cyclooxygenase Inhibitors ; pharmacology ; Electrophoretic Mobility Shift Assay ; Endothelial Cells ; drug effects ; metabolism ; Humans ; Oxidative Stress ; drug effects ; Pravastatin ; pharmacology ; Scavenger Receptors, Class E ; metabolism ; Superoxides ; metabolism

Solid dispersions (SD) as a preparation of intermediates have played an important role in improving the dissolution of insoluble drugs and its bioavailability.SD technique is one of the most promising techniques to improve the dissolution and solubility of insoluble drugs,and the development of SD technique will promote the gradual perfection in preparative field.This review focuses on the carrier materials of SD,various new preparation techniques and their comparisons,application of solid dispersion formulations,and stability problems of SD.The factors influencing the stability of SD are described,and the effective measures to prevent the aging of SD are put forward.Finally,the review puts forward the practical suggestions of the solid dispersion technique.

Objective To investigate the effect of functional hemispherectomy on intractable epilepsy with hemiparalysis. Methods From April 2002 to December 2007, 8 epileptic patients with hemisphere atrophy received functional hemispherectomy in 6 hospitals. Scalp and video EEG examinations revealed epileptic waves in all the patients, including 7 in the ipsilateral side and 1 in the contralateral side. Magnetic resonance imaging (MRI) indicated hemisphere atrophy and ventriculomegaly in all the patients. Risk factors for epilepsy were found in all the patients, including 3 with hyperpyrexia, 2 with spontaneous intracranial hemorrhage, 2 with traumatic brain injury, and 1 with viral encephalitis (also suspected of Rasmussen's encephalitis). Hemispberectomy was performed based on the methods of Rasmussen and Schramm. Results All the patients were followed up postoperatively for 8 months to 6.4 years (mean 2.8 years). Satisfactory outcomes (including disappearance of seizures) were achieved in 6 patients, but 1 of them experienced seizure reoccurrence because of personal withdraw of antiepileptic drugs 2 years after total seizure relief, and was successfully managed by administration of another two antiepileptic drugs. Significant improvement was achieved in the other case, in which the seizure frequency was reduced by over 70%. The postoperative dose or number of the antiepileptic drugs was reduced in 6 patients, and 2 patients no longer required any medication. No death or serious complications occurred in these patients except for 1 patient who suffered acute status epilepticns perioperatively and was successfully managed. Postoperative EEG revealed the absence of epileptic waves in 6 patients. Two patients showed epileptic waves on the contralateral side. Paralysis aggravation was not observed in 7 patients, and 1 patient experienced temporal muscle weakness, which recovered gradually. Six patients showed improved limb functions, but the thumb function failed to recover. The patients became gentle and cooperative after the operation, and 4 were able to receive formal education. Two patients were capable of carrying out housework, and 2 stayed at home. Conclusion Functional hemispherectomy is effective for management of intractable epilepsy with paralysis and causes low rate of complications.