Lipase from Burkholderia cepacia complex is one of the most versatile biocatalyst and is used widely in many biotechnological application fields including detergent additives, the resolution of racemic compounds, etc. Based on the known whole genomic information of B. cepacia, both ampicillin and kanamycin were added to the TB-T media, the traditional selective media, to screen B. cepacia complex strains from rhizosphere soil samples. The single colonies on the plates with the modified TB-T media were then qualitatively determined the ability to produced the extracellular lipase in the rhodamine B-olive oil agar plates. Thirty-five strains of lipolytic pseudo-B. cepacia complex were isolated and the positive rate of lipolytic bacteria was 65%. Among them, 15 pseudo-B. cepacia complex strains with the tolerance to benzene, n-hexane and n-heptane at the concentration of 10% (V/V) were selected and identified by the recA gene sequence. All of the 15 lipolytic bacteria belonged to the B. cepacia complex.

Organic solvent tolerant microorganism(OSTM) is a novel extremophile and it hasn't been systematically studied until 1980s.Relying on certain mechanisms,the OSTM is able to effectively de-fend and decrease the toxicity from organic solvents,which enable the OSTM to be potentially applied in the industrial fields such as whole-cell catalysis and environmental treatment,etc.The comprehen-sively understanding of the mechanisms involved in organic solvent tolerance of OSTM could be com-bined with genetic engineering in order to modify and optimize the various specifications of OSTM,and further broaden its application in other industrial areas.Latest studies on the tolerant mechanisms of OSTM,in this paper,will be reviewed from four aspects such as vesicle exocytosis and changes of phos-pholipid composition in membrane,etc.Besides,the application of OSTM in whole-cell catalysis and other fields will be introduced.

Microbial lipases are important industrial biocatalysts with the character of stereoselectivity,site selectivity and high catalytic activity with few side effects.They have been used widely in many industrial and agricultural fields.The technology of protein engineering has been successfully applied to improve the activity and stability of microbial lipases,which will raise the competitive capacity of microbial lipase preparations and enlarge theirs application fields.The strategies,the problems and the prospects of protein engineering technology which have been applied to modify the microbial lipases was surveied.

Angelicae Sinensis Radix-Chuanxiong Rhizoma has the effects of nourishing and tonifying blood, activating blood and dissipating blood stasis, regulating menstruation and analgetic, which is commonly used Chinese medicine pair (CMP) in traditional Chinese medicine (TCM) clinic. It might be an independent formula, and is also usually used in many gynecological formulae and modern TCM prescriptions. This paper mainly analyzed and summarized the compatibility theory, bio-active constituents, compatibility effects and action mechanism, and clinical applications of the CMP, which can provide a basis for the depth research and development of the CMP.
Animals ; Drug Evaluation, Preclinical ; Drug Interactions ; Drugs, Chinese Herbal ; chemistry ; pharmacology ; therapeutic use ; Humans ; Medicine, Chinese Traditional ; methods

OBJECTIVETo observe therapeutic effect of scalp-acupuncture plus body-acupuncture on spastic cerebral palsy and its effects on bone density and blood trace elements Ca, Cu, Zn, and Fe in the children with spastic cerebral palsy.

METHODSEighty children of spastic cerebral palsy were randomly divided into an observation group and a control group, 40 cases in each group. The observation group were treated with scalp-acupuncture plus body-acupuncture combined with body therapy and performance therapy, and the control group with simple body therapy and performance therapy, once each day, for 3 courses, 30 days constituting one course. Changes of bone density and the trace elements were compared before and after treatment.

RESULTSThe total effective rate was 87.5% in the observation group and 67.5% in the control group with a significant difference between the two groups (P < 0.05); after treatment, the bone density and blood Ca, Cu, Zn and Fe contents in the two groups significantly increased (P < 0.05, P < 0.01) with the observation group being superior to the control group (P < 0.05, P < 0.01).

CONCLUSIONThe scalp-acupuncture plus body-acupuncture combined with body therapy and performance therapy can improve bone density and contents of trace elements in the children of spastic cerebral palsy, and has a definite therapeutic effect on spastic cerebral palsy.

Acupuncture Therapy ; methods ; Bone Density ; Cerebral Palsy ; metabolism ; therapy ; Child ; Child, Preschool ; Female ; Humans ; Infant ; Male ; Medicine, Chinese Traditional ; Scalp ; Trace Elements ; blood

Adolescent ; Adult ; Atrial Appendage ; diagnostic imaging ; Blood Flow Velocity ; Echocardiography, Transesophageal ; Female ; Humans ; Male ; Middle Aged ; Mitral Valve Stenosis ; physiopathology ; Rheumatic Heart Disease ; physiopathology ; Thromboembolism ; etiology

OBJECTIVETo treat the comminute distal radius fractures by improved splint, and obersve the curative effect and compare the radiology with the traditional splint.

METHODSNinety-two patients with distal radius comminute fracture were randomly divided into two groups. There were 38 males and 54 females. The average age was 63 years old ranging from 23 to 82. Acording to AO classification on the distal fracture of the radius, there were 15 cases of A3, 40 cases of C1, 26 cases of C2 and 11 cases of C3. After all patients were treated by manipulative reduction, 46 cases of the treatment group were fixed supra-carpometacarpal joints by improved splint and trapezoid pad, the other 46 cases of control group were treated with the traditional spilint. Both groups were regularly taken X-ray recheck and changed dressings to obtain the clinical cicatrization. Patients were guided to do functional exercise after splints were taken off. Six weeks later all patients were evaluated the curative and radiologic effect according to Gartland-Werlley wrist score and Lidstrom grade respectively.

RESULTSAccording to wrist score,there were 13 cases on excellent, 34 cases on fine and 9 cases on normal in treatment group, which average score was (4.0 +/- 2.6) and the percent of wrist functional fitness was 80.6%. There were 9 cases on excellen, 19 cases on fine and 18 cases on normal in control group, which average score was (6.0 +/- 4.2) and the percent of wrist grad and 4 cases on the third grade in treatment group. There were 22 cases on the first grade, 16 cases on the second grad and 8 cases on the third grade in control group.

CONCLUSIONThe outcome of improved splint was better than that of traditional splint on the function and radiology for treating the comminute distal radius fracture.

Adult ; Aged ; Aged, 80 and over ; Female ; Fracture Healing ; Fractures, Comminuted ; pathology ; physiopathology ; surgery ; Humans ; Male ; Middle Aged ; Radius Fractures ; pathology ; physiopathology ; surgery ; Recovery of Function ; Splints

Objective: To examine the regulatory effect of ginsenoside Rg1 (G-Rg1) on endoplasmic reticulum stress and its effect on hepatocellular apoptosis in carbon tetrachloride (CCl₄)-induced acute liver failure (ALF). Methods: Forty healthy, adult male C57/BL mice were randomly divided into normal saline control (NS) group, G-Rg1 blank control (G-Rg1) group, CCl₄ model (CCl₄) group, and G-Rg1 preventive treatment (CCl₄+G-Rg1) group, and an ALF mouse model was established by CCl₄ induction. Blood and liver specimens were collected from all mice upon sacrifice at 12 hours post-intraperitoneal injection. Serum alanine aminotransferase (ALT), serum aspartate aminotransferase (AST) and total bilirubin (TBil) levels were determined using commercial test kits. The mRNA expression of glucose-regulated protein 78 (GRP78) and C/EBP homologous protein (CHOP) was measured using real-time PCR. The protein expression of GRP78, CHOP, caspase12, and caspase3 were measured by Western blot. Histological changes in the liver were assessed by hematoxylin-eosin staining, and the expression of GRP78 and caspase3 was detected by immunohistochemistry. Hepatocyte apoptosis was determined using terminal transferase dUTP nick end labeling. Quantitative data were analyzed using one-way ANOVA, and subsequent pairwise comparisons were performed using the LSD-t method. Results: Serum ALT, AST, and TBil levels in the CCl₄+G-Rg1 group were significantly reduced compared with those in the CCl₄ group (ALT: 691.30 ± 108.06 U/L vs 980.66 ± 110.29 U/L, F = 365.07, P < 0.05; AST: 195.40 ± 15.41 U/L vs 319.44 ± 89.32 U/L, F = 115.64, P < 0.05; TBil: 1.09 ± 0.11 mg/dl vs 1.56 ± 0.12 mg/dl, F = 211.29, P < 0.05). The relative mRNA expression of GRP78 and CHOP was significantly lower in the CCl₄ + G-Rg1 group than in the CCl₄ group (P < 0.05). The relative protein expression of caspase3, GRP78, caspase12, and CHOP was significantly reduced to different extents in the CCl₄+G-Rg1 group compared with those in the CCl4 group (P < 0.05). The CCl₄ + G-Rg1 group showed reduced liver tissue degeneration and necrosis compared with the CCl₄ group. Furthermore, the CCl₄+G-Rg1 group showed significantly fewer brown granules in the liver than the CCl4 group (P < 0.05), indicating that G-Rg1 preventive treatment reduced CCl₄-induced hepatocyte apoptosis. Conclusion G-Rg1 prophylaxis can inhibit inflammation and reduce hepatocyte necrosis and apoptosis during CCl₄-induced ALF. Its mechanism may involve the suppression of endoplasmic reticulum stress-related signaling molecules to alleviate hepatocyte endoplasmic reticulum stress and apoptosis. The results of this study suggest that G-Rg1 may inhibit liver inflammation and hepatocyte apoptosis through multiple targets to protect liver function.

OBJECTIVETo investigate the prevention of esophageal varices recurrence by laser inducing esophageal mucosal fibrosis.

METHODSOur study included 42 patients after esophageal varices eradicated by endoscopic varices ligation, and they were divided into 2 groups randomly, each group included 21 patients. One group was assigned to received laser treatment, and indocyanine green solution (1 mg/ml) was injected submucosally, a diode laser (power 10 watts) was applied to the surface from the esophagogastric junction to 5 cm above it. Another group was controlling without any treatments. All patient were followed up by endoscopy every 3 months until 12 months.

RESULTSLaser irradiation was performed safely without any major complications. And lower esophageal mucosa produced fibrosis widely after laser irradiated 1 month. After 12 months follow up, the cumulative recurrence rate was significantly lower than the control group, 14% (3/21) vs 43% (9/21) (chi(2) = 4.20, P < 0.05).

CONCLUSIONSOur study indicates that laser inducing mucous fibrosis is safely and can prevent recurrence of esophageal varices.

Adult ; Esophageal and Gastric Varices ; pathology ; surgery ; Esophagoscopy ; Esophagus ; pathology ; Female ; Fibrosis ; Follow-Up Studies ; Humans ; Laser Coagulation ; methods ; Ligation ; Male ; Middle Aged ; Mucous Membrane ; pathology ; Secondary Prevention

BACKGROUNDThis study was to establish a disease differentiation model for ST-segment elevation myocardial infarction (STEMI) youth patients experiencing ischemia and reperfusion via ultra-performance liquid chromatography and mass spectrometry (UPLC/MS) platform, which searches for closely related characteristic metabolites and metabolic pathways to evaluate their predictive value in the prognosis after discharge.

METHODSForty-seven consecutive STEMI patients (23 patients under 45 years of age, referred to here as "youth," and 24 "elderly" patients) and 48 healthy control group members (24 youth, 24 elderly) were registered prospectively. The youth patients were required to provide a second blood draw during a follow-up visit one year after morbidity (n = 22, one lost). Characteristic metabolites and relative metabolic pathways were screened via UPLC/MS platform base on the Kyoto encyclopedia of genes and genomes (KEGG) and Human Metabolome Database. Receiver operating characteristic (ROC) curves were drawn to evaluate the predictive value of characteristic metabolites in the prognosis after discharge.

RESULTSWe successfully established an orthogonal partial least squares discriminated analysis model (R2X = 71.2%, R2Y = 79.6%, and Q2 = 55.9%) and screened out 24 ions; the sphingolipid metabolism pathway showed the most drastic change. The ROC curve analysis showed that ceramide [Cer(d18:0/16:0), Cer(t18:0/12:0)] and sphinganine in the sphingolipid pathway have high sensitivity and specificity on the prognosis related to major adverse cardiovascular events after youth patients were discharged. The area under curve (AUC) was 0.671, 0.750, and 0.711, respectively. A follow-up validation one year after morbidity showed corresponding AUC of 0.778, 0.833, and 0.806.

CONCLUSIONSBy analyzing the plasma metabolism of myocardial infarction patients, we successfully established a model that can distinguish two different factors simultaneously: pathological conditions and age. Sphingolipid metabolism is the top most altered pathway in young STEMI patients and as such may represent a valuable prognostic factor and potential therapeutic target.

Adolescent ; Adult ; Aged ; Aged, 80 and over ; Area Under Curve ; Chromatography, High Pressure Liquid ; methods ; Humans ; Least-Squares Analysis ; Mass Spectrometry ; methods ; Myocardial Ischemia ; metabolism ; Myocardial Reperfusion ; ST Elevation Myocardial Infarction ; metabolism ; Sphingolipids ; metabolism