Xylitol, a five-carbon sugar alcohol, has many interesting applications in the food, pharmaceutical, and odontological industries, owing to its high sweetening power, its anticariogenic properties, and its insulin-independent metabolism. The bioconversion of detoxified hemicellulosic hydrolysate to xylitol by microorganisms could be a cheaper alternative to the current chemical process, since it is a simple process, with great specificity and low energy requirements. However, the success of fermentations for xylitol production depends on the productivity of the strain and its tolerance to different toxic or inhibitory compounds existing in the hydrolysates. In addition, a number of culture process parameters proved to have significant effects on xylitol production in hemicellulosic hydrolysate media. One of the most important control variables in this bioconversion is the aeration level, which affects the biochemical pathways in the xylose metabolism. The production of biomass is favored by aerobic conditions, while under anaerobic conditions xylose cannot be assimilated by yeast, whereas xylitol is formed in oxygen-limited incubation conditions. An adapted Candida sp. with enhanced resistance to the inhibitors in the hydrolysate can directly ferment the simply detoxified corn cob hemicellulosic hydrolysate to xylitol. In the present study, the combined effects of shaking speed, C/ N ratio, initial pH, and inoculum level on the fermentation of corn cob hemicellulosic hydrolysate to xylitol by an adapted Candida sp. were investigated using an orthogonal experimental design in flask. As a result, the optimum fermentation conditions were as follows: 180 r/min, a C/N ratio of 50, initial pH 5.5, and an inoculum level of 5% (volume ratio). Moreover, the optimum concentration factor of hydrolysate varied between 3.0 and 3.72 was obtained. Based on these results, in order to evaluate the effect of aeration rate on the fermentation of corn cob hemicellulosic hydrolysate to xylitol in fermentor, batch fermentations were carried out in a 3.7 L stirred fermentor using four different aeration strategies, including three kind of two-stage aeration strategies, which provided relatively high aeration rate in the early stage but reduced it in the later stage, and including a one-stage aeration strategy provided a constant aeration rate. With respect to xylitol yield, the results indicated that two-stage aeration strategy was significantly superior to one-stage aeration strategy. The highest xylitol yield (0.75 g/g) was obtained with oxygen supply strategy C (3.75 L/min for first 24 h, then lowered it to 1.25 L/min, 2.5 L fermentation medium was employed). In this process, without extensive detoxification of hydrolysate, an adapted Candida sp. can efficiently ferment the simply treated corn cob hemicellulosic hydrolysate to xylitol under the optimized fermentation conditions. This work should help the development of an efficient process for producing xylitol from corn cob hemicellulosic hydrolysate on a larger scale by bioconversion.
Aerobiosis ; Candida tropicalis ; metabolism ; Fermentation ; Hydrolysis ; Polysaccharides ; metabolism ; Xylitol ; biosynthesis ; Zea mays ; metabolism

OBJECTIVETo compare the cardiorespiratory factors and surgical conditions during total intravenous anesthesia for prolonged laparoscopic pelvic surgery with or without supplemental muscle relaxants.

METHODSForty female ASA I or II patients undergoing laparoscopic pelvic surgeries were randomized into two groups A and B, both with standardized anesthesia via a intravenous bolus injection of rocuronium (0.6 mg/kg). The patients in group B received continuous rocuronium infusion upon observation of one TOF twitch response with the T1 value maintained within 0-10% and rocuronium withdrawal at 20 to 30 min before the completion of the surgery. The patients in group A received no supplemental muscle relaxants. The cardiorespiratory parameters were measured during the operation. The respiratory system compliance (Ceff rs) was calculated as the quotient of the tidal volume (VT) and peak inspiratory pressure (PIP), and the operative conditions were graded by the operating gynecologist.

RESULTSThe cardiorespiratory parameters significant increased and Ceff rs decreased after pneumoperitoneum, but no significant differences were found between the two groups. The surgical conditions were also comparable between the two groups, but the duration of intubation and the operating time were significantly shorter in the group A.

CONCLUSIONPneumoperitoneum severely affects the cardiorespiratory parameters during laparoscopy, which can not be lessened by neuromuscular block agents. A single intubating dose of rocuronium can suffice the requirement of prolonged gynecologic laparoscopic surgery.

Androstanols ; administration & dosage ; Anesthesia, Intravenous ; Female ; Gynecologic Surgical Procedures ; Humans ; Laparoscopy ; methods ; Neuromuscular Nondepolarizing Agents ; administration & dosage

To study the effect of Tibetan medicine Zuotai on the activity, protein and mRNA expression of CYP1A2 and NAT2, three different doses (1.2, 3.8 and 12 mg x kg(-1)) of Zuotai were administrated orally to rats once a day or once daily for twelve days, separately. Rats were administrated orally caffeine (CF) on the second day after Zuotai administration, and the urine concentration of CF metabolite 5-acetylamino-6-formylamino-3-methyl-uracil (AFMU), 1-methyluric acid (1U), 1-methylxanthine (1X), 1, 7-dimethylxanthine (17U) at 5 h after study drug administration was determined by RP-HPLC. The activity of CYP1A2 and NAT2 was evaluated by the ratio of metabolites (AFMU+1X+1U)/17U and the ratio of AFMU/(AFMU+1X+1U), respectively. The protein and mRNA expression of CYP1A2 and NAT2 were determined by ELISA and RT-PCR method, respectively. After single administration of Zuotai 3.8 mg x kg(-1) and repeated administration of Zuotai 3.8 and 12 mg x kg(-1), the activity of CYP1A2 and NAT2 decreased significantly compared with control group and there was no significant difference between other dose group and control group. The protein expression of CYP1A2 was significant lower than that in control group after repeated administration of Zuotai 12 mg x kg(-1), and the mRNA expression of CYP1A2 decreased significantly compared with that of control group after single administration of Zuotai 3.8 mg x kg(-1) and repeated admistration of Zuotai 12 mg x kg(-1), separately. The protein expression of NAT2 decreased significantly compared with that of control group after single and repeated administration of Zuotai 3.8 mg x kg(-1), respectively, and the mRNA expression of CYP1A2 decreased significantly compared with control group after single administration of Zuotai 3.8 mg x kg(-1). This study found that Tibetan medicine Zuotai had significant effect on the activity, protein and mRNA expression of CYP1A2 and NAT2.
Administration, Oral ; Animals ; Arylamine N-Acetyltransferase ; genetics ; metabolism ; Caffeine ; metabolism ; urine ; Cytochrome P-450 CYP1A2 ; genetics ; metabolism ; Dose-Response Relationship, Drug ; Drugs, Chinese Herbal ; administration & dosage ; pharmacology ; Female ; Male ; Medicine, Tibetan Traditional ; RNA, Messenger ; metabolism ; Rats ; Rats, Sprague-Dawley ; Theophylline ; urine ; Uracil ; analogs & derivatives ; urine ; Uric Acid ; analogs & derivatives ; urine ; Xanthines ; urine

Traditional Chinese Medicine massage is a kind of physiotherapy which affects on specific parts of the body surface by means of training to regulate the function of the body to achieve the therapeutic effect. In this work,under positive detection model, the chemical fingerprint of exhaled breath from volunteers before and after receiving Traditional Chinese Medicine massage within m/z 50-1000 were detected by extractive electrospray ionization-mass spectrometry (EESI-MS). And through high resolution mass spectrometry analysis, the metabolites such as epinephrine (m/z 184. 0889), 3-(3-hydroxyphenyl) propionic acid (m/z 167.0615) and L-tryptophan (m/z 205. 0933) were successfully identified. Besides, chemical fingerprints of volunteers before and after receiving Traditional Chinese Medicine massage under different health condition were clearly differentiated via partial least squares discrimination analysis (PLS-DA). The results showed that Traditional Chinese Medicine massage could significantly change the metabolic process of volunteers. Moreover, it further indicated that the established method could provide a real time fashion to follow metabolic changes caused by Traditional Chinese Medicine massage.

The commonly used plant constitutive expression vector pBI121 was modified by insertion of two directly orientated lox sites each at one end of the selectable marker gene NPTII and by replacing the GUS gene with a sequence composed of multiple cloning sites (MCS). The resulting plant expression vector pBI121-lox-MCS is widely usable to accommodate various target genes through the MCS, and more importantly to allow the NPTII gene removed from transformed plants upon the action of the Cre recombinase. In addition, the CaMV 35S promoter located upstream of the MCS can be substituted with any other promoters to form plant vectors with expression features specified by the introduced promoters. Provided in this paper is an example that an enhanced phloem-specific promoter of the pumpkin PP2 gene (named dENP) was used to construct an NPTII-removable phloem-specific expression vector pBdENP-lox-MCS. Moreover, to facilitate screening of selectable marker-removed gene and the composite sequence is flanked by lox sites. Thus the selectable marker-free plants can be visually identified by loss of GFP fluorescence. The above newly created plant expression vectors can be used to develop selectable marker-removable transgenic plants for a variety of purposes.
Attachment Sites, Microbiological ; genetics ; Binding Sites ; genetics ; Cloning, Molecular ; Gene Knockout Techniques ; methods ; Genes, Plant ; genetics ; Genetic Markers ; genetics ; Genetic Vectors ; genetics ; Green Fluorescent Proteins ; genetics ; metabolism ; Integrases ; genetics ; metabolism ; Plants ; genetics ; Plants, Genetically Modified ; genetics ; Recombination, Genetic

OBJECTIVETo study the dynamic accumulation regulation of dry substance and four coumarin constituents in root of Peucedanum praeruptorum, so to provide the basis for optimal harvest time.

METHODRoots of P. praeruptorum were collected periodically. The dry weight of the roots was measured and the content of four coumarins was determined by HPLC method.

RESULTThe dry substance accumulation of the root reached the maximum amount and the coumarin contents maintain stability at the end of the vegetative growth period. The coumarins of roots decline significantly in the reproductive growth period.

CONCLUSIONThe most optimum collecting time of root of P. praeruptorum cultivated in Ningguo county in Anhui province should be from December to next February.

Apiaceae ; chemistry ; growth & development ; metabolism ; Chromatography, High Pressure Liquid ; Coumarins ; analysis ; metabolism ; Plant Extracts ; analysis ; metabolism ; Plant Roots ; chemistry ; growth & development ; metabolism

OBJECTIVETo evaluate the clinical effect and side-effect of peg-interferon alfa-2a (PEG-IFN alfa-2a) and highly active antiretroviral therapy (HAART) for patients infected with hepatitis C virus (HCV) and co-infected with human immunodeficiency virus (HIV).

METHODSTwenty-two patients with HCV/HIV co-infection received highly active antiretroviral therapy initially; after their CD4 lymphocyte counts rose to over 0.20x10(9)/L, they were separated into two groups: one group with CD4 lymphocytes over 0.35x10(9)/L (high group) and one group with CD4 lymphocytes below 0.35x10(9)/L (low group). Both groups were given 180 microg of PEG-IFN alfa-2a every week intramuscularly. HCV RNA and HIV RNA loads, blood cell and CD4 lymphocyte counts, and liver functions were routinely examined.

RESULTSAfter 12, 24 and 48 weeks of PEG-IFN alfa-2a therapy, mean HCV RNA loads reduced 2.0650 log10 copies/ml (t=3.8733), 2.9146 log10 copies/ml (t=7.6741) and 2.4315 log10 copies/ml (t=5.8202) from the baseline at week 0 in the 13 patients in the high group, and reduced 1.1522 log10 copies/ml (t = 2.8937), 1.4189 log10 copies/ml (t=2.4422) and 1.1167 log10 (t=1.1261) in the 8 patients of the low group. However, there was no significant difference between the early viral response rate (EVR) and the end of treatment viral response rate (ETVR) of the two groups. In the high group, the white blood cell count was lower at 24 weeks than the base line (t=2.4700), and the blood platelet count was lower both at 24 and 48 weeks than the base line (t=2.3273 and t=3.6149).

CONCLUSIONSPEG-IFN alfa-2a can effectively reduce HCV RNA loads in patients with HCV-/HIV co-infection, and the inhibition rate in patients with higher CD4 lymphocyte counts is better. The EVR and ETVR of the two groups of patients show similar results after the treatment. PEG-IFN alfa-2a can reduce the white blood cell counts and the blood platelet counts in the peripheral blood.

Acquired Immunodeficiency Syndrome ; drug therapy ; virology ; Adult ; Antiretroviral Therapy, Highly Active ; CD4 Lymphocyte Count ; HIV-1 ; Hepacivirus ; Hepatitis C ; drug therapy ; virology ; Humans ; Interferon-alpha ; therapeutic use ; Male ; Middle Aged ; Polyethylene Glycols ; therapeutic use ; RNA, Viral ; Recombinant Proteins ; Superinfection ; drug therapy ; virology ; Viral Load ; Young Adult

BACKGROUND AND OBJECTIVEThe primary submucous type of nasopharyngeal carcinoma (NPC) or the recurrent NPC in the parapharyngeal space is difficult to be diagnosed histologically by conventional biopsy because of the obstruction of the surrounding structures. This study was performed to evaluate the needle biopsy approach through the madibular area into the parapharyngeal space under the guidance of computed tomography (CT) for NPC.

METHODSBetween July 6, 2005 and October 23, 2009, a total of 6 patients were enrolled into the study. Two patients with cervical lymph node metastasis were clinically suspicious of NPC according to their clinical manifestations. However, no cancer cell could be found by repeated nasopharyngeal biopsies followed by histologic examinations. The other 4 patients were diagnosed with recurrent NPCs by magnetic resonance imaging (MRI) or/and positron emission tomography (PET)-CT scan, showing tumors in the parapharyngeal spaces in 3 patients and enlarged retropharyngeal lymph node in 1 patient. The CT-guided puncture was performed through the mandibular skin and the cutting needle biopsy was taken at the parapharyngeal space focus.

RESULTSAll the cutting needle biopsies of projected locations have been performed safely. Finally, all the 7 specimens met the requirement of pathologic diagnosis and the cases were all confirmed histologically to be NPCs. The main complication was mild ache at the puncture point. No blood vessel or nerve was injured and no patient needed special treatment.

CONCLUSIONSThe CT-guided puncture biopsy of the parapharyngeal space through the mandibular area is simple and feasible. It can be an additional option for routine nasopharyngeal biopsy.

Adult ; Aged ; Biopsy, Needle ; methods ; Female ; Humans ; Lymph Nodes ; pathology ; Lymphatic Metastasis ; Magnetic Resonance Imaging ; Male ; Mandible ; Middle Aged ; Nasopharyngeal Neoplasms ; diagnosis ; diagnostic imaging ; pathology ; Neoplasm Recurrence, Local ; Pharynx ; pathology ; Positron-Emission Tomography ; Tomography, X-Ray Computed

OBJECTIVETo analyze the clinical outcome of 934 primary nasopharyngeal carcinoma treated with conventional external beam radiotherapy alone.

METHODS34 patients were treated from Jan. 1, 1999 to Dec. 31, 1999. The radiation fields were delineated according to the CT/MRI imaging findings on disease extent. Two lateral opposing isocentric portals with customized blockings were used for the nasopharynx and upper neck. The dose delivered to tumor in the nasopharynx was 68-70 Gy/2 Gy fraction/7 weeks. The doses delivered to the neck was 60-70 Gy/6-7 weeks for patients with positive lymph nodes and 50 Gy/5 weeks for the patients with negative lymph node.

RESULTSThe 1-, 2-, 3- and 4-year overall survival rate (OS) was 89.5%, 81.9%, 78.1% and 75.7%, and metastasis-free survival rate (MFS) was 84.0%, 77.2%, 74.4% and 72.0%, respectively. The 1-, 2-, 3- and 4-year disease-free survival rate (DFS) was 80.8%, 73.1%, 68.5% and 65.1%, and the relapse-free survival rate (RFS) was 95.5%, 92.7%, 90.3% and 87.3%, respectively. The overall failure rate was 30.9% (289/934). At the end of the radiotherapeutic course, the percentage of residual disease was 14.6%. The 4-year loco-regional recurrence and distant metastasis rates after radiotherapy were 7.2% and 9.2% with a median time of 19.3 months and 12.8 months.

CONCLUSIONIt may be helpful to improve radiotherapy curative effect when the target is individually designed through improving irradiation technique according to CT/MRI findings and by shortening the overall course time, enhancing irradiation dose and strictly implementing QA/QC measures.

Adolescent ; Adult ; Aged ; Carcinoma, Squamous Cell ; diagnostic imaging ; radiotherapy ; Female ; Humans ; Magnetic Resonance Imaging ; Male ; Middle Aged ; Nasopharyngeal Neoplasms ; diagnostic imaging ; radiotherapy ; Radiotherapy Dosage ; Retrospective Studies ; Survival Analysis ; Tomography, X-Ray Computed ; Treatment Outcome

BACKGROUND: Groundwater is believed to possess many beneficial effects due to its natural source of various minerals. In this study, we examined the effects of natural Jeju groundwater S1 (Samdasoo(TM)), S2 and S3 pumped up from different locations of Jeju Island, Korea, along with local tap water, on body weight gain, serum lipids and lipoproteins, and liver histopathology in high-fat diet-induced hyperlipidemic rats. MATERIALS/METHODS: Rats were randomly and equally divided into 6 groups. Different water samples were supplied to the hyperlipidemic rats as their daily drinking water and the widely-used anti-hyperlipidemic drug simvastatin was used as a positive control. Body weight, serum lipids and lipoproteins were measured weekly. Liver weight, liver index and liver histopathology were examined after the execution of the rats. RESULTS: After drinking Jeju groundwaters for two months, S2 but not S3 significantly reduced weight growth and serum triglycerides levels and increased high density lipoprotein-C (HDL-C) without affecting total cholesterol or LDL-C. S1 and particularly S2 significantly reduced the severity of liver hypertrophy and steatosis. All Groundwaters had much higher contents of vanadium (S3>S2>S1>>tap water) whereas S1 and S2 but not S3 markedly blocked autoxidation of ferrous ions. CONCLUSION: Jeju Groundwater S1 and particularly S2 exhibit protective effects against hyperlipidemia and fatty liver and hypothesize that the beneficial effect of Jeju Groundwaters may be contributed from blockade of autoxidation of ferrous ions rather than their high contents of vanadium.
Animals ; Body Weight ; Cholesterol ; Drinking ; Drinking Water ; Fatty Liver ; Groundwater* ; Hyperlipidemias ; Hypertrophy ; Ions ; Korea ; Lipid Metabolism* ; Lipoproteins ; Liver ; Minerals ; Rats* ; Simvastatin ; Triglycerides ; Vanadium ; Water