Phytases (myo-inositol hexakisphosphate phosphohydrolase; EC 3.1.3.8) are enzymes which catalyze the hydrolisys of phytate into myo-inositol and inorganic phosphates. Phytases are found in plants and a variety of microorganisms. Aspergillus species were treated with 254 nm of UV irradiation for the screening of phytase overproducing mutant strains. At 15 minute irradiation, the survivals of population were less than 5%, and UV irradiation time was decided at 20 minute for the isolation of mutant strains. Four UV mutant strains in A. oryzae (YUV-47, -169, -341, -511) and six in A. ficuum (FUV-17, -36, -69, -193, -317, -419) were isolated on PSM media containing ammonium phosphate. The specific enzyme activities of A. ficuum mutants are 110 to 140% higher than that of wild type.
6-Phytase* ; Ammonium Compounds ; Aspergillus oryzae ; Aspergillus* ; Mass Screening* ; Mutagenesis* ; Oryza ; Phosphates ; Phytic Acid

Aspergillus oryzae is a filamentous fungus classified in the group Aspergillaceae Ascomycetes. A. oryzae is an important microorganism for industrial production of enzymes and fermented food products. It secrets large quantities of proteins or enzymes into the culture medium which makes this organism appealing for the production of heterologous proteins. Recently Electric field-mediated transformation method, electroporation, has been applied to fungal transformation. It is fast, simple to handle, and avoids the use of some chemicals. The optimum conditions for A. oryzae were determined with pILJ-16 and ~0.2 x 105 protoplast cell at various field strength. The survived population of protoplasts in the electric field were ~80% of nonprotoplast cell population at 1.3 KV/cm to ~50% at 6.3 KV/cm. The electrotransformation efficiency, expressed as transformants/microgram of input DNA/population of protoplast cells, increased with the increment of the field strength up to 6.3 KV/cm. The highest value, 14.35%, was obtained at 6.3 KV/cm and 1540ohm. Some antibiotics for the dominant selectable makers were applied to A. oryzae and Tolypocladium inflatum. Whereas phleomycin was very effective on T. inflatum, hygromycin B and phleomycin were not effective on A. oryzae. Protoplasts were obtained with hemicellulase and celluclast, instead of novozyme234. More than 104 transformants/microgram of DNA with hemicellulase-treated protoplasts were obtained by using electroporation at the condition of 2,500 voltage, 1,540 ohm and 0.50 capacitance. Less than 102 transformants/microgram of DNA were obtained with Novozyme234- and celluclast-treated protoplasts.
Anti-Bacterial Agents ; Ascomycota ; Aspergillus oryzae* ; Aspergillus* ; DNA ; Electroporation ; Fungi* ; Hygromycin B ; Oryza ; Phleomycins ; Protoplasts

BACKGROUND: Hemodilution reduces the concentration of clotting factors in blood and this may induce some degree of impairment of coagulation. But there are some evidence that hemodilution may induce a hypercoagulable state. The goal of this study is to investigate the changes of coagulation status during progressive hemodilution. METHODS: Whole Blood was diluted by 10% increment to 80% with 0.9% normal saline. At each 10% dilution blood coagulation status was analysed using thrombelastography (TEG) and was compared with that of an undiluted control specimen obtained concurrently from the same patients. RESULTS: Hemodilutions up to 40% decrease r and K times and increase values of MA and angle. Hemodilutions more than 70% increase r and K times and decrease values of MA and angle. CONCLUSIONS: Hemodilutions up to 40% increase coagulability and hemodilutions more than 70% decrease coagulability of whole blood in vitro.
Blood Coagulation ; Hemodilution* ; Humans ; Thrombelastography

BACKGROUND: Induced hypertension has long been considered a potential adjunct to the management of focal cerebral ischemia. Whether induced hypertension causes an increase in cerebral blood flow(CBF), dependent on cerebral perfusion and/or an intracerebral redistribution of CBF by a vasoconstrictive effect of vasoconstrictor is controversial. In this study, effect of phenylephrine induced hypertension on the cerebral hemodynamics and mechanism of reduced ischemic area were studied. METHODS: Six mongrel dogs weighing between 13 and 18 kg were anesthetized with halothane 0.5 vo1%-N2O 1 L/min-O2 1 L/min. Ventilation was controlled to maintain PaCO2 within 35~40 mmHg. Cerebral blood flow was measured and calculated by the posterior sagittal sinus outflow method. Cerebral metabolic rate for oxygen(CMRO2) was calculated. Intracranial pressure(ICP) was also measured. Phenylephrine was infused to increase mean arterial blood pressure(MAP) to a level 30% above baseline value and MAP was held constant for 20 minutes before CBF, ICP, CMRO2 determination. These parameters were measured at 10, 20 minutes after induced hypertension. RESULTS: Induced hypertension resulted in increased MAP and decreased heart rate. There were no differences between baseline, hypertension 10 min, and hypertension 20 min in terms of PaCO2, PaO2, hematocrit and temperature. CBF was not changed after induced hypertension(39.1+/-9.7 vs 40+/-10 vs 40.2+/-10.1 ml 100g(-1) min(-1) (meanv+/-SD) at baseline, hypertension 10 min, hypertension 20 min, respectively). Cerebral metabolic rate was not changed also after induced hypertension. ICP increased after induced hypertension significantly(20.5+/-12.5 vs 26+/-15.3 vs 29.8+/-17 mmHg at baseline, hypertension 10 min, 20 min, respectively). CONCLUSIONS: Phenylephrine is a cerebral vasoconstrictor and that causes redistribution of cerebral blood flow to ischemic brain area.
Animals ; Brain ; Brain Ischemia ; Dogs* ; Halothane ; Heart Rate ; Hematocrit ; Hemodynamics* ; Hypertension* ; Perfusion ; Phenylephrine* ; Ventilation

We report here on a case of a female patient with involuntary movements that lasted for approximately 8 hours after being administered a single dose of ramosetron, a highly selective serotonin 5-hydroxytryptamine type 3 5-HT3) receptor antagonist, to prevent postoperative nausea and vomiting (PONV) at the end of general anesthesia with using propofol. To the best of our knowledge, this is the first report of involuntary movement related to ramosetron.
Anesthesia, General ; Benzimidazoles ; Dyskinesias ; Female ; Humans ; Postoperative Nausea and Vomiting ; Propofol ; Serotonin

We report here on a case of a female patient with involuntary movements that lasted for approximately 8 hours after being administered a single dose of ramosetron, a highly selective serotonin 5-hydroxytryptamine type 3 5-HT3) receptor antagonist, to prevent postoperative nausea and vomiting (PONV) at the end of general anesthesia with using propofol. To the best of our knowledge, this is the first report of involuntary movement related to ramosetron.
Anesthesia, General ; Benzimidazoles ; Dyskinesias ; Female ; Humans ; Postoperative Nausea and Vomiting ; Propofol ; Serotonin

Intubation in patients with an obstruction of the glottis due to a large mass may present great challenge to most anesthesiologists. If tracheostomy is not available, flexible fiberscope guided endotracheal intubation is now the part of the standard management in these cases, but difficulty in advancing the tracheal tube over the fiberscope and into the trachea may be encountered. In this case, a 60-year-old male with a huge supraglottic mass was given general anesthesia for laryngomicroscopic surgery and debulking of the mass lesion. We planned an awake flexible fiberoptic intubation but failed to railroad the tube over the fiberscope even after successfully placing the scope inside the trachea. During various attempts to pass the tracheal entrance, the patient coughed and the tube slid into the trachea as mass moved aside and we could successfully secure the airway.
Airway Obstruction ; Anesthesia, General ; Cough ; Glottis ; Humans ; Intubation ; Intubation, Intratracheal ; Male ; Middle Aged ; Railroads ; Trachea ; Tracheostomy

PURPOSE: To describe the CT findings of automastoidectomy caused by cholesteatoma, and to evaluate the natural course of cholesteatoma by comparing it with the postmastoidectomy defect of the temporal bone. MATERIALS AND METHODS: We retrospectively reviewed the CT findings of 15 cases of automastoidectomy in 13 patients with cholesteatoma and of 14 cases of postmastoidectomy in 13 patients. RESULTS: In automastoidectomy, the posterior walls of bony defects of the temporal bone were thinner (mean thickness in automastoidec/postmastoidec tomy :2mm/3.5 mm) and smoother(n=10) than those of bony defects in postmastoidectomy(n=6). Defects of the posterosuperior wall of the bony external auditory canal were present in all cases of automastoidectomy(100%) andmost of postmastoidectomy(79%). there were gross defects of the lateral bony cortex of the mastoid(71%), Henle'sspine(100%), and the postero superior extension of the exit of bony defect(100%) in cases of postmastoidectomy(n=10), but there were rare findings in cases of automastoidectomy(20%, 21%, 23%, respectively).There were soft tissue densities within the bony defect and sinus tympani in all cases of automastoidectomy(100%)and in some cases of postmastoidectomy(64% and 36% respectively). CONCLUSION: When comparing automastoidectomyand postmastoidectomy, CT findings concerning bony defects were different with regard to the remaining posteriorwall, the extent of bony defect, and the presence of findings which suggested an active disease process. These differences are helpful in differentiating automastoidectomy and postmastoidectomy and in understanding thenatural course of cholesteatoma.
Cholesteatoma ; Ear Canal ; Humans ; Retrospective Studies ; Temporal Bone*

In recent days quantitative electroencephalography (QEEG) has grown rapidly and QEEG techniques and EEG mapping have shown localizing functional imaging. We report two cases of falsely lateralized EEG mapping in stroke patients. Both cases had right hemispheric stroke, but presented bilateral clinical symptoms. Contrary to structural imaging, EEG mapping displayed left hemispheric dysfunction and SPECT displayed bilateral perfusion Aegects. These findings suggest that false lateralization of EEG mapping in unilateral stroke patients may show bilateral cerebral dysfunction not detected in conventional imaging technique.
Electroencephalography* ; Humans ; Perfusion ; Stroke* ; Tomography, Emission-Computed, Single-Photon

BACKGROUND: Simultaneous acupuncture to two or more acupoints has been used to improve acupuncture-induced effects in clinical practice. However, there is little evidence supporting the effects of simultaneous electroacupuncture (EA). This study examined whether simultaneous EA with 2 and 2 Hz or 2 and 100 Hz can produce synergic effects on ankle-sprained pain in rats. METHODS: Ankle sprain pain was induced by manually overextending the lateral ligament of the right ankle in rats. Electrical stimulation with 2 Hz was delivered to the Yangno acupoint (SI6) and with 2 or 100 Hz to the Zusanli (ST36), either individually or simultaneously. The level of pain evoked by the ankle sprain was measured by the stepping force of the sprained paw during walking. The analgesic effects of simultaneous EA was evaluated by the percentage recovery of the stepping force at 1, 2 and 4hr after EA and compared to that of individual EA. RESULTS: Individual EA significantly increased the stepping force of the ankle-sprained paw during walking, but there is no difference in the effect between electrical stimulation with 2 and 100 Hz EA. Simultaneous EA with 2 and 2 Hz or 2 and 100 Hz showed no significant improvement of the stepping force compared to individual EA. CONCLUSIONS: Individual EA with 2 and 100 Hz produced comparable analgesic effects. Simultaneous EA applied to the SI6 and ST36 acupoints produced no synergic interaction, therefore has no beneficial effect for ankle-sprained pain compared to individual EA.
Acupuncture ; Acupuncture Points ; Animals ; Ankle Injuries* ; Ankle* ; Collateral Ligaments ; Electric Stimulation ; Electroacupuncture* ; Rats* ; Sprains and Strains ; Walking