Enzymatic synthesis of monoglycerides by glycerolysis of oil and fats in microaqueous solvent-free media was investigated by using lipase from pseudomonus fluorescens (PFL). Initial eutectic point(IEP) was substituted for melt point of oil and fats in Critical Temperature Theory. By investigating the glycerolysis under different IEP, it is showed that there is a relationship between composition of the oils and the yield of monoglycerides: Y = -0.0006 X3 + 0.0592 X2 - 0.8909 X + 26.753(13% < X < 76.5%), here X is the contents(W/W) of saturated fatty acid residue (C16 + C18) in the oils, Y is the yield of monoglycerides at 40 degrees C. The optimum isothermal reaction conditions for a system which IEP is 40 degrees C are: 40 degrees C, 3%-4.5% (W/W) water in glycerol, dosage of lipase is 500 u/g oil when the mole ratio of glycerol to oil is 2.5:1. The highest yield of monoglycerides is 81.4% in 48 h by means of programming temperature reaction.
Glycerides ; metabolism ; Glycerol ; metabolism ; Kinetics ; Lipase ; metabolism ; Palm Oil ; Plant Oils ; metabolism ; Pseudomonas fluorescens ; enzymology ; Substrate Specificity ; Temperature

BACKGROUNDPrevious investigations indicate that cooks are exposed to polycyclic aromatic hydrocarbons (PAH) from cooking oil fumes (COF). However, Emission of PAH and their carcinogenic potencies from cooking oil fumes sources have not been investigated among cooks.

AIMSTo investigate the urinary excretion of a marker for oxidative DNA damage, 8-hydroxydeoxyguanosine (8-OHdG), in different groups of cooks and different exposure groups, and to study the association between 8-OHdG and 1-hydroxypyrene (1-OHP), a biological marker for PAH exposure.

METHODSUrine samples were collected from different groups of cooks (n = 86) and from unexposed controls (n = 36), all are male with similar age and smoking habits. The health status, occupational history, smoking, and alcohol consumption 24 hours prior to sampling was estimated from questionnaires. The urinary samples were frozen for later analyses of 8-OHdG and 1-OHP by high performance liquid chromatography.

RESULTSExcretion in urine of 8-OHdG were similar for controls (mean 1.2 µmol/mol creatinine, n = 36), and for those who had been in the kitchen room with exhaust hood operation (mean 1.5 µmol/mol creatinine, n = 45). COF exposed cooks without exhaust hood operation had increased excretion of 8-OHdG (mean 2.3 µmol/mol creatinine, n = 18). The difference between this group and the unexposed controls was significant. The urinary levels of ln 1-OHP and ln 8-OHdG were still significantly correlated in a multiple regression analysis.

CONCLUSIONResults indicate that exposure to PAH or possibly other compounds in COF may cause oxidative DNA damage.

Adult ; Air Pollutants, Occupational ; urine ; Cooking ; DNA Damage ; Deoxyguanosine ; analogs & derivatives ; urine ; Humans ; Male ; Occupational Exposure ; Oils ; adverse effects ; Oxidative Stress ; Polycyclic Aromatic Hydrocarbons ; adverse effects ; Surveys and Questionnaires ; Young Adult

OBJECTIVETo explore the characteristics of bacteria isolated from patients with chronic sinusitis (CR) and antibiotic-resistance.

METHODSThe purulent discharges taken from the maxillary sinus and posterior ethmoid sinus of 76 patients during endoscopic sinus surgery were cultured for both bacteria and fungi, then the antimicrobial susceptibility test and beta-lactamase-producing bacteria (beta-LPB) were detected. In the control group, the discharges from the nasal cavity from 10 healthy adults were also cultured for bacteria.

RESULTSTwenty species, including Staphylococcus epidermidis, Escherichia coli, Staphylococcus aureus, alpha-Hemolytic streptococcus and Streptococcus pneumoniae, were cultured from the testing group. The total positive rate of bacteria was 81.8%. The detectable rates of aerobe, anaerobe, gram-positive bacteria and gram-negative bacteria were 83.4%, 16.6%, 56.3% and 43.7%, respectively. The fungi was only detected in 1.4% patients. The antimicrobial susceptibility test demonstrated that Imipenem, Cefotaxime and Amoxicillin-clavulanate were good in vitro activity to aerobic pathogens and Metronidazole, Imipenem and Chloramphenicol was good to anaerobic pathogens. The beta-LPB was detected in 37.7% strains in which Staphylococcus epidermidis, Staphylococcus aureus, alpha-Hemolytic streptococcus and Branhamella catarrhalis were more frequent. Five species including Staphylococcus epidermidis and Escherichia coli etc were cultured from the control group. There was no significant difference of distribution of the same bacteria between the control group and the testing group (P > 0.05).

CONCLUSIONSThe pathogenic bacteria of CR mostly involve aerobes. The antibiotics-resistance of these pathogen is serious. The bacterial infection plays no leading role in CR, so the need of antibiotics should not be excessively emphasized. Before treatment by antibiotics, the antimicrobial susceptibility test should be performed. The broad-spectrum antibiotics containing beta-lactamase inhibitor such as Cefotaxime and Amoxicillin-clavulanate is recommended in condition that the test can not be finished.

Adolescent ; Adult ; Bacteria ; isolation & purification ; Bacterial Infections ; microbiology ; Chronic Disease ; Female ; Humans ; Male ; Microbial Sensitivity Tests ; Middle Aged ; Sinusitis ; microbiology ; Young Adult

OBJECTIVEThe aim of the present study is to compare the effects of two alpha1-adrenoceptor antagonist terazosin and alfuzosin together with one alpha-adrenoceptor antagonist phenoxybenzamine on androgen-independent prostate cancer cell lines PC-3 and DU145.

METHODSTwo androgen- independent cell lines, PC-3 and DU145, were used to determine the cell viability, colony-forming ability as well as cell cycle characteristics after exposure to these three drugs.

RESULTSThis study showed that terazosin inhibited not only prostate cancer cell growth but also colony-forming ability, which is the main target of clinical treatment. On the other hand, alfuzosin and phenoxybenzamine have no effect on cell viability and colony forming ability of PC-3 and DU145. In addition, the terazosin inhibits cell growth through G(1) phase cell cycle arrest.

CONCLUSIONThis study provided the evidence that alpha1-adrenoceptor antagonist terazosin may have a therapeutic potential in the treatment of advanced androgen-independent prostate cancer.

Adrenergic alpha-Antagonists ; pharmacology ; Antineoplastic Agents ; pharmacology ; Cell Cycle ; drug effects ; Cell Line, Tumor ; Cell Survival ; drug effects ; Dose-Response Relationship, Drug ; Humans ; Male ; Phenoxybenzamine ; pharmacology ; Prazosin ; administration & dosage ; analogs & derivatives ; pharmacology ; Prostatic Neoplasms ; pathology ; Quinazolines ; pharmacology

Enzymatic esterification by reacting caparic acid with glycerol in solvent-free system was studied. Lipases from Pseudomonas fluoresces(PFL), Mucor miehei(MML) and Candida antarictica(CAL) possessed good catalytic activity. The optimal reaction conditions to convert capric acid with CAL are: 60 degrees C, 20-100 u of CAL per gram capric acid, 12% (W/W) of initial water content in glycerol. CAL does not express its 1,3-specificity in final product. Mechanical fraying denatured CAL partly. 96.4% of catalytic activity of CAL recovered after 5 batches of reaction. Extraction with sodium carbonate solution can decrease acid value of product from 9.8 mg KOH/g to 0.68 mg KOH/g. Applying the enzymatic esterification in open system, under vacuum or dehydrating with molecular sieves all dehydrate effectively. Molar ratio of reactants does not influence the total conversion of capric acid but influences the yield of monoglyceride. With certain protocols, the reaction period could be shortened dramatically; conversion of capric acid reached 96.9% in 5 h.
Catalysis ; Decanoic Acids ; isolation & purification ; metabolism ; Glycerol ; isolation & purification ; metabolism ; Lipase ; metabolism

OBJECTIVETo explore the health-related quality of life (QOL) status of patients with chronic rhinosinusitis and nasal polyps.

METHODSOne hundred and twenty patients with chronic rhinosinusitis and nasal polyps and two hundred individuals passing health examination were enrolled by random and their QOL scores were assessed by using QOL instruments including existing SF-36 questionnaire (Chinese version ) and SNOT-20 questionnaire translated into Chinese, of which clinimetric and psychometric properties were tested.

RESULTSThe feasibility, reliability, validity, and responsibility of Chinese version of SNOT-20 questionnaire all passed the test. By the assessment of SF-36 questionnaire, it revealed that scores of six domains such as physical functioning, role physical, bodily pain, mental health, vitality, and general health from patients with chronic rhinosinusitis and nasal polyps were lower than that of control group except social functioning and role emotional (P < 0.05). It showed by Chinese version of SNOT-20 questionnaire that patients exceeded healthy individuals in the scores of twenty items of three domains including physical problems, functional limitations, and emotional consequences, of which the most five important items affecting health status were respectively need to blow nose, thick nasal discharge, lack of a good night's sleep, dizziness, and post-nasal discharge (P < 0.05).

CONCLUSIONSQOL instruments such as Chinese version of SF-36 and SNOT-20 questionnaires can effectively differentiate the QOL status between patients with chronic rhinosinusitis and nasal polyps and healthy individuals. The negative impact of chronic rhinosinusitis and nasal polyps on patients' QOL includes physical functioning, role physical, bodily pain, mental health, vitality, general health, and emotional consequences. The problems of nasal discharge, sleep, and dizziness should be sufficiently emphasized in clinical treatment.

Adolescent ; Adult ; Aged ; Asian Continental Ancestry Group ; China ; epidemiology ; Chronic Disease ; Female ; Humans ; Male ; Middle Aged ; Nasal Polyps ; epidemiology ; ethnology ; Quality of Life ; Sinusitis ; epidemiology ; ethnology ; Surveys and Questionnaires

OBJECTIVETo investigate the correlation between power Doppler vascularity index (PDVI) and microvessel density (MVD) and evaluate the angiogenesis in high-grade gliomas and the adjacent edema in patients with glioma using intraoperative power Doppler ultrasound (PDUS) during gross total resection.

METHODSIn 25 cases of high-grade gliomas undergoing gross total tumor resections, PDUS was performed intraoperatively and the regions of interest within the tumor and the adjacent edema were analyzed with Photoshop software to measure the tumoral and peritumoral blood flow quantified as PDVI. The tumoral and adjacent MVD were determined using immunohistochemical staining for CD34. The correlation between PDVI in the gliomas and the adjacent edema and MVD in the corresponding areas were analyzed using Spearman correlation test.

RESULTSThe measurement of both PVDI and MVD revealed significant difference in vascularity between the gliomas and the adjacent edema (t=0.000, P<0.01), and PDVI was positively correlated to MVD measurement (r=0.7248 in the tumors and r=0.6608 in the adjacent edema).

CONCLUSIONSThe difference in the vascularity between the tumor and adjacent edema allows their distinction by PDUS during operation for high-grade glioma. Intraoperative PDUS provides an accurate and reliable means for measuring vascularity in the glioma and the adjacent edema tissue.

Adult ; Brain Edema ; diagnostic imaging ; etiology ; Brain Neoplasms ; blood supply ; complications ; diagnostic imaging ; Echocardiography, Doppler ; methods ; Female ; Glioblastoma ; blood supply ; complications ; diagnostic imaging ; Humans ; Intraoperative Period ; Male ; Middle Aged ; Neovascularization, Pathologic ; diagnostic imaging

Objective To observe the clinical efficacy of electroencephalogram (EEG)-guided scalp acupuncture plus body acupuncture in treating epilepsy.Method Sixty epilepsy patients in interictal stage were randomized into a guided acupuncture group, a body acupuncture group, and a Western medication group. The guided acupuncture group was given scalp plus body acupuncture under the guidance of EEG; the body acupuncture group was given ordinary body acupuncture treatment; the Western medication group didn't receive acupuncture treatment. The clinical efficacy was evaluated; before and after the treatment, the powers ofα,β,θ andδ bands and interictal epileptic activity (IEA) were observed by EEG and brain electrical activity mapping (BEAM).Result After the treatment, IEA declined significantly in all cases according to EEG (P<0.05), while the guided acupuncture group was insignificantly different from the other two groups in comparing IEA (P>0.05). In the guided acupuncture group and body acupuncture group, the absolute powers ofα1,α2 andβ2 bands were significantly improved, and the powers ofθ andδ bands were decreased significantly (P<0.05); the values of these two groups were significantly different from those of the Western medication group (P<0.05), but the guided acupuncture group showed a more significant effect in improving EEG power spectrum compared to the body acupuncture group (P<0.05).Conclusion EEG-guided scalp plus body acupuncture is effective in treating epilepsy, which is possibly related to the inhibition of IEA and improvement of EEG power spectrum.

Plasma obestatin level was determined in patients with impaired glucose regulation and type 2 diabetes mellitus.The plasma obestatin levels in patients of both groups were significantly decreased as compared with that in controls.Plasma obestatin level was negatively correlated with body mass index,HbA_(1C),waist-to-hip ratio,plasma insulin and HOMA-IR.Obestatin level seems to be related with metabolic disorder.

Objective To evaluate the association of cervical cancer and the G/C single nucleotide polymorphism at codon 72 in p53 gene exon -4 in Chinese population.Methods Literatures were searched in CNKI,VIP,CBM, PubMed,EMBase,the Cochrane Library (Issue 1,2015),WanFang Data Database (1980—2015)with computer. Results Thirteen studies involving 1 780 cervical cancer patients and 1 5 17 healthy volunteers were included.According to the situation of the HPV infection in research object,thirteen studies were divided into two subgroups.The results of meta-analyses in the subgroup of non-HPV infection showed that the Chinese women having the genotype G/G presented no increased relative risk compared to that with the genotype C/C(OR=0.980,95%CI:0.558 -1.723).The allele G showed no increased relative risk compared to the allele C (OR=1.070,95%CI:0.789-1.449)The results of meta-analyses in the subgroup of HPV infection showed that the Chinese women having the genotype G/G presented no increased relative risk compared to that with the genotype C/C(OR=0.891,95%CI:0.213 -3.722).The allele G showed no increased relative risk compared to the allele C (OR =0.981,95%CI:0.493 -1.951 ).Conclusion This meta -analysis demonstrates that G/C single nucleotide polymorphism at codon 72 in p53 gene exon-4 were not associated with cervical cancer in Chinese women.