Detoxification of tetracycline and synthetic dyes by a newly characterized Lentinula edodes laccase, and safety assessment using proteomic analysis.

Fungal laccase has strong ability in detoxification of many environmental contaminants. A putative laccase gene, LeLac12, from Lentinula edodes was screened by secretome approach. LeLac12 was heterogeneously expressed and purified to characterize its enzymatic properties to evaluate its potential use in bioremediation. This study showed that the extracellular fungal laccase from L. edodes could effectively degrade tetracycline (TET) and the synthetic dye Acid Green 25 (AG). The growth inhibition of Escherichia coli and Bacillus subtilis by TET revealed that the antimicrobial activity was significantly reduced after treatment with the laccase-HBT system. 16 transformation products of TET were identified by UPLC-MS-TOF during the laccase-HBT oxidation process. Gas chromatography-mass spectrometry (GC-MS) analysis revealed that LeLac12 could completely mineralize ring-cleavage products. LeLac12 completely catalyzed 50 mg/L TET within 4 h by adding AG (200 mg/L), while the degradation of AG was above 96% even in the co-contamination system. Proteomic analysis revealed that central carbon metabolism, energy metabolism, and DNA replication/repair were affected by TET treatment and the latter system could contribute to the formation of multidrug-resistant strains. The results demonstrate that LeLac12 is an efficient and environmentally method for the removal of antibiotics and dyes in the complex polluted wastewater.

Indoor Environmental Comfort Assessment of Traditional Folk Houses: A Case Study in Southern Anhui, China.

Due to the unique geographical location and historical culture, the traditional houses in the southern region of Anhui Province, China (South Anhui) have different indoor environments. In summer and winter, this study adopted a field survey, questionnaire survey, and statistical analysis to carry out a comprehensive field survey on Xixinan Village in South Anhui, and selected a typical traditional residence in the village to evaluate its indoor environment status. The final results show that the overall indoor environment of the traditional houses in South Anhui was awful, including the indoor thermal environment, with high temperature and humidity in summer and cold and humidity in winter. Additionally, the indoor light environment with dim light still had much room for improvement, while the indoor air quality and sound environment were relatively excellent. In addition, this study determined that the neutral temperatures of residents are 15.5 °C and 28.7 °C in winter and summer, respectively, and the comfort range of indoor light intensity is 752.6-1252.5 lx, which determines the adjustment range of indoor environmental parameters for residents' comfort needs. This paper's research methods and results provide a reference for the study of residential indoor environments in other regions with similar climatic conditions as South Anhui, and a theoretical basis for architects and engineers to enhance the indoor environment of traditional houses in this region.

Epidemiological analysis of the Kaohsiung city strategy for dengue fever quarantine and epidemic prevention.

BACKGROUND: Dengue is endemic in over 100 countries and is an important public health problem worldwide. Dengue fever is not endemic in Taiwan; the importation of dengue viruses from neighboring countries via close commercial links and air travel is considered to be the cause of local outbreaks. Therefore, efforts toward disease control have focused on preventing the importation of dengue into Taiwan. In this study, we investigated the relationships between the numbers of imported and indigenous dengue cases to test the validity of this strategy. METHODS: Data on cases of dengue fever that occurred between 2013 and 2018 were obtained from the surveillance systems of the Taiwan Center for Disease Control and Kaohsiung City Health Department. Standard epidemiological data, including the monthly numbers of indigenous and imported cases of dengue, were calculated. Potential associations between the numbers of indigenous and imported cases were investigated using correlation analyses. RESULTS: We identified a possible relationship between the period of disease concealment and the number of imported dengue cases, which resulted in epidemics of indigenous dengue fever within local communities. Further analysis of confirmed cases during previous epidemics in Kaohsiung City found that the risk of indigenous dengue fever may be related to the likelihood that patients with imported dengue fever will stay within local communities. CONCLUSION: Given the correlations found between imported and indigenous cases of dengue fever, as well as the relationship between the disease concealment period and the risk of indigenous dengue fever, prevention of disease importation and efficient identification of dengue cases within high-risk communities remain the major priorities for disease control.

Assessment of total corneal power after myopic corneal refractive surgery in Chinese eyes.

PURPOSE: To develop a new regression formula based on the Gaussian thick lens formula and to verify the accuracy of the regression formula. METHODS: In this prospective study, 207 eyes of 207 myopic subjects and 133 eyes of 67 postoperative subjects were included. For the 133 postoperative eyes, 127 eyes underwent laser-assisted in situ keratomileusis, and 6 eyes underwent photorefractive keratectomy. Subjective refraction and Pentacam HR were performed preoperatively and postoperatively, and IOLMaster was performed in the postoperative group. SimK, keratometry based on the Gaussian optic formula (KGOF), KCHM obtained using the clinical history method, and the regression formulas KRF1 and KRF2 were calculated. RESULTS: (1) A statistically significant difference (t = 155.164, P = 0.000) between SimK and KGOF of 1.24 ± 0.12 D was observed, and there was a good correlation between SimK and KGOF (r = 0.996, P = 0.000). The first regression formula (KRF1 = 0.351 + 1.021 × KGOF) was obtained using linear regression. (2) Statistically significant differences (t = 19.114, - 25.184, 4.702, and all P = 0.000) between SimK and KCHM, KGOF and KCHM and KRF1 and KCHM of 0.75 ± 0.45 D, 0.96 ± 0.44 D and 0.18 ± 0.43 D, respectively, were obtained. Good correlations between SimK and KCHM, KGOF and KCHM and KRF1 and KCHM (all r ≧ 0.977, all Ps = 0.000) were also observed. The regression formula (KRF2 = - 1.204 + 1.027 × KRF1) was obtained using linear regression. (3) Six methods were used for the prediction of IOL power in the postoperative group. The highest results were obtained from the Shammas formula (without preoperative data) combining Km (obtained by IOLMaster) followed by the KCHM and KRF2 combining Haigis formula. The third was obtained from the KCHM and KRF2 combining Hoffer Q formula; and the smallest was the Km combining Haigis formula. CONCLUSION: The IOL power predicted by KRF2 in eyes after myopic CRS may be accurate.

A comprehensive assessment of the precision and agreement of anterior corneal power measurements obtained using 8 different devices.

PURPOSE: To comprehensively assess the precision and agreement of anterior corneal power measurements using 8 different devices. METHODS: Thirty-five eyes from 35 healthy subjects were included in the prospective study. In the first session, a single examiner performed on each subject randomly measurements with the RC-5000 (Tomey Corp., Japan), KR-8000 (Topcon, Japan), IOLMaster (Carl Zeiss Meditec, Germany), E300 (Medmont International, Australia), Allegro Topolyzer (Wavelight AG, Germany), Vista (EyeSys, TX), Pentacam (Oculus, Germany) and Sirius (CSO, Italy). Measurements were repeated in the second session (1 to 2 weeks later). Repeatability and reproducibility of corneal power measurements were assessed based on the intrasession and intersession within-subject standard deviation (Sw), repeatability (2.77Sw), coefficient of variation (COV), and intraclass correlation coefficient (ICC). Agreement was evaluated by 95% limits of agreement (LoA). RESULTS: All devices demonstrated high repeatability and reproducibility of the keratometric values (2.77Sw<0.36D, COV<0.3%, ICC>0.98). Repeated-measures analysis of variance with Bonferroni post test showed statistically significant differences (P<0.01) among mean keratometric values of most instruments; the largest differences were observed between the EyeSys Vista and Medmont E300. Good agreement (i.e., 95%LoA within ± 0.5D) was found between most instruments for flat, steep and mean keratometry, except for EyeSys and Medmont. Repeatability and reproducibility of vectors J(0) and J(45) was good, as the ICCs were higher than 0.9, except J(45) of Medmont and Pentacam. For the 95% LoAs of J(0) and J(45), they were all ≤ ± 0.31 among any two paired devices. CONCLUSIONS: The 8 devices showed excellent repeatability and reproducibility. The results obtained using the RC-5000, KR-8000, IOLMaster, Allegro Topolyzer, Pentacam and Sirius were comparable, suggesting that they could be used interchangeably in most clinical settings. Caution is warranted with the measurements of the EyeSys Vista and Medmont E300, which should not be used interchangeably with other devices due to lower agreement. TRIAL REGISTRATION: ClinicalTrials.gov NCT01587287.