Daytime dysfunction may be associated with postoperative delirium in patients undergoing total hip/knee replacement: The PNDABLE study.

PURPOSE: Postoperative delirium (POD) is a usual complication after total hip/knee replacement, which may be affected by sleep characteristics. However, up to now, preoperative sleep characteristics have not been evaluated as risk factors of POD. The relationship between self-reported sleep characteristics and POD in patients has been investigated in this study. PATIENTS AND METHODS: We recruited 495 cognitively intact individuals in the final analysis from the Perioperative Neurocognitive Disorder and Biomarker Lifestyle study. Sleep characteristics were tested by the Pittsburgh Sleep Quality Index (PSQI). Mini-mental state examination was applied to assess preoperative mental status of patients. Postoperatively, we used confusion assessment method and memorial delirium assessment scale to evaluate the incidence of POD and POD severity, respectively. The cerebrospinal fluid (CSF) levels of T-tau, P-tau, Aß40, and Aß42 were detected by enzyme-linked immune-sorbent assay before the operation. Logistic regression, multiple linear regression, and mediation effects were performed to analyze the relationship between self-reported sleep characteristics and POD. RESULTS: POD was detected in 11.31% (56/495) of the patients, with logistic regression analysis showing that daytime dysfunction, P-tau, and T-tau were risk factors of POD, and Aß42 was a protective factor of POD. Multiple linear regression analysis confirmed that daytime dysfunction was positively correlated with P-tau in patients with POD. Meanwhile, compared to the patients with no postoperative delirium, the CSF levels of P- and T-tau were higher in patients with POD. Furthermore, mediation analysis showed that it was probable that daytime dysfunction mediated POD through P-tau (proportion: 12.90%) partially. CONCLUSION: Daytime dysfunction is a risk factor of POD preoperatively. To sum up, CSF P-tau protein might partially mediate the influence of daytime dysfunction on POD. CLINICAL TRIAL REGISTRATION: This study was registered at Chinese Clinical Trial Registry (ChiCTR2000033439).

Adipose tissue transplantation ameliorates lipodystrophy-associated metabolic disorders in seipin-deficient mice.

Seipin deficiency is responsible for type 2 congenital generalized lipodystrophy with severe loss of adipose tissue and can lead to hepatic steatosis, insulin resistance (IR), and dyslipidemia in humans. Adipose tissue secretes many adipokines that are central to the regulation of metabolism. In this study, we investigated whether transplantation of normal adipose tissue could ameliorate severe hepatic steatosis, IR, and dyslipidemia in lipoatrophic seipin knockout (SKO) mice. Normal adipose tissue from wild-type mice was transplanted into 6-wk-old SKO mice. At 4 mo after adipose tissue transplantation (AT), the transplanted fat survived with detectable blood vessels, and the reduced levels of plasma leptin, a major adipokine, were dramatically increased. Severe hepatic steatosis, IR, and dyslipidemia in SKO mice were ameliorated after AT. In addition, abnormal hepatic lipogenesis and ß-oxidation gene expression in SKO mice were improved after AT. Our results suggest that AT may be an effective treatment to improve lipodystrophy-associated metabolic disorders.

Renal injury in Seipin-deficient lipodystrophic mice and its reversal by adipose tissue transplantation or leptin administration alone: adipose tissue-kidney crosstalk.

Seipin deficiency is responsible for type 2 congenital generalized lipodystrophy with severe loss of adipose tissue (AT) and could lead to renal failure in humans. However, the effect of Seipin on renal function is poorly understood. Here we report that Seipin knockout (SKO) mice exhibited impaired renal function, enlarged glomerular and mesangial surface areas, renal depositions of lipid, and advanced glycation end products. Elevated glycosuria and increased electrolyte excretion were also detected. Relative renal gene expression in fatty acid oxidation and reabsorption pathways were impaired in SKO mice. Elevated glycosuria might be associated with reduced renal glucose transporter 2 levels. To improve renal function, AT transplantation or leptin administration alone was performed. Both treatments effectively ameliorated renal injury by improving all of the parameters that were measured in the kidney. The treatments also rescued insulin resistance and low plasma leptin levels in SKO mice. Our findings demonstrate for the first time that Seipin deficiency induces renal injury, which is closely related to glucolipotoxicity and impaired renal reabsorption in SKO mice, and is primarily caused by the loss of AT and especially the lack of leptin. AT transplantation and leptin administration are two effective treatments for renal injury in Seipin-deficient mice.-Liu, X.-J., Wu, X.-Y., Wang, H., Wang, S.-X., Kong, W., Zhang, L., Liu, G., Huang, W. Renal injury in Seipin-deficient lipodystrophic mice and its reversal by adipose tissue transplantation or leptin administration alone: adipose tissue-kidney crosstalk.

Tepidibacter mesophilus sp. nov., a mesophilic fermentative anaerobe isolated from soil polluted by crude oil, and emended description of the genus Tepidibacter.

A mesophilic, aerotolerant, endospore-forming, fermentative bacterium, designated strain B1(T), was isolated from soil polluted by crude oil in the Karamay Oil Field, China. Cells were Gram-positive, rod-shaped, 1.1-1.6 µm wide and 2.3-4.7 µm long, and were motile by means of peritrichous flagella. Growth occurred at 10-40 °C and pH 6.0-8.9; optimal growth occurred at 28-32 °C and pH 7.3. The optimal concentrations of NaCl and sea salts for growth were 0.5 and 1% (w/v), respectively. The strain was halotolerant and grew in the presence of NaCl or sea salts up to a concentration of 9% (w/v). Substrates utilized as sole carbon sources were beef extract, yeast extract, peptone, tryptone, casein, D-glucose, D-fructose, D-xylose, D-ribose, D-galactose, maltose, L-rhamnose, trehalose, L-valine, DL-alanine plus L-proline and DL-alanine plus L-glycine. The main products of glucose fermentation were ethanol and acetate. iso-C(15:0), iso-C(14:0), C(16:0) and iso-C(13:0) were the major fatty acids. 16S rRNA gene sequence analysis revealed that the isolate belongs to the genus Tepidibacter, showing 94.7 and 94.1% similarity to the type strains of Tepidibacter formicigenes and Tepidibacter thalassicus, respectively. The genomic DNA G+C content of strain B1(T) was 29.8 mol%. On the basis of its phenotypic and genotypic properties, strain B1(T) is suggested to represent a novel species of the genus Tepidibacter, for which the name Tepidibacter mesophilus sp. nov. is proposed. The type strain is B1(T) (=CGMCC 1.5148(T) =JCM 16806(T)).

Alkaliphilus halophilus sp. nov., a strictly anaerobic and halophilic bacterium isolated from a saline lake, and emended description of the genus Alkaliphilus.

A novel strictly anaerobic, halophilic and fermentative strain, designated E2R(T), was isolated from sediments of Xiaokule salt lake in Xinjiang Province, China. Cells were straight to slightly curved, Gram-stain-positive rods that were motile by means of flagella and formed endospores. Strain E2R(T) was moderately halophilic and grew optimally in the presence of 7.5 % NaCl, at pH 8.0 and at 32°C. Substrates used include yeast extract, Casamino acids, tryptone, fructose, sucrose, xylose, ribose, lactate and tartrate. Thiosulfate could be used as an accessory electron acceptor and stimulated growth. The main fermentation products from fructose were formate and acetate. The predominant fatty acids were iso-C(15 : 0), iso-C(15 : 1) F and iso-C(13 : 0). 16S rRNA gene sequence analyses revealed that strain E2R(T) was related most closely to members of the genus Alkaliphilus (95.5-91.1 % similarity). The G+C content of strain E2R(T) was 28.5 mol%. Strain E2R(T) could be differentiated from its closest relatives based on its halophilic nature and its lower DNA G+C content. It could also be differentiated based on its substrate utilization pattern and relatively high levels of iso-C(15 : 0). On the basis of these data, strain E2R(T) is considered to represent a novel species of the genus Alkaliphilus, for which the name Alkaliphilus halophilus sp. nov. is proposed. The type strain is E2R(T) (=CGMCC 1.5124(T) =JCM 16124(T)). An emended description of the genus Alkaliphilus is also provided.

Amphibacillus jilinensis sp. nov., a facultatively anaerobic, alkaliphilic bacillus from a soda lake.

A facultatively anaerobic, alkaliphilic, spore-forming, Gram-positive-staining rod, designated Y1(T), was isolated under strictly anaerobic conditions from sediment of a soda lake in Jilin province, China. The strain was not dependent on Na(+) but was highly halotolerant and grew optimally in medium JY with 0.5 M Na(+) (0.06 M NaHCO(3) and 0.44 M NaCl). The optimum pH for growth was 9.0, with a range of pH 7.5-10.5. No growth occurred at pH 7.0 or 11.0. The strain was mesophilic, with a temperature range of 15-45 °C and optimum growth at 32 °C. Strain Y1(T) was able to use certain mono- and oligosaccharides. Soluble starch and casein were hydrolysed. The methyl red test, Voges-Proskauer test and tests for catalase and oxidase activities were negative. The predominant fatty acids were anteiso-C(15 : 0) and iso-C(15 : 0). Comparative 16S rRNA gene sequence analysis revealed 93.4-96.8 % sequence similarity to members of the genus Amphibacillus. The DNA G+C content was 37.7 mol% (T(m) method). The DNA-DNA relatedness of strain Y1(T) with respect to Amphibacillus tropicus DSM 13870(T) and Amphibacillus sediminis DSM 21624(T) was 48 and 37 %, respectively. On the basis of its phylogenetic position and the DNA-DNA relatedness data as well as its physiological and biochemical properties, strain Y1(T) represents a novel species of the genus Amphibacillus, for which the name Amphibacillus jilinensis sp. nov. is proposed. The type strain is Y1(T) (=CGMCC 1.5123(T) =JCM 16149(T)).

Protein refolding mediated by reverse micelles of Cibacron Blue F-3GA modified nonionic surfactant.

An affinity-based reverse micellar system formulated with nonionic surfactant was applied to the refolding of denatured-reduced lysozyme. The nonionic surfactant of sorbitan trioleate (Span 85) was modified with Cibacron Blue F-3GA (CB) as an affinity surfactant (CB-Span 85) to form affinity-based reverse micelles in n-hexane. The water content of 15 was found optimal for lysozyme refolding in the reverse micellar system of 62.7 mmol/L Span 85 with coupled CB of 0.3 and 0.5 mmol/L. In addition, the operating conditions such as pH and the concentrations of urea and redox reagents were optimized. Under the optimized conditions, complete renaturation of lysozyme at 3-3.5 mg/mL was achieved, whereas dilution refolding in the bulk aqueous phase under the same conditions gave much lower activity recovery. Moreover, the secondary structure of the refolded lysozyme was found to be the same as the native lysozyme. Over 95% of the refolded lysozyme was recovered from CB-Span 85 reverse micelles by a stripping solution of 0.5 mol/L MgCl(2). Thus, the present system is advantageous over the conventional reverse micellar system formed with ionic surfactants in the ease of protein recovery.