Cistadesertosides B-E, Four New Diastereomeric Lignan Glycosides from the Stems of Cultural Cistanche deserticola in Tarim Desert.

Four previously undescribed diastereomeric lignan glycosides, namely cistadesertosides B-E (1-4) were isolated from the stems of cultural Cistanche deserticola in Tarim desert. The structures of these compounds were elucidated on the basis of extensive spectroscopic analyses, including IR, HR-ESI-MS, 1D and 2D NMR, circular dichroism (CD) data and chemical degradation. The in vitro anti-inflammatory activity of the isolates was also investigated. It showed that compounds 3 and 4 exhibited potential effects with IC50 values of 21.17 µM and 26.97 µM, respectively (positive control quercetin, IC50 , 10.01 µM).

De novo synthesis of nervonic acid and optimization of metabolic regulation by Yarrowia lipolytica.

Nervonic acid, a natural fatty acid compound and also a core component of nerve fibers and nerve cells, has been widely used to prevent and treat related diseases of the brain nervous system. At present, fatty acids and their derivatives are mainly obtained by natural extraction or chemical synthesis which are limited by natural resources and production costs. In this study, the de novo synthetic pathway of nervonic acid was constructed in Yarrowia lipolytica by means of synthetic biology, and the yield of nervonic acid was further improved by metabolic engineering and fermentation optimization. Specially, heterologous elongases and desaturases derived from different organism were successfully expressed and evaluated for their potential for the production of nervonic acid in Y. lipolytica. Meanwhile, we overexpressed the genes involved in the lipid metabolism to increase the nervonic acid titer to 111.6 mg/L. In addition, the potential of adding oil as auxiliary carbon sources for nervonic acid production by the engineered Y. lipolytica was analyzed. The results indicated that supplementation with colleseed oil as an auxiliary carbon source can be beneficial for the nervonic acid productivity, which led to the highest concentration of 185.0 mg/L in this work. To summarize, this study describes that the Y. lipolytica can be used as a promising platform for the production of nervonic acid and other very long-chain fatty acids.

Postoperative management of spontaneous pneumothorax in arthroscopic shoulder superior capsular reconstruction: A case report and review of literature / 中华创伤杂志(英文版)

Arthroscopic superior capsular reconstruction is an innovative technique for the irreparable rotator cuff tears, but spontaneous pneumothorax after surgery is very rare. The present case was a 66-year-old female with irreparable rotator cuff tears of the right shoulder, treated with the arthroscopic shoulder superior capsular reconstruction. The general anesthesia and operation went smoothly, but the patient experienced stuffiness in the chest and shortness of breath after recovery from anesthesia. Thoracic CT scans showed spontaneous pneumothorax in the right side, which was successfully treated by the conservative treatments (oxygen therapy) according to multidisciplinary team. Prompt and accurate early-stage diagnosis is necessary in controlling postoperative complications and standardized treatment is the key to relieve the suffering. Spontaneous pneumothorax after arthroscopic shoulder surgery has been rarely reported in previous literatures.

Mixed bacterial-fungal infection following total hip arthroplasty: A case report / 中华创伤杂志(英文版)

Prosthetic infection is one of the severe postoperative complications of arthroplasty. Mixed bacterial-fungal prosthetic infection is rare but can be disastrous. This case was a 76-year-old female suffered from prosthetic infection following total hip replacement due to femoral neck fracture and underwent multiple debridements. The culture of periprosthetic tissue was bacteriologically sterile following the first debridement, while the Staphylococcus hominis was identified in the second debridement in the previous hospitalization where fungal infection had not been considered. Thus the pathogen spectrum of anti-infection therapy failed to contain fungus. Ultimately, the culture result of our sampled periprosthetic tissue during the third debridement was Candida albicans without bacterium in our hospital. The fungal prosthetic infection was successfully treated by a two-stage revision with antifungal drugs. Accurate diagnosis and standardized treatment is the key to the therapy of infection after hip arthroplasty, especially for mixed bacterial-fungal prosthetic infection.

Yarrowia lipolytica as a Metabolic Engineering Platform for the Production of Very-Long-Chain Wax Esters.

The oleaginous yeast Yarrowia lipolytica is an attractive cell factory platform strain and can be used for sustainable production of high-value oleochemical products. Wax esters (WEs) have a good lubricating property and are usually used as a base for the production of advanced lubricants and emollient oils. In this study, we reported the metabolic engineering of Y. lipolytica to heterologously biosynthesize high-content very-long-chain fatty acids (VLCFAs) and fatty alcohols and efficiently esterify them to obtain very-long-chain WEs. Co-expression of fatty acid elongases from different sources in Y. lipolytica could yield VLCFAs with carbon chain lengths up to 24. Combining with optimization of the central metabolic modules could further enhance the biosynthesis of VLCFAs. Furthermore, through the screening of heterologous fatty acyl reductases (FARs), we enabled high-level production of fatty alcohols. Genomic integration and heterologous expression of wax synthase (WS) and FAR in a VLCFA-producing Y. lipolytica strain yielded 95-650 mg/L WEs with carbon chain lengths from 32 to 44. Scaled-up fermentation in 5 L laboratory bioreactors significantly increased the production of WEs to 2.0 g/L, the highest content so far in yeasts. This study contributes to the further efficient biosynthesis of VLCFAs and their derivatives.

Enhancing Quality of Patients Care and Improving Patient Experience in China with Assistance of Artificial Intelligence.

Improving health of Chinese people has become national strategy according to the Healthy China 2030. Patient experience evaluation examines health care service from perspective of patients; it is important for improving health care quality. Applying artificial intelligence (AI) in patient experience is an innovative approach to assist continuous improvement of care quality of patient service. A nursing quality platform based on patient experience data which is empowered by AI technologies has been established in China for the purpose of surveillance and analysis of the quality of patient care. It contains data from nearly 1300 healthcare facilities, based on which portraits of nursing service qualities can be drawn. The patient experience big data platform has shown potentials for healthcare facilities to improve patient care quality. More efforts are needed to achieve the goal of enhancing people's sense of health gain.

Overproduction of Fatty Acid Ethyl Esters by the Oleaginous Yeast Yarrowia lipolytica through Metabolic Engineering and Process Optimization.

Recent advances in the production of biofuels by microbes have attracted attention due to increasingly limited fossil fuels. Biodiesels, especially fatty acid ethyl esters (FAEEs), are considered a potentially fully sustainable fuel in the near future due to similarities with petrodiesels and compatibility with existing infrastructure. However, biosynthesis of FAEEs is limited by the supply of precursor lipids and acetyl-CoA. In the present study, we explored the production potential of an engineered biosynthetic pathway coupled to the addition of ethanol in the oleaginous yeast Yarrowia lipolytica. This type of yeast is able to supply a greater amount of precursor lipids than species typically used. To construct the FAEEs synthesis pathway, WS genes that encode wax ester synthases (WSs) from different species were codon-optimized and heterologously expressed in Y. lipolytica. The most productive engineered strain was found to express a WS gene from Marinobacter hydrocarbonoclasticus strain DSM 8798. To stepwisely increase FAEEs production, we optimized the promoter of WS overexpression, eliminated ß-oxidation by deleting the PEX10 gene in our engineered strains, and redirected metabolic flux toward acetyl-CoA. The new engineered strain, coupled with an optimized ethanol concentration, led to an approximate 5.5-fold increase in extracellular FAEEs levels compared to the wild-type strain and a maximum FAEEs titer of 1.18 g/L in shake flask cultures. In summary, the present study demonstrated that an engineered Y. lipolytica strain possessed a high capacity for FAEEs production and may serve as a platform for more efficient biodiesel production in the future.

[Comparison of genetic damage in mice exposed to black carbon and ozone-oxidized black carbon].

OBJECTIVE: To make an assessment on the genotoxicity caused by black carbon (BC) and ozonized black carbon (O3-BC). METHODS: In this study, 74 healthy male ICR mice [weighed (28 ± 1.5) g] were randomly divided into 7 groups, including one phosphate buffer solution (PBS) control group and six particles exposed groups by intratracheal instillation with either BC or O3-BC at the doses of 50, 100, 200 µg/mouse, respectively. There were 12 mice in the groups of 200 µg/mouse and 10 mice in others. The mice were sacrificed 24 h after four intratrachealinstillations. The activities of catalase (CAT) in serum and the levels of malondialdehyde (MDA) in lung tissue homogenate were measured. As the DNA damage mark, 8-hydroxyguanosine (8-OHdG) in urine and serum were quantified with ELISA method. Micronucleus test was used for potential genotoxicity of BC and O3-BC. Hematoxylin and eosin staining was used to stain lung paraffin section. RESULTS: The mice were in good condition during instillation, and the liver coefficient of the test groups was significantly lower than that of the control group (P<0.05). The activities of CAT in serum significantly increased in the 100 µg/mouse and 200 µg/mouse groups after being exposed to these two kinds of particles. The micronucleus rate in allthe BC and O3-BC exposed groups increased (P<0.05), but there was no statistically significant difference among the groups in the levels of 8-OHdG in serum and urine and MDA in lung tissue homogenate. Inflammatory response was found in the lung tissue under the microscope after exposure to BC and O3-BC. CONCLUSION: Intratracheal instillation of BC and O3-BC induced increasing of oxidative stress and genetic damage in mice. But there was no significant difference between these two particles in toxicity. Whether the genotoxicity of O3-BC is higher than that of BC or not is uncertain. Further research is needed.

[Evidence-based study of chromate exposed workers' health surveillance indexes].

OBJECTIVE: The health surveillance proposal for chromate exposed workers was provided and analyzed on the evidence-based study and then to be improved. METHOD: Firstly, the related literatures were searched about liver damage, micronuclei, urinary chromium and hexavalent chromium exposure in Evidence Based Medicine Reviews such as Cochran library, OVID Medline, Web of knowledge in December 2011; and then, these literatures were reviewed in according to inclusion and exclusion criteria; 22 articles totally were retrieved, evaluated and classified in according to the grading standard by Oxford Centre for Evidence-based Medicine.Finally, field epidemiological investigation was further adopted to confirm the efficiency and feasibility of this proposal, combined with cost-effectiveness analysis:the ratio of total cost divided survival years was used to express the cost-effectiveness. RESULT: Only the glutamic pyruvic transaminase test could not reflect liver damage caused by chromate exposure well; Urinary chromium correlated well with the index reflecting body damage caused by chromate exposure; Binucleated cells micronucleus index in peripheral blood lymphocyte could reflect the genetic damage caused by chromate exposure. As for health economic evaluation of chromate lung cancer, the value of cost/effectiveness was ¥42 321.61 per year that was far below the value of common people (¥252 868.97 per year) . CONCLUSION: It was suggested that serum glutamic pyruvic transaminase test should be replaced by liver function test, urinary chromium should be classified as a compulsory index and binucleated cells micronucleus index in peripheral blood lymphocyte should be supplied as a recommended index.

Decreased histone H2B monoubiquitination in malignant gastric carcinoma.

AIM: To investigate H2B monoubiquitination (uH2B) and H3K4 di- and tri-methylation (H3K4-2me, H3K4-3me) levels and their clinical significance in gastric cancer (GC). METHODS: Immunohistochemistry (IGC) was used to detect the differential levels of uH2B, H3K4-2me and H3K4-3me modifications in GC specimens from chemo/radiotherapy-naïve patients who underwent potentially curative surgical resection (n = 159) and in a random sampling of non-tumor gastric epithelium specimens (normal controls, n = 20). The immunohistochemistry (IHC)-detected modifications were classified as negative, low-level, or high-level using a dual-rated (staining intensity and percentage of positively-stained cells) semi-quantitative method. The relationships between uH2B modification levels and clinicopathological parameters of GC were assessed by a Wilcoxon rank sum test (pairwise comparisons) and the Kruskal-Wallis H test (multiple comparisons). The correlation between uH2B modification and survival was estimated by Kaplan-Meier analysis, and the role of uH2B as an independent prognostic factor for survival was assessed by multivariate Cox regression analysis. RESULTS: The presence and level of H3K4-2me and H3K4-3me IHC staining was similar between the normal controls and GC specimens. In contrast, the level of uH2B was significantly lower in the malignant gastric tissues (vs normal control tissues) and decreased along with increases in dedifferentiation (well differentiated > moderately differentiated > poorly differentiated). The level of uH2B correlated with tumor differentiation (P < 0.001), Lauren's diffuse- and intestinal-type classification (P < 0.001), lymph node metastasis (P = 0.049) and tumor-node-metastasis stage (P = 0.005). Patients with uH2B+ staining had higher 5-year survival rates than patients with uH2B-staining (52.692 ± 2.452 vs 23.739 ± 5.207, P < 0.001). The uH2B level was an independent prognostic factor for cancer-specific survival (95%CI: 0.237-0.677, P = 0.001). CONCLUSION: uH2B displays differential IHC staining patterns corresponding to progressive stages of GC. uH2B may contribute to tumorigenesis and could be a potential therapeutic target.

[Dynamic observation of pulmonary ventilation function in workers contacting chromate].

OBJECTIVE: To explore changes of pulmonary ventilation function of chromate exposed workers. METHODS: Ninety-five chromate exposed workers were used as exposure group, and forty-two workers without chromate exposure as control group. Pulmonary ventilation function was performed two times in the winter of 2010 and 2011 respectively in one chromate manufactured factory in Henan Province. RESULTS: In 2010, pulmonary ventilation function of chromate exposed group compared with the control group, forced vital capacity [FVC, (75.38±15.23) L vs. (83.99±26.52)L], forced expiratory volume in one second [FEV1,(82.13±16.51)L vs.(91.24±30.03)L], FEV1/FVC(112.10±13.23 vs. 116.18±11.32), peak expiratory flow [PEF,(74.31±28.09) L/s vs.(78.13±28.34)L/s], maximal expiratory flow [MEF,(101.23±46.37) L/s vs. (110.02±41.40)L/s], maximum ventilation volume [MVV,(90.82± 16.89)L/min vs. (99.95±22.61)L/min]were significantly decreased(P<0.05). In 2011, pulmonary ventilation function of chromate exposed group compared with the control group, FVC[(72.34±14.18)L vs.(81.01±20.79)L], FEV1[(76.04±16.20)L vs.(86.71±24.53)L], FEV1/FVC(109.10±16.18 vs.114.08±10.79), PEF[(71.35±24.87 )L/s vs.(75.36±20.67)L/s], MEF[(96.51±30.17)L/s vs.(107.11±34.81)L/s], MVV[(84.85±21.22)L/min vs. (96.77±22.63)L/min] were also significantly decreased(P<0.05). 2011 compared with 2010, pulmonary ventilation function of chromate exposed group FEV1[(76.04±16.20)L vs.( 82.13±16.51)L], MEF[(96.51±30.17)L/s vs. (101.23±46.37)L/s], MVV[(84.85±21.22)L/min vs. (90.82±16.89)L/min] were significantly decreased(P<0.05). Comparing the classification and category of pulmonary dysfunction based on FVC, FEV1, FVC/ FEV1, no difference was found for classification between the two groups and the category of pulmonary dysfunction almost belongs to limit type, which did not change with exposed time. CONCLUSION: Chronic chromate exposure can cause significant effects on pulmonary function of the workers, and the types of work in production can affect the results.

catena-Poly[[bis-(µ-2-formyl-6-meth-oxy-phenolato-1:2κO,O:O,O)copper(II)sodium]-µ-tetra-fluorido-borate-1:1'κF:F'].

In the title heterodinuclear complex, [CuNa(BF(4))(C(8)H(7)O(3))(2)](n), the Cu(II) ion is four-coordinated by four O atoms of two 2-formyl-6-meth-oxy-phenolate ligands, giving rise to a square-planar geometry. The Na(+) ion is six-coordinated by four O atoms from the two ligands and two F atoms of two tetra-fluoridoborate anions. The tetra-fluoridoborate anion links the Na(+) ions, forming a one-dimensional structure along [001]. Three F atoms of the tetra-fluoridoborate anion are disordered over two sets of sites, with an occupancy ratio of 0.790 (11):0.210 (11).

{µ-6,6'-Dimeth-oxy-2,2'-[ethane-1,2-diyl-bis(nitrilo-methanylyl-idene)]diphenolato-1κO,O,O,O;2κO,N,N',O}(methanol-1κO)(tetra-fluoridoborato-1κF,F')-2-copper(II)-1-sodium.

In the dinuclear salen-type title complex, [CuNa(BF(4))(C(18)H(18)N(2)O(4))(CH(3)OH)], the Cu(II) atom is chelated by two O atoms and two N atoms of the deprotonated Schiff base in a square-planar geometry. The Na atom is seven-coordinate as it is linked to four O atoms of the same Schiff base ligand, one O atom of the methanol and two tetra-fluorido-borate F atoms. The remaining two F atoms of the anion are disordered over two sites in a 0.598 (18):0.402 (18) ratio.

catena-Poly[[bis-(µ-2-formyl-6-meth-oxy-phenolato)copper(II)sodium]-µ-nitrato].

In the title heterodinuclear complex, [CuNa(C(8)H(7)O(3))(2)(NO(3))](n), the Cu(II) ion is five-coordinated in a square-pyramidal arrangement by four atoms of two different ligand molecules in equatorial positions and one remote nitrate O atom in the apical position. The Na(+) ion is eight-coordinated by four ligand O atoms and four nitrate O atoms. The ligand links the Cu(II) and Na ions, forming a layered arrangement extending parallel to (001).

High-level expression, purification and characterization of codon-optimized recombinant hemagglutinin 5 proteins in mammalian cells.

BACKGROUND: Numerous Asian cases of avian influenza virus infection, especially the highly pathogenic strain H5N1, in humans have raised the concern that another influenza pandemic is close. However, there are no effective therapeutic drugs or preventative vaccines available. Hemagglutinin is the membrane glycoprotein of avian influenza virus responsible for receptor binding to human cells and the main immunogenic protein that elicits a strong immune response. Although this protein is of great importance to the study of pathogenesis and vaccine development, its expression and purification are difficult due to high levels of glycosylation. METHODS: In this study, we expressed codon-optimized, full-length hemagglutinin 5 (H5) protein fused with a human IgG Fc tag (H5-Fc) in HEK293 cells. To enhance secretion of this protein, we also deleted the transmembrane domain and the intracellular domain of the H5 protein (H5DeltaTM-Fc). Purified proteins were obtained using a protein A column. RESULTS: ELISA revealed that the yield of soluble H5DeltaTM-Fc protein in the supernatant was about 20 mg/L. Western blotting and fluorescence activated cell sorter (FACS) indicated that the purified H5 protein was correctly folded and biologically active. CONCLUSION: Purification of H5 proteins from mammalian cells could be used for large-scale production of recombinant H5 protein for basic scientific research or the development of vaccines.

[Determination of trace mercury in different sorts of Chinese herbs by atomic fluorescence spectrometry with microwave digestion].

A method for the determination of trace mercury in different sorts of Chinese herbs using hydride generation atomic fluorescence spectrometry under different microwave digestion conditions was developed. Under the optimized experimental conditions, the linear equation was I(F) = 809.1 x -3.327 5, the correlation coefficient was 0.999 998,and the linear range for mercury was 0-80 ng x mL(-1). The detection limit of mercury was 0.014 ng x mL(-1) (n = 11) and the relative standard deviation was 2.03%. The recoveries for these samples were 96.8%-102.80% (n = 6) while the detection limit of the method was 1.17 ng x g(-1). The method's accuracy and precision for different sorts of Chinese herbs using the standard reference standard substance of rice (GBW08508), poplar leaf (GBW07601), and mytilus edulis (GBW08571) was checked, and the results were found to be basically consistent with the reference values. This method has been proved to be sensitive, simple and rapid with satisfactory results.