Outcome of a Novel Drug Combination in the Medical Management of Oral Submucous Fibrosis Patients: A Retrospective Cohort Study.

Aim: To evaluate the efficacy of a new drug combination in the medical management of oral submucous fibrosis (OSMF) patients. Materials and Methods: This retrospective cohort study included 89 patients who were clinically diagnosed of having OSMF (grade I, II, III). These patients had been administered the new drug combination for 6 months and clinical parameters such as burning sensation score, mouth opening and tongue protrusion were evaluated at 1 month, 3 months, 6 months and 12 months post-medication retrospectively. Results: Out of the total 89 patients included in the study, 18 patients had Grade-I, 50 patients had Grade-II and 21 patients had Grade-III OSMF. A significant improvement was observed in the mouth opening and tongue protrusion in all the three grades of OSMF from baseline to 1 month, 3 months, 6 months and 12 months after treatment (p < 0.0001) on intra- and intergroup comparison. A significant reduction in the burning sensation score from baseline to 1 month, 3 months, 6 months and 12 months after treatment was observed (p < 0.0001) in all the three grades on intra group comparison. Conclusion: This retrospective study showed that this novel drug combination is significantly effective in improving burning sensation score, mouth opening and tongue protrusion in OSMF grade I, II and III patients with results consistent after 1 year of follow-up.

Ultra-high static magnetic fields altered the embryonic division and development in Caenorhabditis elegans via multipolar spindles.

INTRODUCTION: Ultra-high static magnetic fields (SMFs) have unique advantages in improving medical and academic research. However, the research on the early embryo exposure of ultra-high SMFs is minimal, extensive exploration is indispensable in living organisms. OBJECTIVES: The present study was aimed to study the effects of ultra-high SMFs on the early embryonic division and development of Caenorhabditis elegans (C. elegans). METHODS: Early adult parents containing fertilized eggs in vivo were exposed to SMFs at intensities ranging from 4 T to 27 T. The number of mitotic cells in the reproductive glands of the P0 worms, early embryonic cell spindle localization, embryo hatching and the reproductive as well as developmental indicators of F1 and F2 nematodes were examined as endpoints. RESULTS: Our results indicated that ultra-high SMFs has no obvious effect on the germ cell cycle, while 14 T and 27 T SMFs significantly increased the proportion of multi-polar spindle formation in early embryonic cells, and reduced the developmental rate and lifespan of C. elegans exposed at the embryonic stage. Spindle abnormalities of early embryonic cells, as well as the down-regulation of genes related to asymmetric embryonic division and the abnormal expression of the non-muscle myosin NMY-2 in the division grooves played a critical role in the slowing down of embryonic development induced by ultra-high SMFs. CONCLUSIONS: This study provided novel information and a new sight for evaluating the biosafety assessment by exposure to ultra-high SMFs at the early embryonic stage in vivo.

Ectopic expression of the yeast Mn2+ transporter SMF2 enhances tolerance and resistance to cadmium and arsenic in transgenic Arabidopsis.

Vesicular sequestration is a potential strategy for enhancing plant tolerance to cadmium (Cd) and arsenic (As). In this study, the ectopic overexpression of yeast-derived ScSMF2 in Arabidopsis thaliana was found to enhance the accumulation and tolerance of Cd and As in transgenic plants. ScSMF2 was localized on vacuole membranes and formed puncta structures in plant cells when agro-infiltrated for transient expression. Transgenic Arabidopsis showed less retardation on root elongation and shoot weight and more accumulation of Cd, As (III) and As (V) when cultured on medium containing Cd or As. Overexpression of ScSMF2 promoted accumulation of Cd and arsenic in transgenic Arabidopsis, which were over twice higher than in WT plants when cultured in soil. This study provides insights into the mechanisms involved in the vesicular sequestration of heavy metals in plant and presents a potential strategy for enhancing the phytoremediation capacity of plants toward heavy metals.

Ectopic overexpression of the yeast Mn²⁺ transporter SMF2 in Arabidopsis thaliana substantially boosts the accumulation and tolerance to Cd and As in plants. This augmentation is attributed to the enhanced efficacy of intracellular vesicle sequestration, thereby bolstering the capacity of plants to sequester and detoxify these toxic heavy metals. This investigation introduces a potential approach for cultivating plants with improved phytoremediation capabilities, thereby advancing eco-friendly and sustainable remediation initiatives against heavy metal pollution.

Unveiling a Microexon Switch: Novel Regulation of the Activities of Sugar Assimilation and Plant-Cell-Wall-Degrading Xylanases and Cellulases by Xlr2 in Trichoderma virens.

Functional microexons have not previously been described in filamentous fungi. Here, we describe a novel mechanism of transcriptional regulation in Trichoderma requiring the inclusion of a microexon from the Xlr2 gene. In low-glucose environments, a long mRNA including the microexon encodes a protein with a GAL4-like DNA-binding domain (Xlr2-α), whereas in high-glucose environments, a short mRNA that is produced encodes a protein lacking this DNA-binding domain (Xlr2-ß). Interestingly, the protein isoforms differ in their impact on cellulase and xylanase activity. Deleting the Xlr2 gene reduced both xylanase and cellulase activity and growth on different carbon sources, such as carboxymethylcellulose, xylan, glucose, and arabinose. The overexpression of either Xlr2-α or Xlr2-ß in T. virens showed that the short isoform (Xlr2-ß) caused higher xylanase activity than the wild types or the long isoform (Xlr2-α). Conversely, cellulase activity did not increase when overexpressing Xlr2-ß but was increased with the overexpression of Xlr2-α. This is the first report of a novel transcriptional regulation mechanism of plant-cell-wall-degrading enzyme activity in T. virens. This involves the differential expression of a microexon from a gene encoding a transcriptional regulator.

Spectroscopic approaches for studies of site-specific DNA base and backbone 'breathing' using exciton-coupled dimer-labeled DNA.

DNA regulation and repair processes require direct interactions between proteins and DNA at specific sites. Local fluctuations of the sugar-phosphate backbones and bases of DNA (a form of DNA 'breathing') play a central role in such processes. Here we review the development and application of novel spectroscopic methods and analyses - both at the ensemble and single-molecule levels - to study structural and dynamic properties of exciton-coupled cyanine and fluorescent nucleobase analogue dimer-labeled DNA constructs at key positions involved in protein-DNA complex assembly and function. The exciton-coupled dimer probes act as 'sensors' of the local conformations adopted by the sugar-phosphate backbones and bases immediately surrounding the dimer probes. These methods can be used to study the mechanisms of protein binding and function at these sites.

Midterm Comparative Analysis of Short Femoral Stem Survivorship in Dorr Type A Femurs.

Background: Proximal-distal mismatch has emerged as a prominent concern in Dorr type A femoral morphology, prompting the exploration of short stems as promising alternatives to conventional stems. This study aimed to evaluate clinical and radiographic outcomes of total hip arthroplasty (THA) using short femoral stems in Dorr type A proximal femoral morphology with a minimum follow-up of 5 years. Methods: Patients with short femoral stems in Dorr type A between 2011 and 2017 were included. Patients with the Short Modular Femoral (SMF) stem and Metha stem were recruited and patients with a shortened tapered stem (Tri-Lock BPS) were matched by propensity score matching based on age, sex, body mass index, calcar to canal ratio, and diagnosis. Patient-reported outcomes and the presence of thigh pain were assessed at 5 years postoperatively. Revision rate, complication rate, and radiographic outcomes were also assessed and compared. Results: Twenty-two cases (81%) in the SMF stem and 43 cases (65%) in the Metha stem had more than 5 years of follow-up data available. The SMF stem showed a higher failure rate than the other 2 groups, with 18% requiring revision surgery in the SMF stem compared to 4.6% in the Metha stem, and 2.3% in the Tri-Lock BPS. The SMF stem showed considerable complications such as stem position change and lateral cortical hypertrophy with inferior clinical outcomes than the other 2 stem groups. When the Metha stem and the Tri-Lock BPS groups were compared, more intraoperative fractures were observed in the Metha stem, whereas stress shielding and anterior thigh pain were significantly more prevalent in the Tri-Lock BPS. Conclusions: The SMF stem might be less reliable than previously reported, showing a high failure rate and increased radiologic complications. Thus, its use for THA in Dorr Type A femurs needs caution. On the other hand, the Metha stem showed comparable outcomes to the shortened tapered Tri-Lock BPS.

Extracellular enzymes producing yeasts study: cost-effective production of α-amylase by a newly isolated thermophilic yeast Geotrichum candidum PO27.

Enzymes are biocatalysts mainly used for their industrial potential in various applications. The present study aims to understand the enzyme production for biotechnological interest from a local yeast strain. From 100 isolates obtained from various biotopes, 78 strains were selected for their enzymatic heritage. Screening of α-amylase, lipase/esterase, and cellulase activities by rapid plate detection methods was carried out and the PO27 yeast was selected for its high capacity to produce α-amylase. In addition, this yeast strain exhibited good lipolytic and esterolytic activities, as well as low cellulase activity. A sequence analysis of the D1/D2 region of the 26S ribosomal RNA (26S rRNA) and a study of morphological characteristics identified the PO27 strain as Geotrichum candidum. The production of α-amylase has been studied in solid medium fermentation using various natural substrates without any supplementation such as olive pomace, potato peels, leftover bread, and mastic cake. G. candidum PO27 showed an improved production of α-amylase with olive pomace, thus reaching approximately 180.71 U/g. To evaluate the ability of this isolate to produce α-amylase in submerged fermentation, multiple concentrations of olive pomace substrate were tested. The best activity of submerged fermentation was statistically compared to the solid-state fermentation result in order to select the appropriate fermentation type. A high significant difference was found to rank the 6% olive pomace medium as the best substrate concentration with 34.395 U/mL of α-amylase activity. This work showed that the new isolate Geotrichum candidum PO27 has a better potential to produce α-amylase at a low cost in solid-state fermentation compared to submerged fermentation. Optimization conditions for PO27 α-amylase production through solid-state fermentation were achieved using a one factor at a time (OFAT) approach. The findings revealed that a high temperature (60 °C), an acidic pH, malt extract, and soluble starch were the highly significant medium components for enhancing α- amylase production. The use of olive pomace waste by Geotrichum candidum PO27 is expected to be effective in producing an industrially useful α-amylase.

Effects of 0.4 T, 3.0 T and 9.4 T static magnetic fields on development, behaviour and immune response in zebrafish (Danio rerio).

Magnetic Resonance Imaging (MRI) is widely applied in medical diagnosis due to its excellent non-invasiveness. With the increasing intensity of static magnetic field (SMF), the safety assessment of MRI has been ongoing. In this study, zebrafish larvae were exposed to SMFs of 0.4, 3.0, and 9.4 T for 2 h (h), and we found that there was no significant difference in the number of spontaneous tail swings, heart rate, and body length of zebrafish larvae in the treatment groups. The expression of development-related genes shha, pygo1, mylz3 and runx2b in the three SMF groups was almost not significantly different from the control group. Behavior tests unveiled a notable reduction in both the average speed and duration of high-speed movements in zebrafish larvae across all three SMF groups. In addition, the 0.4 and 3.0 T SMFs increased the migration of neutrophils in caudal fin injury, and the expression of pro-inflammatory cytokines was also increased. To explore the mechanism of SMFs on zebrafish immune function, this study utilized aanat2-/- mutant fish to demonstrate the effect of melatonin (MT) involvement in SMFs on zebrafish immune function. This study provides experimental data for understanding the effects of SMFs on organisms, and also provides a new insight for exploring the relationship between magnetic fields and immune function.

Microbial surfactants: characteristics, production and broader application prospects in environment and industry.

Microbial surfactants are green molecules with high surface activities having the most promising advantages over chemical surfactants including their ability to efficiently reducing surface and interfacial tension, nontoxic emulsion-based formulations, biocompatibility, biodegradability, simplicity of preparation from low cost materials such as residual by-products and renewable resources at large scales, effectiveness and stabilization under extreme conditions and broad spectrum antagonism of pathogens to be part of the biocontrol strategy. Thus, biosurfactants are universal tools of great current interest. The present work describes the major types and microbial origin of surfactants and their production optimization from agro-industrial wastes in the batch shake-flasks and bioreactor systems through solid-state and submerged fermentation industries. Various downstream strategies that had been developed to extract and purify biosurfactants are discussed. Further, the physicochemical properties and functional characteristics of biosurfactants open new future prospects for the development of efficient and eco-friendly commercially successful biotechnological product compounds with diverse potential applications in environment, industry, biomedicine, nanotechnology and energy-saving technology as well.

HighlightsBiosurfactants are important biotechnological products with unique superior potentials over their synthetic counterparts.Physiological roles of biosurfactants in survival of the producing microorganisms under unfavorable conditions.Classification of biosurfactants.Biosurfactant types produced by yeasts, fungi and bacteria.Production efficiency optimization of biosurfactants.Utilization of agro-industrial wastes as economic renewable substrates for biosurfactants production.Production of biosurfactants by solid-state and submerged fermentation industries.Potential applications of biosurfactants in environment.Glycolipid biosurfactants efficiently control pathogens causing their membrane disruption.Potential application of biosurfactants in the oil industry.Natural surfactants are novel capping and stabilizing agents for nanoparticles synthesis.

A static magnetic field enhances the repair of osteoarthritic cartilage by promoting the migration of stem cells and chondrogenesis.

Objective: To investigate the therapeutic effects of static magnetic field (SMF) and its regulatory mechanism in the repair of osteoarthritic cartilage. Methods: Fourteen-week-old female C57BL/6 mice were randomly divided into the sham operation group and the osteoarthritis (OA) groups with and without SMF application. SMF was applied at 200 â€‹mT for two consecutive weeks. Changes in knee cartilage were examined by histomorphometry, and the chondrogenesis and migration of endogenous stem cells were assessed. The expression of SRY-related protein 9 (SOX9), Collagen type II (COL2), matrix metallopeptidase 13 (MMP13), stromal cell-derived factor 1/C-X-C chemokine receptor type 4 (SDF-1/CXCR4), Piezo1 and other genes was evaluated, and the mechanism of SMF's action was tested using the CXCR4 inhibitor, AMD3100, and Piezo1 siRNA. Results: SMF significantly decreased the OARSI scores after induction of OA. SMF was beneficial to chondrogenesis by elevating SOX9. In the OA mouse model, an increase in MMP13 with a decrease in COL2 led to the destruction of the cartilage extracellular matrix, which was suppressed by SMF. SMF promoted the migration of cartilage-derived stem/progenitor cells and bone marrow-derived mesenchymal stem cells (MSCs). It increased SDF-1 and CXCR4, while the CXCR4 inhibitor significantly suppressed the beneficial effects of SMF. The application of Piezo1 siRNA inhibited the SMF-induced increase of CXCR4. Conclusion: SMF enhanced chondrogenesis and improved cartilage extracellular matrices. It activated the Piezo1-mediated SDF-1/CXCR4 regulatory axis and promoted the migration of endogenous stem cells. Collectively, it attenuated the pathological progression of cartilage destruction in OA mice. The Translational potential of this article: The findings in this study provided convincing evidence that SMF could enhance cartilage repair and improve OA symptoms, suggesting that SMF could have clinical value in the treatment of OA.

Single-Molecule Mapping of Chromatin Accessibility Using NOMe-seq/dSMF.

The bulk of gene expression regulation in most organisms is accomplished through the action of transcription factors (TFs) on cis-regulatory elements (CREs). In eukaryotes, these CREs are generally characterized by nucleosomal depletion and thus higher physical accessibility of DNA. Many methods exploit this property to map regions of high average accessibility, and thus putative active CREs, in bulk. However, these techniques do not provide information about coordinated patterns of accessibility along the same DNA molecule, nor do they map the absolute levels of occupancy/accessibility. SMF (Single-Molecule Footprinting) fills these gaps by leveraging recombinant DNA cytosine methyltransferases (MTase) to mark accessible locations on individual DNA molecules. In this chapter, we discuss current methods and important considerations for performing SMF experiments.

Biotransformation of grease waste into fatty acid by Penicillium chrysogenum SNP5 through media engineering and artificial neural network.

Degradation of grease waste remains a challenging task. Current work deals with the biotransformation of grease waste into fatty acids under submerged fermentation using Penicillium chrysogenum SNP5 through media formulation and artificial neural network (ANN). Fermentation media was formulated to ameliorate the uptake of hydrocarbon by enhancing alkane hydroxylase (AlkB) activity, extracellular release of fatty acids and inhibiting beta-oxidation of fatty acid by regulating transketolase. Further, the process parameters of fermentation were optimized through Artificial Neural Network (ANN) using three critical variables viz; inoculum size (spores/ml), pH, and incubation time (days) while media engineering was done with the optimal supplementation of various medium components such as glucose, YPD, MnSO4, tetrahydrobiopterin (THB) and phloretin. The maximum conversion of 66.5% of grease waste into fatty acid was achieved at optimum conditions: inoculums size 3.36 × 107 spores/ml, incubation time 11.5 days, pH 7.2 along with formulated media composed of 1% grease in czapek-dox medium supplemented with 55.5 mM glucose, 0.5% YPD, 16.6 mM hexadecane, 1 mM MnSO4, 1 mM THB, and 1 mM phloretin. The presence of long-chain fatty acids in purified extracts such as oleic acid and octadecanoic acid as end products has valued the evolved process as another source of alternative fuel.

1-2 ​T static magnetic field combined with Ferumoxytol prevent unloading-induced bone loss by regulating iron metabolism in osteoclastogenesis.

Objective: With the deepening of magnetic biomedical effects and electromagnetic technology, some medical instruments based on static magnetic field (SMF) have been used in orthopedic-related diseases treatment. Studies have shown SMF could combat osteoporosis by regulating the differentiation of mesenchymal stem cells (MSCs), osteoblast and osteoclast. With the development of nanotechnology, iron oxide nanoparticles (IONPs) have been reported to regulate the process of bone anabolism. As for SMF combined with IONPs, studies indicated osteogenic differentiation of MSCs were promoted by the combination of SMF and IONPs. However, there are few reports on the effects of SMF combined with IONPs on osteoclast. Herein, the purpose of this study was to investigate the effects of high static magnetic field (HiSMF) combined with IONPs on unloading-induced bone loss in vivo and osteoclastic formation in vitro, and elucidated the potential molecular mechanisms. Methods: In vivo, C57BL/6 â€‹J male mice were unloaded via tail suspension or housed normally. The hindlimb of mice were fixed and exposed to 1-2 â€‹T SMF for 1 â€‹h every day, 10 â€‹mg/kg of Ferumoxytol or saline were injected by tail vein once a week, last for 4 weeks. Bone microstructure, mechanical properties, and osteoclastogenesis were examined respectively. In vitro, the RAW264.7 â€‹cells were used to assess the effects of 1-2 â€‹T SMF combined with IONPs in osteoclastogenesis. The iron content was detected by atomic absorption spectrometry and Prussian blue staining. DCFH-DA and MitoSOX™ fluorescence staining were used to assess oxidative stress levels. NF-κB and MAPK signaling pathways were examined by western blot assay. Results: In vivo, the results showed 1-2 â€‹T SMF and IONPs prevented the damage to bone microstructure and improved the mechanical properties, diminished the number of osteoclasts in unloaded mice, 1-2 â€‹T SMF combined with IONPs was found more effective. The iron content in the liver and spleen was reduced by the combination of 1-2 â€‹T SMF and IONPs, enhancing iron levels in the femur. In vitro, osteoclast formation was inhibited by 1-2 â€‹T SMF and IONPs treatment, and 1-2 â€‹T SMF combined with IONPs had a more pronounced effect. Moreover, iron uptake of IONPs in osteoclast was reduced to 1-2 â€‹T SMF exposure. Oxidative stress levels were decreased in osteoclast differentiation under 1-2 â€‹T SMF combined with IONPs treatment. Molecularly, the expression of NF-κB and MAPK signaling pathways were inhibited under 1-2 â€‹T SMF combined with IONPs in osteoclastogenesis. Conclusions: Synthetically, our research illustrated 1-2 â€‹T SMF combined with IONPs prevented unloading-induced bone loss by regulating iron metabolism in osteoclastogenesis.Translational potential of this article: As a non-invasive alternative therapy, some medical instruments based on SMF have been used for orthopedic-related diseases treatment for their portability, cheapness and safety. Ferumoxytol (Feraheme™), the first FDA-approved IONP drug for the treatment of iron deficiency anemia, has been also adapted in translational research for osteoporosis. Based on the above-mentioned two points, we found the synergistic effects of SMF and Ferumoxytol for treatment of experimental osteoporosis. These results show translational potentials for clinical application.

Gut microbiota-mediated therapeutic effect of Shengmai formula (SMF) on sepsis in mice / 中国药科大学学报

@#To investigate the effects of Shengmai formula (SMF) on tissue damages, serum inflammatory factors and the proportion of innate immunocytes in peripheral blood, sepsis models using either intraperitoneal injection of 20 mg/kg lipopolysaccharide (LPS) or cecal ligation and puncture (CLP) were established.The role of gut microbiota in septic mice during SMF treatment was further investigated.LPS-induced sepsis model was carried out 4 days after daily gavage administration with 0.3 g/kg, 0.6 g/kg, 1.2 g/kg SMF or intraperitoneal injection with 0.6 g/kg SMF.Survival rates of septic mice were determined.Histological evaluations of liver, lung and kidney were analyzed by H&E staining. Serum IL-6, TNF-α, Alanine transaminase (ALT), Aspartate aminotransferase (AST), Blood urea nitrogen (BUN) and Creatinine (Cr) levels were determined.LPS and CLP-induced sepsis models were established, and the proportion of monocytes, macrophages and neutrophils in peripheral blood were analyzed by flow cytometry after gavage administration or intraperitoneal injection of SMF.The therapeutic effects of SMF after antibiotics treatment were further determined, and the therapeutic effects of fecal microbiota from SMF-treated mice were investigated.The results show that LPS-induced sepsis caused death of mice, damages in liver, lung and kidney with increased infiltration of leukocytes and elevated levels of serum IL-6, ALT, AST, BUN and Cr, which were all reversed by gavage administration of SMF.Gavage administration of SMF could significantly reduce the proportion of peripheral macrophages in LPS model and monocytes, macrophages, neutrophils in CLP model.Intraperitoneal injection of SMF showed no therapeutic benefits in septic mice.Depletion of gut microbiota using antibiotics cocktail reversed the therapeutic effects of SMF on sepsis, indicating the involvement of gut microbiota.Fecal microbiota from SMF-treated donors was transplanted into pseudo-sterile recipients, and we found FMT could significantly ameliorate sepsis of recipients.These results showed that gavage administration of SMF reduced serum inflammatory factors and alleviated tissue damages in septic mice by regulating gut microbiota. This study provides a theoretical basis for the treatment of clinical sepsis with SMF.

Application of the solid-state fermentation process and its variations in PHA production: a review.

Solid-state fermentation (SSF) is a type of fermentation process with potential to use agro-industrial by-products as a carbon source. Nonetheless, there are few studies evaluating SSF compared to submerged fermentation (SmF) to produce polyhydroxyalkanoates (PHAs). Different methodologies are available associating the two processes. In general, the studies employ a 1st step by SSF to hydrolyze the agro-industrial by-products used as a carbon source, and a 2nd step to produce PHA that can be carried out by SmF or SSF. This paper reviewed and compared the different methodologies described in the literature to assess their potential for use in PHA production. The studies evaluated showed that highest PHA yields (86.2% and 82.3%) were achieved by associating SSF and SmF by Cupriavidus necator. Meanwhile, in methodologies using only SSF, Bacillus produced the highest yields (62% and 56.8%). Since PHA (%) does not necessarily represent a higher production by biomass, the productivity parameter was also compared between studies. We observed that the highest productivity results did not necessarily represent the highest PHA (%). C. necator presented the highest PHA yields associating SSF and SmF, however, is not the most suitable microorganism for PHA production by SSF. Concomitant use of C. necator and Bacillus is suggested for future studies in SSF. Also, it discusses the lack of studies on the association of the two fermentation methodologies, and on the scaling of SSF process for PHA production. In addition to demonstrating the need for standardization of results, for comparison between different methodologies.

Simultaneous Measurement of Magnetic Field and Temperature Utilizing Magnetofluid-Coated SMF-UHCF-SMF Fiber Structure.

We have proposed and experimentally demonstrated a dual-parameter optical fiber sensor for simultaneous measurement of magnetic field and temperature. The sensor is a magnetofluid-coated single-mode fiber (SMF)-U-shaped hollow-core fiber (UHCF)-single-mode fiber (SMF) (SMF-UHCF-SMF) fiber structure. Combined with the intermodal interference and the macro-bending loss of the U-shaped fiber structure, the U-shaped fiber sensor with different bend diameters was investigated. In our experiments, the transmission spectra of the sensor varied with magnetic field strength and temperature around the sensing structure, respectively. The dip wavelengths of the interference spectra of the proposed sensor exhibit red shifts with magnetic field strength and temperature, and the maximum sensitivity of magnetic field strength and temperature were 1.0898 nm/mT and 0.324 nm/°C, respectively.

Antibacterial activity of peptaibols from Trichoderma longibrachiatum SMF2 against gram-negative Xanthomonas oryzae pv. oryzae, the causal agent of bacterial leaf blight on rice.

Bacterial leaf blight caused by Gram-negative pathogen Xanthomonas oryzae pv. oryzae (Xoo) is one of the most destructive bacterial diseases on rice. Due to the resistance, toxicity and environmental issues of chemical bactericides, new biological strategies are still in need. Although peptaibols produced by Trichoderma spp. can inhibit the growth of several Gram-positive bacteria and plant fungal pathogens, it still remains unclear whether peptaibols have anti-Xoo activity to control bacterial leaf blight on rice. In this study, we evaluated the antibacterial effects of Trichokonins A (TKA), peptaibols produced by Trichoderma longibrachiatum SMF2, against Xoo. The in vitro antibacterial activity analysis showed that the growth of Xoo was significantly inhibited by TKA, with a minimum inhibitory concentration of 54 µg/mL and that the three TKs in TKA all had remarkable anti-Xoo activity. Further inhibitory mechanism analyses revealed that TKA treatments resulted in the damage of Xoo cell morphology and the release of intracellular substances, such as proteins and nucleic acids, from Xoo cells, suggesting the damage of the permeability of Xoo cell membrane by TKA. Pathogenicity analyses showed that the lesion length on rice leaf was significantly reduced by 82.2% when treated with 27 µg/mL TKA. This study represents the first report of the antibacterial activity of peptaibols against a Gram-negative bacterium. Thus, TKA can be of a promising agent in controlling bacterial leaf blight on rice.

Is deoxycholic acid able to reduce submental fat and increase patient satisfaction when compared to placebo groups? A systematic review.

The accumulation of submental fat (SMF) can negatively impact facial harmony appearance, and one alternative treatment for this condition is the application of deoxycholic acid (DOC). The objective of this systematic review was to answer the following question: "Is DOC able to reduce SMF and increase patient satisfaction when compared to the placebo groups?". Therefore, a detailed search strategy was carried out in 6 scientific databases (PubMed, Scopus, Embase, Lilacs, SciELO, and Web of Science) as primary search sources, while OpenGrey and OpenThesis were also used to capture the "grey literature". Only six studies met all inclusion criteria and were considered in this review analysis. The selected sample included prospective clinical studies published from 2014 to 2018, covering a total sample of 3488 patients, with an average age ranging from 46 to 49.5 years old. All selected articles evaluated the effect of DOC at concentrations of 1 mg/cm² or 2 mg/cm², using saline or placebo as control solutions for the comparative analysis. The application interval was 28 days in all studies analyzed, and the treatment duration ranged from 4 to 6 weeks. In all studies evaluated, there was a reduction in SMF and patient satisfaction with the application of DOC was higher than in the control groups at the end of a 12-week period. Thus, it is possible to conclude that the application of DOC has a positive effect on reducing SMF and improving patient satisfaction concerning their facial appearance.

Reference Data of Phase Angle Using Bioelectrical Impedance Analysis in Overweight and Obese Chinese.

Introduction: Phase angle (PhA) is a ratio of reactance and resistance {arctangent (reactance (Xc)/resistance (R)) × (180°/π)}, which can be obtained by bioelectrical impedance analysis (BIA). PhA indicates cellular health and integrity, and it is also considered as a prognostic tool in medical disorders and an indicator of nutritional status (especially of muscle quality) in patients with obesity. However, PhA has limited usefulness in clinical practice because of a lackness of reference values for Chinese overweight and obese populations. The main aim of this study was to show PhA reference data in different age and BMI groups by sex. In addition, we also study the association of age, sex, and BMI on PhA. Methods: A total of 1729 overweight and obese participants were included in this study. PhA and body composition were measured using segmental multifrequency BIA. Differences in mean values for variables were tested by one-way analysis of variance. Multiple regression analysis was used to assess the associations of PhA with age, sex and BMI. Results: Multiple regression analysis showed that age, sex and BMI were significant (P < 0.05) independent influence factors of PhA in Chinese overweight and obese adults when age and BMI were continues variables. The mean PhA value for all participants was 5.5°. Mean BMI, age, weight, height and 50kHz-PhA were significantly higher (P < 0.001) in male participants than female ones. In age groups and BMI groups, mean 50kHz-PhA was significantly higher (P < 0.005) in male participants than female ones. When age groups and BMI groups were categorical variables, multiple regression analysis showed that different age groups (46-55 years and ≥ 56 years) had a significantly lower (P < 0.005) PhA as compared with the baseline group (18-25 years) and different BMI groups (≥ 28 kg/m2) had a significantly higher (P < 0.05) PhA as compared with the baseline group (24-27.9 kg/m2). Conclusion: PhA differed according to age, sex and BMI. Reference data in this study can be taken into consideration when deriving the reference values for overweight and obese Chinese populations.

Do Magnetic Fields Have a Place in Treating Vascular Complications in Diabetes?

The use of electromagnetic field therapy (EMFT) is a non-invasive, potential alternative or complementary choice in the treatment of wounds, chronic pain, neuropathy, and other medical conditions, including tissue repair and cell proliferation. Static magnetic fields (SMFs) have been reported to increase microcirculatory blood flow by mediating vasodilation via nitric oxide. Studies report that SMF exposure causes homeostatic, normalizing effects on the vascular tone that may have beneficial effects in situations where tissue perfusion is limited, such as may be present in diabetes. Pulsed electromagnetic fields (PEMFs) have also shown promise in treating diabetic wounds by improving wound healing rates and other attributes. Our purpose was to critically review prior applications of EMFT for relevancy and effectiveness in treating diabetic complications. The goal was to provide information to allow for informed decisions on the possible use of these modalities in the treatment of persons with diabetic complications. The focus was on the following major areas: wound healing, neuropathy, blood glucose control, blood flow, inflammation and oxidative stress.