Purification and characterization of the low molecular weight xylanase from Bacillus cereus L-1.

Xylanase is widely used in various industries such as food processing, paper, textiles, and leather tanning. In this study, Bacillus cereus L-1 strain was isolated and identified as capable of producing low molecular weight xylanase through 16 s rRNA sequencing. Maximum xylanase yield of 15.51 ± 2.08 U/mL was achieved under optimal fermentation conditions (5% inoculum, 20 g/L xylan, pH 6.0, for 24 h). After purification via ammonium sulfate precipitation and High-S ion exchange chromatography, electrophoretic purity xylanase was obtained with a 28-fold purification and specific activity of 244.97 U/mg. Xylanase had an optimal pH of 6.5 and temperature of 60 °C and displayed thermostability at 30 °C and 40 °C with 48.56% and 45.97% remaining activity after 180 min, respectively. The xylanase retained more than 82.97% of its activity after incubation for 24 h at pH 5.0 and was sensitive to metal ions, especially Mg2+ and Li+. Purified xylanase showed a molecular weight of 23 kDa on SDS-PAGE, and partial peptide sequencing revealed homology to the endo-1,4-beta-xylanase with a molecular weight of 23.3 kDa through LC/MS-MS (liquid chromatography-tandem mass spectrometry). This study suggests that the purified xylanase is easier to purify and enriches low molecular weight xylanases from bacteria source.

HSF1 expression in tumor-associated macrophages promotes tumor cell proliferation and indicates poor prognosis in esophageal squamous cell carcinoma.

PURPOSE: Tumor-associated macrophages (TAMs), are crucial for the survival and development of tumor cells. Heat shock factor 1 (HSF1) is a potent, complex carcinogenesis modulator, and esophageal cancer (EC) patients have a bad prognosis when HSF1 is highly expressed. HSF1's clinical importance and biological role in TAMs are still unknown. METHODS: The HSF1 expression profile and patient survival information were analyzed from the TCGA database. The infiltration of different types of immune cells in EC was evaluated based on HSF1 gene expression by Sangerbox 3.0. Immunochemistry was employed to assess HSF1 protein expression in 134 individuals with esophageal squamous cell carcinoma (ESCC), proceeded by association with clinicopathological variables. The role of macrophage-driven HSF1 were observed using HSF1-knockdown THP1 cells. RESULTS: High level of HSF1 have a poorer prognosis in individuals with EC. The expressing level of HSF1 was positively related to infiltration of M2 macrophages (P < 0.05). The expression of HSF1 in macrophages was an independent factor for DFS (P = 0.002) and OS (P = 0.002) in ESCC cases. HSF1 was up-regulated in IL-4 stimulation THP1 cells in a time-dependent manner. Under the heat stimulation condition, THP1-derived macrophages were more sensitive than tumor cells. Compared to IL-4 induced-THP1 cells control, the HSF1 knockdown in THP1 cell inhibited the growth and proliferation of ESCC cells. CONCLUSIONS: The up-regulation of HSF1 was more rapid and could affect the proliferation of tumor cells in IL4-induced macrophages. The expression of HSF1 in TAMs can also serve as a marker for ESCC prognosis.

Differentiation between tuberculosis and leukemia in abdominal and pelvic lymph nodes: evaluation with contrast-enhanced multidetector computed tomography.

PURPOSE: To compare the characteristics of tubercular vs. leukemic involvement of abdominopelvic lymph nodes using multidetector computed tomography (CT). MATERIALS AND METHODS: We retrospectively reviewed multidetector computed tomography features including lymph node size, shape, enhancement patterns, and anatomical distribution, in 106 consecutive patients with newly diagnosed, untreated tuberculosis (55 patients; 52%) or leukemia (51 patients; 48%). In patients with leukemia, 32 (62.7%) had chronic lymphocytic leukemia, and 19 (37.3%) had acute leukemias; of these, 10 (19.6%) had acute myeloid leukemia, and 9 (17.6%) had acute lymphocytic leukemia. RESULTS: The lower para-aortic (30.9% for tuberculosis, 63.2% for acute leukemias and 87.5% for chronic lymphocytic leukemia) and inguinal (9.1% for tuberculosis, 57.9% for acute leukemias and 53.1% for chronic lymphocytic leukemia) lymph nodes were involved more frequently in the three types of leukemia than in tuberculosis (both with p <0.017). Tuberculosis showed peripheral enhancement, frequently with a multilocular appearance, in 43 (78.2%) patients, whereas patients with leukemia (78.9% for acute myeloid leukemia and acute lymphocytic leukemia, 87.5% for chronic lymphocytic leukemia) demonstrated predominantly homogeneous enhancement (both with p <0.017). For the diagnosis of tuberculosis, the analysis showed that a peripheral enhancement pattern had a sensitivity of 78.2%, a specificity of 100%, and an accuracy of 88.7%. For the diagnosis of leukemia, the analysis showed that a homogeneous enhancement pattern was associated with a sensitivity of 84.3%, a specificity of 94.5%, and an accuracy of 89.6%. CONCLUSION: Our findings indicate that the anatomical distribution and enhancement patterns of lymphadenopathy seen on multidetector computed tomography are useful for differentiating between untreated tuberculosis and leukemia of the abdominopelvic lymph nodes.

Differentiation between tuberculosis and leukemia in abdominal and pelvic lymph nodes: evaluation with contrast-enhanced multidetector computed tomography

PURPOSE: To compare the characteristics of tubercular vs. leukemic involvement of abdominopelvic lymph nodes using multidetector computed tomography (CT). MATERIALS AND METHODS: We retrospectively reviewed multidetector computed tomography features including lymph node size, shape, enhancement patterns, and anatomical distribution, in 106 consecutive patients with newly diagnosed, untreated tuberculosis (55 patients; 52%) or leukemia (51 patients; 48%). In patients with leukemia, 32 (62.7%) had chronic lymphocytic leukemia, and 19 (37.3%) had acute leukemias; of these, 10 (19.6%) had acute myeloid leukemia, and 9 (17.6%) had acute lymphocytic leukemia. RESULTS: The lower para-aortic (30.9% for tuberculosis, 63.2% for acute leukemias and 87.5% for chronic lymphocytic leukemia) and inguinal (9.1% for tuberculosis, 57.9% for acute leukemias and 53.1% for chronic lymphocytic leukemia) lymph nodes were involved more frequently in the three types of leukemia than in tuberculosis (both with p <0.017). Tuberculosis showed peripheral enhancement, frequently with a multilocular appearance, in 43 (78.2%) patients, whereas patients with leukemia (78.9% for acute myeloid leukemia and acute lymphocytic leukemia, 87.5% for chronic lymphocytic leukemia) demonstrated predominantly homogeneous enhancement (both with p <0.017). For the diagnosis of tuberculosis, the analysis showed that a peripheral enhancement pattern had a sensitivity of 78.2%, a specificity of 100%, and an accuracy of 88.7%. For the diagnosis of leukemia, the analysis showed that a homogeneous enhancement pattern was associated with a sensitivity of 84.3%, a specificity of 94.5%, and an accuracy of 89.6%. CONCLUSION: Our findings indicate that the anatomical distribution and enhancement patterns of lymphadenopathy seen on multidetector computed tomography are useful for differentiating between untreated tuberculosis and leukemia of the abdominopelvic lymph nodes. .

Effect of amnion-wrapped allogenic nerve bridging on peripheral nerve injury / Efecto del puente alogénico de nervio envuelto en membrana amniótica sobre la lesión de nervio periférico

This work aims to investigate the effect of fetal amnion-wrapped acellular allogenic nerve transplantation on peripheral nerve injury (PNI) in dogs and to explore its advantages and feasibility in PNI repair. A total of 15 dogs were divided into three groups: the allogenic nerve transplantation (A), amnion-wrapped allogenic nerve transplantation (B), and allogenic nerve donor (C) groups. Neurite counts after myelin and H-E stainings, soleus muscle action potentials, and sciatic nerve conductive velocities were compared between the A and B groups at 16 w after operation. The B group showed better nerve regeneration than the A group at 16 w. Compared with the A group, the B group showed a better growth continuity of the transplanted nerve and milder inflammatory reactions around the nerve. The B group presented much more proliferated Schwannocytes and regenerated nerve fibers than the A group. The neurite density and the amplitude of the soleus muscle action potentials in the B group were significantly higher than those in the A group (P < 0.05). The two groups did not show significant differences in nerve conductive velocities (P > 0.05). Amnion-wrapped acellular allogenic nerve transplantation can improve defected nerve morphology and the quality of transplanted nerve regeneration.

El objetivo fue investigar el efecto del trasplante alogénico de nervio acelular envuelto en membrana amniótica fetal sobre la lesión del nervio periférico (LNP) en perros, y explorar sus ventajas y viabilidad en la reparación de LNP. Quince 15 perros se dividieron en tres grupos: grupo trasplante alogénico de nervio (A), grupo trasplante alogénico de nervio envuelto en membrana amniótica (B), y grupo donante alogénico de nervio (C). Se compararon el recuento de neuritas posterior a la tinción de hematoxilina-eosina (HE) y para mielina, potenciales de acción del músculo sóleo, y velocidades conductoras nerviosas del nervio ciático entre los grupos A y B, 16 semanas después de la operación. El grupo B mostró una mejor regeneración de los nervios que el grupo A a las 16 semanas. En comparación con el grupo A, el grupo B mostró una mejor continuidad del crecimiento del nervio trasplantado con reacciones inflamatorias leves alrededor del nervio. El grupo B presentó fibras nerviosas donde proliferaron más los Schwannocitos y regeneración que el grupo A. La densidad de las neuritas y la amplitud de los potenciales de acción del músculo sóleo en el grupo B fueron significativamente más altos (p <0,05). Ambos grupos no mostraron diferencias significativas en las velocidades conductoras nerviosas (P> 0,05). El trasplante alogénico de nervio acelular envuelto en membrana amniótica puede mejorar la morfología del nervio lesionado y la calidad de regeneración del nervio trasplantado.