Exploring microbial diversity and interactions for asbestos modifying properties.

Asbestos poses a substantial environmental health risk, and biological treatment offers a promising approach to mitigate its impact by altering its chemical composition. However, the dynamics of microbial co-inoculation in asbestos bioremediation remain poorly understood. This study investigates the effect of microbial single cultures and co-cultures on modifying crocidolite and chrysotile fibers, focusing on the extraction of iron and magnesium.

The impact and importance of clinical learning experience in supporting nursing students in end-of-life care: cluster analysis.

Background: Nursing students are often expected to provide end-of-life care to patients during clinical practice. Little research has been conducted to examine the heterogeneity of the students and how learning outcomes are affected by their education experience and other demographic factors.

Aim: The aim of this study was to identify and compare groups of nursing students based on their demographics, clinical experience, knowledge, perceived competency, and attitude towards end-of-life care.

Soil characteristics more strongly influence soil bacterial communities than land-use type.

To gain insight into the factors driving the structure of bacterial communities in soil, we applied real-time PCR, PCR-denaturing gradient gel electrophoreses, and phylogenetic microarray approaches targeting the 16S rRNA gene across a range of different land usages in the Netherlands. We observed that the main differences in the bacterial communities were not related to land-use type, but rather to soil factors. An exception was the bacterial community of pine forest soils (PFS), which was clearly different from all other sites.

Phylogeny-based evolutionary, demographical, and geographical dissection of North American type 2 porcine reproductive and respiratory syndrome viruses.

Type 2 (or North American-like) porcine reproductive and respiratory syndrome virus (PRRSV) was first recorded in 1987 in the United States and now occurs in most commercial swine industries throughout the world. In this study, we investigated the epidemiological and evolutionary behaviors of type 2 PRRSV. Based on phylogenetic analyses of 8,624 ORF5 sequences, we described a comprehensive picture of the diversity of type 2 PRRSVs and systematically classified all available sequences into lineages and sublineages, including a number of previously undescribed lineages.

Preparative isolation of pseudolaric acids A and B, and their glucosides from the root bark of Pseudolarix kaempferi using high-speed counter-current chromatography.

In order to provide the chemical markers for the quality control of herbal medicines, four diterpenoids, pseudolaric acids A and B (PAA and PAB), and their glucosides were isolated from the methanol extract of the Chinese herb Pseudolarix kaempferi using high-speed counter-current chromatography (HSCCC). The diphase solvent system was n-hexane/EtOAc/MeOH/H(2)O which was used at two ratios (5:5:5:5 and 1:9:4:6 by volume) in the separation of pseudolaric acids and their glycosides, respectively. As a result, PAA (14 mg), PAB (129 mg), PAA-O-beta-D-glucopyranoside (8 mg, PAAG), and PAB-O-beta-D-glucopyranoside (42 mg, PABG) were obtained from 0.

A simple method to optimize the HSCCC two-phase solvent system by predicting the partition coefficient for target compound.

A simple method was developed to optimize the solvent ratio of the two-phase solvent system used in the high-speed counter-current chromatography (HSCCC) separation. Some mathematic equations, such as the exponential and the power equations, were established to describe the relationship between the solvent ratio and the partition coefficient. Using this new method, the two-phase solvent system was easily optimized to obtain a proper partition coefficient for the CCC separation of the target compound.

Effect of intensive voice treatment on tone-language speakers with Parkinson's disease.

The aim of this study was to investigate the effect of intensive voice therapy on Cantonese speakers with Parkinson's disease. The effect of the treatment on lexical tone was of particular interest. Four Cantonese speakers with idiopathic Parkinson's disease received treatment based on the principles of Lee Silverman Voice Treatment (LSVT).

Rapid analysis of pseudolaric acids in Cortex Pseudolaricis and related medicinal products by high performance liquid chromatography.

A simple, rapid, reverse-phase high performance liquid chromatographic method was developed for the quantitative analysis of pseudolaric acids in Cortex Pseudolaricis and its related medicinal products. With a C(18) analytical column (4.6mmx150mm i.

Preparative isolation of cyclolanostane-type saponins from Astragalus membranaceus bge. var. mongholicus (Bge.) Hsiao by TLC-MS/MS guided high-speed counter-current chromatography.

Two cyclolanostane-type saponins, astragalosides I and II, were first identified by TLC-MS/MS in the ethyl acetate extract of the roots of Astragalus membranaceus Bge var. mongholicus (Bge.) Hsiao without chemical reference substances.

The effects of second-hand smoke on biological processes important in atherogenesis.

Background: Atherosclerosis is the leading cause of death in western societies and cigarette smoke is among the factors that strongly contribute to the development of this disease. The early events in atherogenesis are stimulated on the one hand by cytokines that chemoattract leukocytes and on the other hand by decrease in circulating molecules that protect endothelial cells (ECs) from injury. Here we focus our studies on the effects of "second-hand" smoke on atherogenesis.

Preparative isolation of hydrolysable tannins chebulagic acid and chebulinic acid from Terminalia chebula by high-speed counter-current chromatography.

As a chromatographic column, the high-speed counter-current chromatography system was equipped with a preparative HPLC series, enabling the successful isolation of hydrolysable tannins from the fruits of Terminalia chebula, a traditional Chinese medicine. The two-phase solvent system was composed of n-hexane-ethyl acetate-methanol-water (1:20:1:20 v/v). As a result, 33.

Preparative separation of gambogic acid and its C-2 epimer using recycling high-speed counter-current chromatography.

A recycling counter-current chromatographic system was first set up with a high-speed counter-current chromatography instrument coupled with a column switching valve. This system was first successfully applied to the preparative separation of epimers, gambogic acid and epigambogic acid from Garcinia hanburyi using n-hexane-methanol-water (5:4:1, v/v/v) as the two-phase solvent system. As a result, 28.

Firsthand cigarette smoke alters fibroblast migration and survival: implications for impaired healing.

Although it is known that high levels of cigarette smoke lead to cell death, little is known about the effects of low-to-moderate levels of smoke components that are found in vivo, such as those experienced by cells in tissues. Clinical studies and experimental data show that smokers heal poorly and are more prone to develop fibrotic diseases. Here we show the effects of first-hand cigarette smoke on fibroblasts, cells that are critically involved in these processes.

Effects of "second-hand" smoke on structure and function of fibroblasts, cells that are critical for tissue repair and remodeling.

Background: It is known that "second-hand" cigarette smoke leads to abnormal tissue repair and remodelling but the cellular mechanisms involved in these adverse effects are not well understood. Fibroblasts play a major role in repair and remodelling. They orchestrate these processes by proliferating, migrating, and secreting proteins such as, cytokines, growth factors and extracellular matrix molecules.

The CXC chemokine cCAF stimulates precocious deposition of ECM molecules by wound fibroblasts, accelerating development of granulation tissue.

Background: During wound repair, fibroblasts orchestrate replacement of the provisional matrix formed during clotting with tenascin, cellular fibronectin and collagen III. These, in turn, are critical for migration of endothelial cells, keratinocytes and additional fibroblasts into the wound site. Fibroblasts are also important in the deposition of collagen I during scar formation.

The cxc chemokine cCAF stimulates differentiation of fibroblasts into myofibroblasts and accelerates wound closure.

Chemokines are small cytokines primarily known for their roles in inflammation. More recently, however, they have been implicated in processes involved in development of the granulation tissue of wounds, but little is known about their functions during this process. Fibroblasts play key roles in this phase of healing: some fibroblasts differentiate into myofibroblasts, alpha-smooth muscle actin (SMA)-producing cells that are important in wound closure and contraction.