Enzymatic characterization and thermostability improvement of an acidophilic endoxylanase PphXyn11 from Paenibacillus physcomitrellae XB.

GH11 enzyme is known to be specific and efficient for the hydrolysis of xylan. It has been isolated from many microorganisms, and its enzymatic characteristics and thermostability vary between species. In this study, a GH11 enzyme PphXyn11 from a novel xylan-degrading strain of Paenibacillus physcomitrellae XB was characterized, and five mutants were constructed to try to improve the enzyme's thermostability.

The CBM91 module enhances the activity of β-xylosidase/α-L-arabinofuranosidase PphXyl43B from Paenibacillus physcomitrellae XB by adopting a unique loop conformation at the top of the active pocket.

Carbohydrate-binding module (CBM) family 91 is a novel module primarily associated with glycoside hydrolase (GH) family 43 enzymes. However, our current understanding of its function remains limited. PphXyl43B is a β-xylosidase/α-L-arabinofuranosidase bifunctional enzyme from physcomitrellae patens XB belonging to the GH43_11 subfamily and containing CBM91 at its C terminus.

Risk Factors for Single and Multiple Recurrences for Endoscopic Retrograde Cholangiopancreatography and Open Choledochotomy in Treating Choledocholithiasis.

Background: There are few studies comparing recurrences between endoscopic retrograde cholangiopancreatography (ERCP) and open choledochotomy (OCT).

Aims: To compare the effect of different surgical methods on single and multiple recurrences of choledocholithiasis.

Methods: A total of 1255 patients with choledocholithiasis who underwent ERCP or OCT were retrospectively studied.

Predictive value of prenatal ultrasound parameters for dichorionic growth discordant twins.

Background: Twin growth discordance was demonstrated to be a risk factor for adverse perinatal outcomes, and prenatal ultrasonographic methods were utilized to predict twin growth discordance to improve outcomes. The results currently reported are not consistent due to the poor unified parameters and gestational durations.

Methods: A total of 71 dichorionic twins with growth discordance and 346 dichorionic twins with normal growth were respectively included in the retrospective cohort study.

Reconsideration of indications for choledochoscopic gallbladder-preserving surgery and preventive measures for postoperative recurrence of gallstones.

Introduction: The recurrence of cholecystolithiasis after choledochoscopic gallbladder-preserving surgery is a major problem. It is unclear whether the recurrence of cholecystolithiasis is due to the limitations of the operation itself or to the selection of inappropriate candidates.

Aim: To analyze the recurrence of cholecystolithiasis after choledochoscopic gallbladder-preserving surgery and to provide guidance for the treatment of cholecystolithiasis by choledochoscopic gallbladder-preserving surgery.

Comparison of the prognostic value of platelet-based prognostic models in patients with malignant hepatic tumors after TACE therapy.

Purpose: To investigate the prognostic value of 17 platelet-based prognostic scores in patients with malignant hepatic tumors after TACE therapy.

Methods: In total, 92 patients were divided into death group and survival group according to long-term follow-up results. The AUC was calculated to determine the optimal cut-off values for predicting prognosis.

Enhancing long-term biodegradability and UV-shielding performances of transparent polylactic acid nanocomposite films by adding cellulose nanocrystal-zinc oxide hybrids.

We investigated UV-shielding performances and biodegradation abilities under controlled hydrolytic, soil burial, and thermal conditions of transparent polylactic acids (PLA) nanocomposite films embedded with cellulose nanocrystal-zinc oxide (CNC-ZnO) hybrids. By adding high content of 15wt %CNC-ZnO hybrids into the PLA matrix, the highest UV radiation was blocked out by (85.31%) of UV-A and (95.

Low Calf Circumference Predicts Nutritional Risks in Hospitalized Patients Aged More Than 80 Years.

Objective: The aim of this study was to determine whether low calf circumference (CC) could predict nutritional risk and the cutoff values of CC for predicting nutritional risk in hospitalized patients aged ⪖ 80 years.

Methods: A total of 1,234 consecutive patients aged ⪖ 80 years were enrolled in this study. On admission, demographic data, CC, and laboratory parameters were obtained.

Serum levels of immunoglobulins in an adult population and their relationship with nonalcoholic fatty liver disease.

Objectives: Few studies have reported the association between nonalcoholic fatty liver disease (NAFLD) and immunoglobulins. In this study, we aimed to investigate the relationship between serum immunoglobulin levels and NAFLD in a Chinese adult population.

Methods: We performed a cross-sectional study including 11 261 Chinese adults.

A sonographic Doppler study of the hepatic vein, portal vein and hepatic artery in liver cirrhosis: Correlation of hepatic hemodynamics with clinical Child Pugh score in Singapore.

Objective: Liver cirrhosis has been a rising complication of chronic liver disease in Singapore. Ultrasound has been widely accepted as a non-invasive imaging modality for the evaluation of hepatic haemodynamics. This study aims to correlate the Doppler ultrasound values with the progression of liver cirrhosis to allow further understanding and possible prediction of clinical events for timely intervention.

Five-Year Survival is Not a Useful Measure for Cancer Control in the Population: an Analysis Based on UK Data.

Background: Five-year survival is an important metric for progress in cancer control broadly used both in the cancer literature and by the public. In order to assess its validity and relation to other common metrics, we analyzed the relationship between 5-year survival, incidence and mortality using publicly available cancer registry data from England and Wales. Methods: Five-year survival, incidence and mortality data were obtained from the online database of a registered charity, Cancer Research UK.

Early detection of circulating DNA of Schistosoma japonicum in sentinel mice models.

Currently in China, the schistosomiasis control program has shifted its focus from transmission control to the elimination of the disease. Effective forecast and surveillance systems of schistiosomiasis are of great importance for issuing timely and early warnings on risk of infection, and therefore implementing preventive measures to avoid infection. There is great demand in more sensitive and specific methods to improve the surveillance system for early detection of S.

Increased translocation of antigens to endosomes and TLR4 mediated endosomal recruitment of TAP contribute to nicotine augmented cross-presentation.

Cross-presentation by dendritic cells (DCs) requires surface molecules such as lectin, CD40, langerin, heat shock protein, mannose receptor, mediated endocytosis, the endosomal translocation of internalized antigen, and the relocation of transporter associated with antigen processing (TAP). Although the activation of α7 nicotinic acetylcholine receptor (α7 nAchR) up-regulate surface molecule expression, augment endocytosis, and enhance cross-presentation, the molecular mechanism of α7 nAchR activation-increased cross-presentation is still poorly understood. In this study, we investigated the role of mannose receptor in nicotine-increased cross-presentation and the mechanism that endotoxins orchestrating the recruitment of TAP toward endosomes.

Low n-6/n-3 PUFA Ratio Improves Lipid Metabolism, Inflammation, Oxidative Stress and Endothelial Function in Rats Using Plant Oils as n-3 Fatty Acid Source.

Lipid metabolism, inflammation, oxidative stress and endothelial function play important roles in the pathogenesis of cardiovascular disease (CVD), which may be affected by an imbalance in the n-6/n-3 polyunsaturated fatty acid (PUFA) ratio. This study aimed to investigate the effects of the n-6/n-3 PUFA ratio on these cardiovascular risk factors in rats fed a high-fat diet using plant oils as the main n-3 PUFA source. The 1:1 and 5:1 ratio groups had significantly decreased serum levels of total cholesterol, low-density lipoprotein cholesterol, and proinflammatory cytokines compared with the 20:1 group (p < 0.

Ex vivo nicotine stimulation augments the efficacy of human peripheral blood mononuclear cell-derived dendritic cell vaccination via activating Akt-S6 pathway.

Our previous studies showed that α7 nicotinic acetylcholine receptor (nAchR) agonist nicotine has stimulatory effects on murine bone marrow-derived semimature DCs, but the effect of nicotine on peripheral blood mononuclear cell- (PBMC-) derived human semimature dendritic cells (hu-imDCs) is still to be clarified. In the present study, hu-imDCs (cultured 4 days) were conferred with  ex vivo lower dose nicotine stimulation and the effect of nicotine on surface molecules expression, the ability of cross-presentation, DCs-mediated PBMC priming, and activated signaling pathways were determined. We could demonstrate that the treatment with nicotine resulted in increased surface molecules expression, enhanced hu-imDCs-mediated PBMC proliferation, upregulated release of IL-12 in the supernatant of cocultured DCs-PBMC, and augmented phosphorylation of Akt and ribosomal protein S6.

TIPE2 inhibits TNF-α-induced hepatocellular carcinoma cell metastasis via Erk1/2 downregulation and NF-κB activation.

Tumor necrosis factor-α-induced protein 8-like 2 (TNFAIP8L2, TIPE2), which belongs to the TNF-α-induced protein 8 family, is a negative regulator of immune homeostasis. Although pro-inflammatory cytokines such as TNF-α have been reported to be involved in liver carcinoma metastasis, the effect of TIPE2 on hepatocellular carcinoma metastasis remains unknown. We demonstrate that TNF-α clearly augments MMP-13/MMP-3 expression and promotes cell migration in HepG2 cells through activation of the Erk1/2-NF-κB pathways.

Increased antigen presentation but impaired T cells priming after upregulation of interferon-beta induced by lipopolysaccharides is mediated by upregulation of B7H1 and GITRL.

Dendritic cells are able to present Ag-derived peptides on MHC class I and II molecules and induce T cells priming. Lipopolysaccharides (LPS), an activator of Toll-like 4 receptor (TLR4) signaling, has been demonstrated to facilitate Ag-presentation, up-regulate surface molecules expression but impair T cells priming. In this study, we investigated the effect of LPS on nicotine-enhanced DCs-dependent T cells priming and the mechanisms of LPS orchestrating the immunosuppressive program.

Nicotine promotes cell proliferation and induces resistance to cisplatin by α7 nicotinic acetylcholine receptor‑mediated activation in Raw264.7 and El4 cells.

Although nicotine is a risk factor for carcinogenesis and atherosclerosis, epidemiological data indicate that nicotine has therapeutic benefits in treating Alzheimer's disease. Our previous studies also showed that nicotine-treated dendritic cells have potential antitumor effects. Hence, the precise effects of nicotine on the biological characterizations of cells are controversial.

Clinical application of multimodality imaging in radiotherapy treatment planning for rectal cancer.

Radiotherapy plays an important role in the treatment of rectal cancer. Three-dimensional conformal radiotherapy and intensity-modulated radiotherapy are mainstay techniques of radiotherapy for rectal cancer. However, the success of these techniques is heavily reliant on accurate target delineation and treatment planning.

MLPA-based genotype-phenotype analysis in 1053 Chinese patients with DMD/BMD.

Background: Large-scale analysis of the transmission, mutation characteristics and the relationship between the reading frame and phenotype of the DMD gene has previously been performed in several countries, however, analogous studies have yet to be performed in Chinese populations.

Methods: Clinical data from 1053 Chinese patients with DMD/BMD were collected, and the DMD gene was tested by MLPA in all patients and 400 proband mothers. In 20 patients with negative MLPA, sequencing was also performed.

Analysis of adiponectin gene polymorphisms in Chinese population with systemic lupus erythematosus.

Systemic lupus erythematosus (SLE) is a prototypic systemic autoimmune disease. Adiponectin is an adipocyte-derived cytokine with anti-inflammatory, antidiabetic, and antiatherogenic properties. No study has reported on the association between adiponectin (ADIPOQ) gene and SLE.

Alport retinopathy results from "severe" COL4A5 mutations and predicts early renal failure.

Background And Objectives: Previous studies of X-linked Alport syndrome demonstrated that "severe" COL4A5 mutations (large deletions and rearrangements, nonsense and frame-shift mutations, and glycine substitutions in the carboxy-terminal residues) were associated with early-onset renal failure, hearing loss, and lenticonus in affected male patients. This study examined whether severe mutations also resulted in the typical perimacular dot-and-fleck retinopathy.

Design, Setting, Participants, & Measurements: Twenty unrelated families with X-linked Alport syndrome were studied for the causative mutation in the COL4A5 gene.

Retinal basement membrane abnormalities and the retinopathy of Alport syndrome.

Purpose: To determine the effects of X-linked and autosomal recessive Alport syndrome on retinal basement membranes and how these result in the characteristic perimacular dot-and-fleck retinopathy, lozenge, and macular hole.

Methods: The type IV collagen chains present in the normal retina were determined immunohistochemically. Ten patients with Alport syndrome underwent retinal photography and optical coherence tomography to determine the thickness of the internal limiting membrane (ILM) by segmentation analysis, the layers affected by the retinopathy, and any correlates of the lozenge and macular hole.

Plasma level of sICAM-1 is associated with the extent of white matter lesion among asymptomatic elderly subjects.

Objective: Inflammatory endothelial activation mediated by intercellular adhesion molecule-1 (ICAM-1) plays a role in the pathogenesis of large- and small-vessel disease. We explored the association between soluble ICAM-1 (sICAM-1) and white matter lesion (WML) as a manifestation of cerebral small-vessel disease.

Methods: One hundred and seventy-five elderly individuals aged >or= 60 without neurological deficits were studied.

Effects of shikonin isolated from zicao on lupus nephritis in NZB/W F1 mice.

The present study was performed to evaluate the potential protective effects of Shikonin extracted from Zicao on lupus nephritis (LN) using NZB/W F1 mice. Oral administration of Shikonin (24, 40 mg/kg body weight/d) or vehicle was applied to sixty female NZB/W F1 mice of 28-week-old with LN. Treatment with Shikonin for 14 weeks suppressed proteinuria dose-dependently with the mean proteinuria of 274.